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Special
Education
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Requirements
The
Special Education certificate is designed for individuals
who want to teach children with learning or physical
disabilities, mental retardation or behavioral disorders in
grades K-12. It requires in-depth knowledge of exceptional
children, how children with disabilities learn, and the best
strategies and methodologies for teaching exceptional
students. A Special Education Teaching Certificate is
required to teach special education in Arizona’s public
and most private and charter schools. In order to attain
this certificate, you must 1) have a Bachelor’s Degree or
higher from an approved teacher education program (including
student teaching), 2) pass the Arizona Education Proficiency
Assessment (AEPA), 3) pass the U.S. and Arizona Constitution
classes, and 4) be fingerprinted by the Arizona Department
of Public Safety.
A
typical Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education includes at
least 120 credits of post-secondary coursework. The first 60
credits of lower division courses can be completed at a
community college or a university.
The
first two years includes 35 hours of general education
studies and 25 hours of more specific course work. The
general education coursework, that prepares students to be
well-rounded teachers in all content areas, usually includes
English, Math, Science, Humanities & Fine Arts, Social
and Behavioral Sciences, and Literacy and Critical Thinking.
All community colleges in the state provide strong academic
programs that will prepare students to pass the content
portion of the teacher licensure exam. To read more about
the general studies component, view AGEC
Requirements.
The
other 25 hours of the first two years of lower division
courses are a combination of program requirements, education
courses in Theory of Math, Orientation to the Exceptional
Child, Cultural Diversity and electives. Most programs have
a field component built into the first two years.
The
second two years of upper division courses are filled with
professional education courses specific to teaching special
education students, a specialized area of emphasis, some
electives, and student teaching.
Programs
There
are many programs available in the state of Arizona to
achieve a Bachelor’s degree in education, and many avenues
to accomplish this. All community colleges around the state
offer lower division courses or an Associate degree, which
can include beginning courses in education. Most community
colleges also offer Transfer Partnership degrees that allow
students to smoothly transfer to a university. Universities
offer both lower division and upper division courses.
Visit
the website of the Community
College or University
closest to you.
Testing
The
Arizona Department of Education requires all potential
teachers to pass the Arizona
Educators Proficiency Assessment (AEPA). The
AEPA test
objectives
are broad, conceptual statements written in language that
reflects the skills, knowledge, and understanding that an
entry-level educator needs to practice effectively in
Arizona schools, and are based on Arizona’s
Professional Teacher Standards.
The
AEPA consists of a subject knowledge test and a professional
knowledge test. The subject knowledge portion tests the
potential candidate’s competency in the content area he or
she may teach. Subject knowledge tests for special education
certification include: Cross Category, Early Childhood,
Emotional Disability, Hearing Impaired, Learning Disability,
Mental Retardation, Orthopedic Impairments/Other Health
Impairments, Severely and Profoundly Disabled, Speech and
Language Impaired, and Visually Impaired. The professional
knowledge portion tests the potential candidates
competencies in the professional skills required to be a
teacher.
Certification
The following institutions have State
Board Approved Professional Teacher Preparation Programs:
Arizona State University, Arizona Teacher’s Institute,
Capella University, Grand Canyon University, Northern
Arizona University, Ottawa University, Pima Community
College, Prescott College, Rio Salado College, Scottsdale
Community College, Southwestern College, University of
Arizona and University of Phoenix.
Special education certificates can be
obtained in the following areas: Cross Categorical, Early
Childhood, Hearing Impaired, Severely and Profound Disabled,
Specialized (including Learning Disability, Emotional
Disability, Mental Retardation or Orthopedic
Impairments/Other Health Impairments), Speech and Language
Impaired, and Visually Impaired.
Once you have completed your
coursework, passed both sections of the AEPA and obtained a
fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department
of Public Safety, you can apply for a Teaching
Certificate. A
potential teacher must acquire a provisional certificate
first, which is valid for two years and not renewable.
After holding a provision teaching certificate for two
years, a standard teaching certificate must be
obtained. The standard certificate is valid for six
years and renewable.
As of August 31, 2006, a Structured
English Immersion, Bilingual
Education or English as a Second Language Endorsement will
also be required of all classroom teachers in Arizona.
Reciprocal
Provisional Teaching Certificate - Arizona
reciprocates with every state that offers a comparable
certificate. Applicants have one year to complete the
required AEPA
proficiency exams, and waivers are offered for those
teachers who meet specific criteria. Applicants must also
obtain a fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona
Department of Public Safety, or submit information verifying
a valid fingerprint card from an approved state.
A Substitute
Certificate
requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited
institution and a fingerprint clearance card issued by the
Arizona Department of Public Safety. It is valid for 6 years
and is renewable. A substitute teacher is limited to
teaching 120 days in the same school each school year, and
may not be assigned a contract position. A person holding a
valid Arizona Teaching or Administrative Certificate is not
required to hold a Substitute Certificate to be employed as
a substitute teacher.
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