Special Education Pathways to Certification

Traditional Bachelor's Pathway to Certification

The traditional pathway to teacher certification is designed for individuals pursuing an initial bachelor's degree in special education. Bachelor's degrees are offered leading to the following certificates:

• Standard Professional Early Childhood Special Education Certificate - Birth-Age 8 or Grade 3
• Standard Professional Mild/Moderate Disabilities Special Education Certificate - Grades K-12
• Standard Professional Visually Impaired Certificate - Birth-Grade 12

Candidates in a traditional program complete a course of study that meets all university requirements for the chosen degree and leads to a standard special education teaching certificate. Some programs allow for a special education degree to be combined with a general education Early Childhood (PK-3) or Elementary (K-8) certificate.

• Traditional programs leading to a single certificate conclude with a 12-week capstone student teaching experience in a special education classroom.
• Traditional programs leading to dual certification conclude with one 8-week capstone student teaching experience in general education and one 8-week capstone student teaching experience in special education. Dual programs lead to two certificates being issued by the Department of Education.

Upon completion of all program requirements and student teaching, candidates in a Board approved teacher preparation program are awarded a bachelor's degree and issued an institutional recommendation that may be used to apply for an Arizona Standard Special Education Certificate.

Approved Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education Dual Bachelor's Degree Programs:

• Arizona State University
• Grand Canyon University
• Ottawa University

Approved Mild/Moderate Special Education Bachelor's Degree Programs:

• Prescott College
• University of Arizona

Approved Mild/Moderate Special Education and Elementary Education Dual Bachelor's Degree Programs:

• Arizona State University
• Grand Canyon University
• Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff

Approved Visually Impaired Bachelor's Degree Program:

• Arizona State University

Traditional or Alternative Post-Baccalaureate/Master's Pathway to Certification

The traditional post-baccalaureate pathway to teacher certification is designed for individuals with a bachelor's degree in any field pursuing a post-baccalaureate certificate program or a master’s degree program in special education. Post-baccalaureate certificates or Master's degrees are offered leading to the following certificates:

• Standard Professional Early Childhood Special Education Certificate - Birth-Age 8 or Grade 3
• Standard Professional Mild/Moderate Disabilities Special Education Certificate - Grades K-12
• Standard Professional Moderate/Severe Disabilities Special Education Certificate - Grades K-12
• Standard Professional Hearing Impaired Certificate - Birth-Grade 12
• Standard Professional Visually Impaired Certificate - Birth-Grade 12

Candidates complete a course of study that meets all college or university requirements for a post-baccalaureate certificate or a master's degree and leads to a standard special education teaching certificate. Some programs allow for a special education degree to be combined with a general education Early Childhood (PK-3) or Elementary (K-8) certificate. Candidates have the following options for meeting the student teaching requirement:

• In a traditional route leading to a single certificate, candidates complete a capstone 12-week student teaching experience in a special education classroom.
• In a traditional route leading to dual certification, candidates complete one 8-week capstone student teaching experience in general education and one 8-week capstone student teaching experience in special education. Dual programs lead to two certificates being issued by the Department of Education.
• In an alternative route, candidates may teach full-time as a salaried teacher in a special education classroom while completing program requirements. This full-time teaching experience meets the student teaching requirement for certification.

Upon completion of all program requirements and student teaching or verified teaching experience, candidates in a Board approved teacher preparation program are issued an institutional recommendation that may be used to apply for an Arizona Standard Special Education Certificate.

Approved Early Childhood Special Education Master's Degree Program:

• Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff

Approved Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education Dual Master's Degree Program:

• Grand Canyon University

Approved Mild/Moderate Special Education Post-Baccalaureate/Master's Degree Programs:

• Arizona State University
• Grand Canyon University
• Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff
• Prescott College
• Pima Community College
• Prescott College
• Rio Salado College
• University of Arizona
• University of Phoenix

Approved Mild/Moderate Special Education and Elementary Education Dual Master's Degree Program:

• Arizona State University

Approved Moderate/Severe Special Education Master's Degree Programs:

• Grand Canyon University
• University of Arizona

Approved Visually Impaired or Hearing Impaired Master's Degree Programs:

• University of Arizona