This career is expected to grow 17 percent through 2018, which is faster than average. The number of students requiring special education services has grown steadily in recent years.

Positions in inner cities and rural areas usually are more plentiful than in suburban or wealthy urban areas. Student populations also are expected to increase more rapidly in parts of the country, such as the South and West. Bilingual teachers will be in especially high demand.

In 2008, special education teachers in grades K-8 earned an average salary of $50,020. High school special education teachers earned an average salary of $51,340. The highest 10 percent of special education teachers earned between $78,200 and $82,000. 

Special education teachers work with children and youths who have a variety of disabilities. The majority of special education teachers work with children with mild to moderate disabilities, using or modifying the general education curriculum to meet the child’s individual needs.

Special education teachers use various techniques to promote learning. Depending on the disability, teaching methods can include individualized instruction, problem-solving assignments and small-group work. Special education teachers help to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each student. The IEP sets personalized goals for the student and is tailored to that student’s needs and ability.

Special education teachers work in a variety of settings. Some have their own classrooms and teach only special education students; others work as special education resource teachers and offer individualized help to students in general education classrooms; still others teach together with general education teachers in classes including both general and special education students.

All states require special education teachers to be licensed, which typically requires at least a bachelor’s degree and completion of an approved training program in special education teaching. Many states require a master’s degree.

Licensing: All 50 states and the District of Columbia require special education teachers to be licensed. Licensure requirements vary by state. For traditional licensing, all states require a bachelor’s degree and the completion of an approved teacher preparation program.

However, many states also require a master’s degree in special education, involving at least one year of additional course work—including a specialization—beyond the bachelor’s degree. Often a prospective teacher must pass a professional assessment test as well.

Entering the Field: Investigate your state’s licensing requirements and any opportunities for alternative licensing. The first step is almost always to obtain a bachelor’s degree. However, you may be able to begin teaching as a teacher’s aide in some states with an associate degree. Private schools will sometimes hire teaching assistants and aides who lack bachelor’s degrees or who do not hold bachelor’s degrees in special education to assist in the classroom.

Career Changers: One option for career changers is to pursue an alternative route to licensing. Most alternative licensure programs are open to anyone with a bachelor’s degree in any subject, though some are designed for recent college graduates or professionals in other education occupations.

Alternative licensing programs typically require completion of a period of supervised preparation and instruction (supervised teaching on site) and passing an assessment test. Individuals can then begin teaching under a provisional license and can obtain a regular license after one to two years of teaching and completing required education courses.

Check your state’s board of education for special alternative licensing opportunities. These will vary by geographic location. You may need to relocate to enter teaching through an alternative licensing program.