Date of Last Review: June 30, 2023

Special Education Certification (Undergrad & Grad)

Alabama

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. The Special Education Certification on its own is not designed to lead to initial teacher certification in the state. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Alaska

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. The Special Education Certification on its own is not designed to lead to initial teacher certification in the state. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Arizona

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. There are five separate areas of Special Education focus: Early Childhood Special Education, Mild/Moderate Disabilities; Hearing Impaired Special Education, Visually Impaired Special Education.

Arkansas

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Two additional assessments are required: 1) EdTPA, and 2) Foundations of Reading Assessment.

California

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. The Special Education Certification on its own is not designed to lead to initial teacher certification in the state. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Colorado

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Connecticut

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Candidates must pass the Connecticut Foundations of Reading (090) test. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Delaware

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. The Special Education Certification on its own is not designed to lead to initial teacher certification in the state. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Florida

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. One additional requirement is taking the Florida Teacher Certification examination (FTCE) used to ensure that all teacher candidates demonstrate the necessary content and pedagogical knowledge necessary to effectively instruct students in Florida. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Georgia

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Two additional requirements are: 1) EdTPA and 2) Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators (GACE), Georgia’s state-approved educator certification assessment program. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Hawaii

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes but candidates also need to clear the professional fitness check. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Idaho

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes but the certification is titled: Exceptional Child Generalist (K-12). Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Illinois

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Those who complete student teaching requirements on or after September 1, 2015, are required to take the edTPA. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Indiana

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Special Education certification covers a number of specific areas: Special Education Exceptional Needs: Mild Intervention; Exceptional Needs: Intense Intervention; Exceptional Needs: Visually Impaired; Exceptional Needs: Hearing Impaired. These certifications also require: Valid CPR certification from an IDOE approved provider and suicide prevention training certificate.

Iowa

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Kansas

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. The Special Education Certification on its own is not designed to lead to initial teacher certification in the state. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Kentucky

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes. The Base Teaching Certificate can be obtained in Exceptional Children (Grades 1-12), with an emphasis in learning and behavior disorders, moderate and severe disabilities, hearing impaired, hearing impaired with sign proficiency, visually impaired or communication disorders. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Louisiana

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Special Education certification covers a number of specific areas: Early Interventionist (Birth-5 years); Hearing Impaired (Grades K-12); Mild/Moderate Disabilities (Grades 1-12); General/Special Education: Mild/Moderate Disabilities (Grades 1-5, 4-8 or 6-12); Significant Disabilities (Grades 1-12); Visual Impairments/Blind (Grades K-12). Louisiana also requires a yearlong residency alongside an expert mentor and specific competency-based curriculum.

Maine

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Maryland

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. The MSDE issues certificates in several focus areas of special education, including Infant/primary (birth to grade 3), Elementary/middle (grades 1-8), Secondary/adult (grades 6-12), Hearing Impaired, Severely and Profoundly Disabled and Visually Impaired. Teachers with existing certificates can add endorsements in these areas. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Massachusetts

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. The Special Education Certification on its own is not designed to lead to initial teacher certification in the state. Those who would like to be special educators need to complete the specific requirements for endorsement in the focus area of special education and the grade level in which they wish to teach.

Michigan

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Candidates selecting special education, English as a second language, or bilingual education must also choose a content area of specialization (e.g., lower elementary, English language arts, science, biology, or economics). Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Minnesota

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Minnesota issues certificates in several focus areas of Special Education: Academic and Behavioral Strategist (mild to moderate only); Autism Spectrum Disorders Birth-age 21 (grade 12); Blind or Visually Impaired Birth-age 21 (grade 12); Deaf or Hard of Hearing Birth-age 21 (grade 12); Developmental Adapted Physical Education Grades PK – age 21 (grade 12); Developmental Disabilities Grades K- age 21 (grade 12); Early Childhood Birth through age 6; Emotional Behavioral Disorders Grades K- age 21 (grade 12); Learning Disabilities Grades K- age 21 (grade 12). Oral/Aural Education Birth-age 21 (grade 12); Physical and Health Disabilities. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Mississippi

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes. Mississippi also issues certificates in several other focus areas of Special Education: Braille K-12; Emotional Disability K-12; Hearing Disability K-12; Mild/Moderate Disability K-12. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Missouri

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Minnesota issues certificates in several focus areas of Special Education: Blind & Low Vision B-12, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, B-12, Early Childhood Special Education B-3, Mild/Mod Cross Categorical K-12, and Severe Developmental Disability K-12. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Montana

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Nebraska

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. One course in Human Relations is required. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Nevada

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes. There are a variety of Special Education focus areas. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

New Hampshire

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. There are a variety of Special Education focus areas. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

New Jersey

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. The Special Education Certification on its own is not designed to lead to initial teacher certification in the state. The certificate requires a co-certificate. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

New Mexico

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Candidates need to pass the New Mexico Teacher Assessments (NMTA). Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

New York

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. There are a variety of Special Education focus areas and several state requirements for initial certification: New York State Teacher Certification Exam - Educating All Students Test (EAS), Content Specialty Test (CST) - Students With Disabilities or Safety Net Students With Disabilities, Content Specialty Test (CST) - Multi-Subject or Multi-Subject, edTPA - Special Education, Workshop - Dignity For All Students Act.

North Carolina

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No determination has been made about the curriculum meeting educational requirements. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

North Dakota

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. There are many different special education endorsements. There is: Specific Learning Disabilities (LD), Emotional Disabilities (ED), Intellectual Disabilities (ID), or the Strategist (LD, ED, and ID combined.) In addition there are also endorsements in the areas of: hearing impairment and visual impairment, early childhood special education, and gifted and talented. Applicants must also take a Human relations and cultural diversity course (at least 2 credits). Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Ohio

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. There are a variety of Intervention Specialist focus areas: Gifted (K-12); Mild/Moderate Needs (K-12); Moderate/Intensive Needs (K-12); Visually Impaired (PK-12), and Hearing Impaired (PK-12).Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Oklahoma

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes. Note: There is a requirement that special education teachers be highly qualified who teach a core academic subject. High qualified means: 1) Holds a minimum of a bachelor’s degree; and, 2) Has obtained full Oklahoma certification or holds an Oklahoma teaching license and does not have certification or licensure requirements waived on an emergency, temporary, or provisional basis, and 3) Has demonstrated subject-matter competency in each of the academic subjects in which the teacher delivers the content knowledge. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Oregon

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. There are two state assessments all candidates need to pass: 1) Protecting Student and Civil Rights in the Educational Environment Exam– This exam will cover Legal Foundations and Equity in the School Environment, and 2) Subject Mastery Exam- The exact subject exam you will take will vary depending on the license endorsement you seek. All Oregon subject exams are Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA) and are administered by Pearson.

Pennsylvania

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Rhode Island

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes. There are a variety of Special Education focus areas. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

South Carolina

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. There are a variety of Special Education focus areas and several state requirements for initial certification that includes edTPA. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

South Dakota

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Certification in special education requires taking two exams depending on the grade level. For certification in early childhood special education, candidates take the Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood exam. Special education certification from grades K through 12 take the Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications exam. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Tennessee

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. There are a variety of Special Education focus areas and several state exam requirements. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Texas

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Certification in special education requires taking the required TEXES assessment and EdTPA. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Utah

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Certification in special education requires completion of Associate Educator License Modules, which include Educator Ethics (including the required online Educator Ethics Review), Special Education Law and Instruction, Classroom Management and Instruction, and Utah Effective Teaching Standards. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Vermont

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Virginia

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Certification requires two trainings: Dyslexia Awareness and Emergency First Aid, CPR & AED Certification or Training. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Washington

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Candidates must take the Washington Educator Skills Test and edTPA. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

West Virginia

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. There are a variety of Special Education focus areas and several state exam requirements. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Wisconsin

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

Wyoming

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Candidates need an initial certification and then can earn an endorsement in a variety of Special Education areas. Candidates also need to demonstrate Knowledge of the U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

U.S. Territories

American Samoa

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No territory policy currently exists on the Department of Education website so no determination has been made about the curriculum meeting educational requirements. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No. Certification has requirements not required in PA, for instance: have approved and evidenced a course on the Integration of Technology in Education , including the issue of identification of reliable sources of information and adapting the curriculum and have approved and evidenced a course of History of Puerto Rico. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

The District of Columbia, Guam

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No territory policy currently exists on the Department of Education website so no determination has been made about the curriculum meeting educational requirements. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

The District of Columbia, Washington

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
Yes. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

The Virgin Islands

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No territory policy currently exists on the Department of Education website so no determination has been made about the curriculum meeting educational requirements. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No territory policy currently exists on the Department of Education website so no determination has been made about the curriculum meeting educational requirements. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No territory policy currently exists on the Department of Education website so no determination has been made about the curriculum meeting educational requirements. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

The Federated States of Micronesia

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No territory policy currently exists on the Department of Education website so no determination has been made about the curriculum meeting educational requirements. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.

The Republic of Palau

Link to State Licensure Minimum Qualifications

Does EU meet minimum Qualifications for State Licensure?
No territory policy currently exists on the Department of Education website so no determination has been made about the curriculum meeting educational requirements. Please check with the state's Department of Education for initial licensure requirements and renewal and maintenance requirements.