The career path taken in special education determines the degrees required. Many top education schools offer a bachelor's degree and a master's degree, with a few offering a Ph.D. program in special education. If teaching is the only career pursuit a student has, then obtaining the minimum amount of education to get started may suffice. If the idea of teaching other college students special education, or becoming an administrator is a possibility, then a student should plan on getting an advanced degree.
Anyone interested in getting started in special education as a teacher has to study four or five years to obtain the degree and licensing requirements to begin their career. State requirements vary. A bachelor's degree is a requirement in all states.
Basic undergraduate work concentrates on teaching theory. Subject matter often includes diagnostic tools and instructional skills. The focus of the bachelor's degree program is to learn how to get the most out of the students by optimizing their learning experience.
Licensing is a requirement in all 50 states. In addition to the bachelor's degree, practice teaching is also required in a supervised setting. In most states, there is also a professional assessment test that must be passed. In other states, a master's degree is required.
Even professionals who pursue alternative licensure programs offered in some states are expected to have a bachelor's degree. These alternative programs were designed to recruit professionals from other fields, with a bachelor's degree in a field other than education. With the high demand for special education teachers, this opportunity is ideal for disgruntled corporate professionals seeking a change to more meaningful work.
Teachers with a special education degree work with children who have a variety of disabilities. Most children have moderate disabilities, while a few may suffer from severe emotional and physical problems. An important mission of a teacher involved with students who have severe problems is to teach them basic life skills and how to read and write.
Working with administrators and other teachers is a very important part of a teacher's job. Preparing a plan for each student that includes realistic goals for the student to meet based on their personal limitations and strengths is a large part of the job. This plan is called the Individualized Education Program (IEP).