Special Education Licensure

About this Snapshot

In this policy synopsis, we present information on the manner in which states license special education teachers. The information is divided into two tables. In the first, we present information on licensure patterns for teachers of students with sensory impairments and teachers of preschool-aged children with disabilities. In the second table, we describe how states license teachers to work with school-aged children with all other disabilities. As can be seen in the second table, states use several dimensions–disability classifications, severity distinctions, grade bands—in various combinations to differentiate special education licensure, and several states offer more generic or cross-categorical licenses.

Note: This policy snapshot was developed by researchers at the CEEDAR Center (www.ceedar.org). Entries to the full data base were vetted by state department personnel between August and December, 2016. All but three states validated the information in the profiles. States seeking to update or revise information in their profiles may contact Paul Sindelar (pts@coe.ufl.edu).

StateGEPECHIVIComments
ALP-12P-12
AKB-A8K-12K-12
ARB-K*K-12K-12*EC/SPED integrated
AZB-3B-12B-12
CAB-PK-22K-22
COB-A8B-21B-21
CTB-K*
G1-3*
P-12P-12***EC/SPED integrated;
**2 certificates: Blind, partially sighted
DEK-G2K-12K-12
FL*K-12K-12*EC endorsement offered
GAA3-A5
P-A5*
P-12P-12*EC dual
HIP-G3P-3
P-12
K-6
6-12
K-12
P-3
P-12
K-6
6-12
K-12
IDP-G3
B-G3*
K-12K-12*EC dual
IL*P-21P-21*P-12 Generalist
IN*P-12P-12*P-12 Mild/Moderate and P-12 Severe
IAP-K
P-G3*
B-21B-21*EC dual
KS^B-K*
B-G3*
B-K
B-G3
P-12
B-K
B-G3
P-12
*EC dual
KYB-K*K-12**K-12*EC dual; **Two certificates: HI and HI with Sign Proficiency
LAB-A5K-12K-12
MEB-A5K-12K-12
MDB-G3B-12B-12
MA*P-12P-12*P-8 Mild/Moderate and P-12 Severe
MI^A3-A5K-12K-12
MNB-A6B-12B-12
MSB-KB-K**Early Oral Intervention
MOB-A3B-12B-12
MT**P-12 Generalist
NEB-KB-12
P-6
7-12
B-12
NVB-A7A3-21A3-21
NHB-A3K-12K-12
NJ^K-12*K-12*Two certificates: Oral/Aural, Sign Language
NM*B-12*P-12 Generalist
NYB-G2K-12K-12
NCB-A5*K-12K-12*EC dual
ND^B-A3K-12K-12
OHP-G3P-12P-12
OK*P-12*P-12 Mild/Moderate and P-12 Severe
ORB-G3P-12P-12
PA^*P-12P-12*P-8 Generalist
RI^B-G2P-12P-12
SCA3-A5P-12P-12
SDB-A8
B-P
K-12*K-12***Two certificates: Deaf/HH and American Sign Language;
**Two certificates: Blind/Visually Impaired and Braille Education
TNP-G3P-12P-12
TX*P-12*P-12 Generalist
UTB-A5K-12*K-12**K-12+
VTB-A6A3-21A3-21
VAB-A5P-12P-12
WAP-G3
WIP-G3P-12P-12
WVP-KP-AdultP-Adult
WYB-A5B-A5
K-5
5-8
6-12
K-12
B-A5
K-5
5-8
6-12
K-12
StateGEPGenSeverityCategoriesOtherComments
MMSPLDEBDINDASDPH/OHI
ALK-6*
K-12*
*Collaborative Special Education
AKK-12
ARK-12K-12**Dyslexia
AZK-12K-12
CAK-22K-22*K-22K-22***Moderate/Severe; **Language and Academic Development
COA5-21
CTK-12
DEK-12K-12*K-12**One certificate: Autism or Severe Intellectual
FLK-12
GAP-12P-12P-12P-12P-12
HIP-12
6-8
6-12
K-6
K-12
P-12
6-8
6-12
K-6
K-12
P-12
6-8
6-12
K-6
K-12
IDK-12
ILP-21**Learning and Behavior Specialist
INP-12P-12
IAK-8
5-12
KS^K-6
5-8
6-12
P-12
K-6
5-8
6-12
P-12
KYK-12*K-12***Moderate and Severe; **Learning and Behavior Disorders
LA1-5
4-8
6-12
1-12
MEK-8
7-12
K-12K-12**SPED Consultant; *Special Needs Vocation Teacher
MD1-8
6-Adult
B-12
MAP-8
5-12
P-12
MI^K-12K-12K-12K-12K-12
MNK-12K-12K-12B-21B-12K-12**Developmental Disabilities
MSK-12K-12K-12**Dyslexia Therapy
MOK-12K-12
MTP-12
NEK-12
K-6
7-12
NVK-12K-12*A3-21A3-21***Moderate/Intensive; *Orientation and Mobility
NHK-12
NJ^P-12
NMP-12
NY1-6
5-9
7-12
NCK-12K-12K-12K-12K-12K-12K-12**Adapted Curriculum
ND^*1-6
1-8
5-8
7-12
K-12
K-8
5-8
7-12
9-12
K-12
K-8
5-8
7-12
9-12
K-12
K-8
5-8
7-12
9-12
K-12
K-8**
5-8**
7-12**
9-12**
K-12**
*Special education licenses require general education license and are endorsed in subject/grade band of general license;
**Strategist
OHK-12K-12*K-12***Moderate/Intensive;
**Education for the Handicapped;
**Intervention Specialist
OKP-12P-12**Severe Profound/Multiple Disabilities
ORP-8
3-9
5-12
P-12
PA^P-8
7-12
RI^1-6
5-8
7-12
*P-12*P-12*One certificate: Severely Intellectually Disabled
SCP-12*P-12P-12P-12P-12*Multi-categorical
SDK-12
TNK-8
6-12
K-12K-12
TXP-12
UTK-12*K-12**K-12+ license issued in "Special Education" but must be endorse in mild/moderate, severe, HI or VI
VTK-8
G7-21
K-21
K-8*
G7-21*
K-21*
A3-21**
*Special Education Consultant;
**Intensive Special Education
VAK-12*K-12***General Curriculum;
**Adapted Curriculum
WAK-12
WI1-8
5-12
1-8
5-12
1-8
5-12
1-8
5-12
WVK-6
G5-Adult
K-6*
G5-Adult*
K-AdultK-6
G5-Adult
K-6
G5-Adult
K-6*
G5-Adult*
P-K
K-6
G5-Adult
*One certificate: Mentally impaired (mild to moderate)
WYK-5
5-8
6-12
K-12
K-5
5-8
6-12
K-12
K-5
5-8
6-12
K-12
K-5
5-8
6-12
K-12
K-5
5-8
6-12
K-12