Requirements of Being a Special Education Teacher in New York

The New York State Education Department and its Office of Special Education collectively employ over 38,500 educators to fulfill the task of teaching the students with special needs. In spite of achieving this number of educators there is still a standing requirement of special education teachers in New York.

When it comes to the minimum qualification for being a teacher, there are different requirements for undergraduates and graduates who volunteer to be a part of special education teacher’s forum in New York.  The interested undergraduates can pursue a bachelor’s degree through a New York state-approved teacher training that includes all the academic and content area classes compulsory for obtaining a license as a special education teacher. The undergraduates must also pass state-mandated examinations to qualify for a New York certificate. As for the graduates, it is required to get into a program that includes internship in K-12 school apart from the license studies to qualify as a teacher.

The New York state education department is very prompt in providing the varied license to the qualified teachers. There are various categories of licenses given to the qualifiers. The initial license is valid for up to 5 years for entry-level candidates. The others get a full certificate for practicing special education. The NYSED also issues emergency license to few who do not meet all the requirements of being a special education teacher in New York. These Volunteers can practice special education while pursuing to get the full certificate for the department.

For individuals interested in dedicating their lives to specially abled and taking up a faster track for the same by getting a license to teach in New York City schools, there are many residency programs at New York City educational institutions that combine preparatory coursework with internship and other forms of mentored and supervised teaching. The training cum internship program can be easily converted into a job as they are holistically inclined towards the betterment of specially-abled students over a period of time.

Teaching is always a rewarding pursuit but teaching in special education schools of New York can be all the more satisfying with the steps taken by the New York state education department and office of special education together.