There is a great need for special education teachers as states all across the country are experiencing shortages. Today's special education teachers must be highly-skilled individuals who not just understand the complexities of their students’ needs, but are can modify curriculum, and provide remedial instruction.
Drexel University’s School of Education certification in special education program prepares special education teachers for these challenges.
Drexel’s online Special Education (SPED) certification program seeks to produce professionals who are equipped with the fundamental skills, knowledge, and competencies they require to meet the needs of students at risk for school failure and students with disabilities in multiple settings. The program is intended for those interested in gaining greater skills and expertise and a teaching certification in the area of special education.
The responsibilities of special education teachers typically include:
This online Special Education certification program is for actively certified teachers seeking Pennsylvania's Special Education PreK-12 certification. Candidates must have an active PA Instructional I or Instructional II teaching certificate.
Out-of-state teachers are welcome to participate in the Special Education Program as non-PA certification students.
To be admitted into the Special Education certification program, students must also have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Required Materials
The Special Education Certification program is a part-time online program consisting of 27 graduate credits. For students that have not completed the prerequisite courses, the program will require 36 credits: 27 credits in Core Special Education Certification courses and 9.0 credits in prerequisites for certification in special education. The certification areas are Special Education PreK-8 and Special Education 7-12.
Course descriptions may be found in the Drexel University Catalog.
Most of the coursework in this program requires field hours. Students must have the necessary clearances in order to begin the program.
There are multiple learning outcomes and benefits of enrolling in the Special Education Certification Program offered at Drexel University School of Education. Through the program, students will:
The Special Education certification program is a part-time, accelerated program. Students, on average, complete the program in about a year and a half.
For certified teachers in Pennsylvania, a special education certification follows the same renewal cycle as the teacher’s original teaching certification. If a teacher converts their Instructional I teaching certification to Instructional II, their special education certification will also be converted.
Teachers in Pennsylvania must complete their Act 48 requirements every 5 years to renew their certification. This includes 6 semester hours of college credit (there is a conversion for quarter hours), or 180 hours of continuing education programming, i.e., professional development.
Special Education certification is a great program for teachers who are looking to expand their skills to understand how to teach students with special needs. It also a requirement for teachers who would like to become certified special education teachers. Teachers looking for a rewarding career as a special education teacher would also benefit from this program.
Credits earned in the Special Education Certification program may be applied to the Master of Science in Special Education graduate program. The MS program offers four concentrations: Applied Behavior Analysis; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Collaborative Special Education Law & Process; and Dyslexia Specialist (Wilson® Level 1 certification). Students may also work with their academic advisor to develop a customized concentration to meet specific objectives.
The Special Education certification program is offered 100% online. you can get started by filling out the Drexel Online Application.
Student teaching is the culminating experience in your preparation to become a teacher, allowing you to put theory into practice with guided teaching under the direction of a cooperating teacher and college supervisor.
We offer student teaching both fall and spring semesters. All students seeking teacher certification spend at least one semester (15–16 weeks) in a full-day student teaching assignment appropriate to their level and subject specialty. This experience is part of the Professional Semester, which includes:
You’ll work with at least one cooperating teacher (and up to three) who is experienced and highly qualified in his or her content area. You’ll also be assigned to and observed by a highly qualified, experienced college supervisor. The college supervisor will visit you four to six times during the 12-week placement and is responsible for assigning your final grade. Major departments are also encouraged to observe secondary student teachers during the experience.
Students seeking K–5 or K–8 certification are assigned to an elementary or middle school classroom.
Students seeking elementary certification with an endorsement in learning disabilities or emotional impairments complete one student teaching assignment in a general elementary education classroom and a second in the appropriate special education classroom.
Students seeking 6–12 certification are assigned a secondary (middle or high school) assignment in their area(s) of endorsement.
Students also seeking K–12 endorsements in music, visual arts, physical education or dance are given an assignment in their area of endorsement which includes experiences at both the elementary and secondary levels.
Spanish education majors who are following the elementary track/K–12 endorsement are required to complete a student teaching placement in an elementary classroom as well as an assignment in Spanish at the secondary level.
Special education majors following the secondary certification track will student teach in a special education setting at the middle or high school level. Efforts will be made to provide a student teaching opportunity in the minor area of study as well.
During the student teaching experience, student teachers are required to register for and attend the weekly evening Student Teaching Seminar. Some of the sessions are general in nature (e.g., resume writing, certification, portfolio design, etc.). Others are grade level specific (elementary, secondary and special education). In the grade-level meetings Topics such as classroom management, conferencing, and teaching and learning strategies are presented. Students also discuss and reflect on their current classroom teaching experiences.
The NASDTEC Interstate Agreement facilitates the mobility of educators among the states and other jurisdictions that are members of NASDTEC and have signed the Agreement. Although there may be conditions applicable to individual jurisdictions, the Agreement makes it possible for an educator who completed an approved program and/or who holds a certificate or license in one jurisdiction to earn a certificate or license in another state or jurisdiction. Receiving states may impose certain special requirements which must be met in a reasonable period of time. Visit the NASDTEC site to review specific state-by-state requirements for teachers: https://www.nasdtec.net/page/Interstate
The Office of Teacher Education is committed to supporting international students, in collaboration with the Office of International Services. To ensure that the Office of Teacher Education is aware that you may need support, take a moment to complete our International Student Intake Form as soon as you arrive on campus. In addition, please find key information for student teaching and certification processes below:
Good news! If you have a Social Security Number (SSN), you will follow the same processes for student teaching clearance and initial certification as any other student at Teachers College. Please STOP READING and refer to our general documents and web pages for guidance.
A TC Degree
A Teachers College degree is issued by Teachers College and signals that you have met all requirements for that degree. For example, graduates of the Elementary Inclusive program earn a Master of Arts in Elementary Inclusive Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. All TC students who complete the requirements for their degree programs are eligible for their TC Degree, whether or not they have a Social Security number. You can track your progress toward your degree by consulting your degree audit in the myTC portal.
New York State Certification
New York State certification is issued by the State of New York, not Teachers College, and certifies that you have met the state’s requirements to teach a particular subject in a New York State public school. For example, graduates of the Elementary Inclusive program are typically eligible to apply for New York State certification to teach childhood education, grades 1-6, in public schools within the state of New York. Successful completion of your TC degree is one requirement for certification, but it is not the only requirement. For example, the state also requires that you pass all of the certification exams associated with your certification area and ensure that your fingerprints are on file at the state level.
Students without Social Security numbers will need a New York State Education Department issued 9-digit identification number in order to create a New York State TEACH account, apply for certification, and begin completing certification requirements such as exams and state-level fingerprinting. We recommend requesting a NYSED-issued ID number as soon as you arrive at TC. See below for recommended steps for students without Social Security Numbers who will seek New York State certification.
Requesting and Using a NYSED-Issued ID Number for Certification
Step 1: If you have not already done so, complete our International Student Intake Form so that our office is aware of your SSN status and your career goals.
Step 2: Complete our ID Number Request Form. A member of our office will reach out to the New York State Education department to request a 9-digit ID number for your use.
Step 3: Create a New York State TEACH account using your state-issued 9-digit ID number, and use that number to complete certification requirements such as workshops and exams as you move through your degree program; do not complete state-level fingerprinting at an Identigo location until you have applied for certifcation (see below).
Step 4: In your final semester at TC, apply and PAY for the certificate(s) you will seek at the end of your degree program. This step MUST be done before state-level fingerprinting at an Identigo location.
Step 5: After applying for certification, make an appointment to get fingerprinted at one of the many locations across New York State via https://uenroll.identogo.com/, or call (877) 472-6915. Your ORI Code is 14ZGQT. When prompted for your SSN or 9-digit state number, provide your 9-digit state-issued number. See the Students without Social Security Numbers section of our "Fingerprinting" tab for more detail.
Note on Student Teaching for All Students without Social Security Numbers
To get clearance to student teach in a NYC DOE school, you do not need a SSN. You can simply follow our Directions for Fingerprinting at the New York City Department of Education for Students without a Social Security Number, which adhere to the New York City Department of Education’s guidelines for students without SSNs.
All students seeking teaching certification must be formally admitted to the Pre-certification, Initial Preparation Program (Pre-CIP). Admission to the program can occur after the student has completed 12 Bucknell University courses or their equivalents, including two courses in mathematics, one course in British or American literature, and one in composition; and achieved for the three preceding semesters an overall grade point average of at least 3.0. Appeals to this requirement may be made to the chair of the Department of Education.
* Candidates must also pass the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment tests in reading, writing and math. Students should apply to Pre-CIP as soon as they begin considering a career in education, and no later than the start of the first semester of their junior year. Students are notified of their acceptance or rejection at the end of their sophomore year.
The commonwealth of Pennsylvania generally requires an overall grade point average of 3.0 upon completion of the program prior to recommendation for certification to teach.
All students seeking certification must take two mathematics intensive courses, one English/American literature course and one W1 writing course (in addition to the literature course).
The following are considered to be "add-on" certifications that require students to concurrently pursue certification in one of the areas above:
In addition to completing an approved program and successfully demonstrating the prescribed role competencies, the prospective teacher must be a "person of good moral character" who "possesses those personal qualities and professional knowledge and skills which warrant issuance of the requested certificate."
It is the student's responsibility to satisfy these criteria. Students should note that prior to placement in student teaching or any other field experience, they will be required to submit results of a child abuse clearance, criminal background check and fingerprinting pursuant to requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Results must indicate that there are no criminal or child abuse records.
Students in Education classes with field experiences can get help navigating the clearance process by contacting the departments Director of Professional Education.
Act 151: PA Child Abuse History Clearance
Act 34: PA Criminal History Record Check
FBI Criminal History (Fingerprint)
In addition to coursework, students must complete and submit scores from required Praxis or Pennsylvania Education Certification Test examinations to the Department of Education. Specific examinations required for each area of certification vary. Although members of the department will advise students concerning examinations, the student is responsible for taking those examinations that meet certification program requirements.
Learn more about certification testing
After completing the approved program of courses, the student submits an application for a Pennsylvania teaching certificate through the online Teacher Information Management System website not earlier than the first day of the month of graduation.
Following a review of the student's program, the student may be recommended for certification by the designated officer at Bucknell. As noted above, the student must pass all the competency tests required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the desired certificate.
Bucknell's certification officer is able to recommend for certification students who successfully completed one of Bucknell's teacher certification programs, passed the appropriate tests and met all other certification requirements within five years of the student's date of graduation. Because state requirements and/or curricula may change, it may not be possible to make recommendations for certification outside of this five-year window.
Students who desire certification in states other than Pennsylvania must understand that teacher certification is governed by state law and that each state has different requirements. Obtaining a Pennsylvania teaching certificate, by completing an approved program and meeting all other requirements, does not ensure that students will be certified in another state.
Although members of the Bucknell education department will assist students in obtaining information concerning certification in other states, as well as Pennsylvania, it is the student's responsibility to obtain current information and to meet all the certification requirements of any state.
* These requirements may be modified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) due to COVID-19.
UAB will only recommend students for certification if they have successfully completed a State-approved teacher education program and other University requirements. Each student is responsible for submitting a completed certification packet to the Office of Student Services during the semester they intend to finish their approved program. A student who does not apply for their Professional Educator Certificate within five years (60 months) after completing a state-approved program may be required to fulfill additional requirements (i.e., testing and/or coursework).
The Office of Student Services will verify that each student meets all degree and certification requirements after graduation and submit completed certification packets to the Alabama State Department of Education.
Check UAB e-mail during your final semester for announcement from certification specialist.
Submit your educator certification application and the supporting documentation to the Office of Student Services via UAB Box.
Your application will be audited by the certification specialist to ensure you meet the current certification requirements.
Upon conferral of your degree, you will receive an e-mail notification from the certification specialist once your application has been mailed to the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) for processing.
Watch for your mailed certificate.
The best time to apply for your Professional Educator certificate is during your last term of enrollment. This timeline will ensure that your paperwork will be submitted to the Alabama State Department of Education(ALSDE) on time.
Completed certification application packets are processed and mailed to the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)in the order they are received.
| The term you plan to graduate: | The application is due: |
|---|---|
| Fall (December graduation) | November 1 |
| Spring (May graduation) | April 1 |
| Summer (August graduation) | August 1 |
Please call the Alabama State Department of Education at 334-694-4557.
The level of courses you take (300, 400, 500, 600, etc.) will be dependent on your last certification, so communicating with one of our program directors is essential.
Important: You are responsible for sending the needed documentation to the state to complete the recertification process.
The National Student Clearinghouse processes deferment forms. If you need an enrollment certification for deferment of a student loan, mail the forms to the Office of Student Services, Lyons Hall, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 or stop by Lyons Hall. Your deferment form will be forwarded to the National Student Clearinghouse. If the enrollment certification does not require an official school seal or signature, you may process the certification through www.bc.edu/myservices.
From non-profits to government agencies, the field of education offers a wide range of fulfilling career options beyond the teaching profession. Drexel’s Bachelor of Science in Education non-certification degree program is designed for civically-minded students who want to make a difference in the world of education but may not want to pursue a career as a teacher.
The BS in Education non-certification program offers great flexibility as it is available as a part-time online or as a full-time on-campus degree program. Through our comprehensive plan of study, students will receive an education-focused degree with the ability to take electives or minor in several education-related fields such as Sociology, Psychology, Sport Coaching Leadership, or Modern Language, to name a few. Graduates are prepared for success in careers in non-profit, government, and corporate sectors that focus on education. Students will not need to complete any student teaching experiences.
The curriculum for the BS in Education non-certification program prepares students to analyze educational problems and work to suggest viable solutions. Students will develop collaboration and management skills as well as a deep understanding of the role of formal and information education in developing community and citizenship.
Course titles and descriptions can be found in the Drexel Course Catalog.
The BS in Education non-certification program offers students more elective credits than the BS in Education certification program. By offering more elective credits, students can choose classes that fit their career interests. Career paths could include:
Students will complete stage 1-2 field experiences which includes observing school classrooms. BS in Education non-certification students will not be eligible to take Pre-student Teaching or Student Teaching field experiences.
The BS in Education non-certification program has more free electives than the BS in Education certification concentrations providing more opportunities that can be tailored to the student's interests.
BS in Education non-certification track also provides a higher amount of acceptable transfer credits into the free elective section. Students can apply a maximum of 90 transferable credits into the program allowing transfer students to complete their degree faster.
The BS in Education non-certification track program does not lead towards state teacher licensure and/or the eligibility to teach in public school systems, however graduates might be eligible to teach PK-4 in some private schools that do not require certified teachers.
Prospective students interested in the full-time on-campus BS in Education non-certification program must be accepted for admission to Drexel University. You can start your application for full-time or part time admission by visiting Drexel Undergraduate Admissions.
Students interested in applying for the part-time online BS in Education non-certification program may start the application process by visiting Drexel Online.
Student Veteran Services is here to help you access your VA benefits. The three mostly commonly used VA educational benefits are:
To use your benefits, you must go through the VA certification process. A student's VA certification is completed once he or she has registered for classes. Students must request VA certification each semester through the online form. Students using VR&E or Post-9/11 G Bill should also request a tuition deferral with Student Accounts. Certification is a two-step process that helps to decrease the amount of debt to the institution and the VA:
Students who drop or add courses throughout the semester should contact the coordinator of Student Veteran Services as soon as possible to avoid overpayment.
Like continuing students, new students should first meet with their academic advisor and then contact the coordinator of Student Veteran Services for the next steps.
eBenefits is a joint VA and DoD Web portal that provides self-service resources for student veterans. Through eBenefits, you can also access your up-to-date Enrollment Entitlement to track the time you have left for your GI Bill benefits. All students using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are encouraged to set up an account.
Each year, The New School awards Yellow Ribbon Scholarships to all qualifying students. The scholarship is a match-to-match payment provided by The New School and the VA that covers the tuition and fees not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
To qualify for Yellow Ribbon, students must:
Tuition Assistance (TA) is a benefit paid by the DoD and is usually the first education benefit available to military members. Each service has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application process, and restrictions.
TA is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student using military tuition assistance withdraws, they may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with the U.S. Department of Defense policy, The New School will return any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least 60 percent of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds will be returned to the service member’s branch of service (the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, or Air Force). In instances when a service member stops attending because of a military service obligation, The New School will work with them to find solutions to avoid a student debt for the returned portion.
For additional financial options, visit Student Financial Services or email [email protected].
In order to be eligible for Alabama teacher certification, the Alabama State Department of Education requires students in undergraduate and Alternative Master's teacher education programs to complete a series of tests. These tests evaluate students' mastery of content knowledge in a specific certification area (Praxis Subject Assessments); and readiness to teach (Educative Teacher Performance Assessment ( edTPA)). These tests are taken at different points throughout the UAB Teacher Education Program. Please consult the guide below to confirm when the tests should be taken.
In order to receive teacher certification from the Alabama State Department of Education, undergraduate and Alternative Master's students must receive a passing score on the Praxis Subject Assessment in their given certification area. Praxis Subject Assessments are administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS).
Undergraduate Students: (Prior to Student Teaching)
Undergraduate students must receive a passing score as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education on the Praxis Subject Assessment(s) in their given certification area prior to starting student teaching.
* Students pursuing certification in Elementary/Early Childhood are also required to pass the Praxis Teaching practicing prior to beginning student teaching.
Alternative Master's Students: (Prior to Admission)
Alternative Masters’ students must receive a passing score as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education on the Praxis Subject Assessments(s) in their given certification area prior to beginning coursework.
* Students pursuing certification in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education are required to pass the Praxis Teaching practicing prior to beginning student teaching.
Qualifying score requirements can be found on the ETS website. To locate the qualifying score for your certification area, follow the steps below.
Visit the ETS website for information about Praxis study resources.
Register for the Praxis Subject Assessment(s)
edTPA is a pre-service assessment process designed by educators that includes a review of a teacher candidate’s authentic teaching materials as the culmination of a teaching and learning process that documents and demonstrates each candidate’s ability to effectively teach his/her subject matter to all students. Candidates must receive a passing score on the assessment as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education.
Undergraduate Students: (edTPA: During Student Teaching)
Undergraduate students must receive a passing score on the edTPA as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education during student teaching.
Alternative Master's Students: (edTPA: During Student Teaching)
Alternative Master's students must receive a passing score as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education during student teaching.
