How to Get a Special Education Certification
Written by:
Wilson College
• Sep 10, 2026
The number of public school students in prekindergarten through 12th grade who receive special education services is growing. According to information gathered from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) Open Data Platform:
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In the 2014-2015 school year, about 6.7 million students received special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
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In the 2023-2024 school year, about 7.9 million students received special education services under IDEA.
As the population of special education students grows, so does the need for qualified special education teachers. To do their best work, special education teachers need to continue to deepen their expertise and learn new ways to maximize their students’ potential. One way for teachers to do this is to pursue a special education certification. In seeking to earn a certification, teachers can enhance their skills, better serve their students, and even advance in their careers.
Individuals who are considering enrolling in a Master of Special Education degree program should learn about certifications in special education and the related benefits for both teachers and students.
What Is a Special Education Certification?
It’s important to distinguish between a teaching certificate and a special education certification:
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A teaching certificate (also referred to as a teaching license in some states) is a credential that a state requires an individual to obtain prior to entering the teaching profession. Teachers typically earn a teaching certificate by completing a series of steps, including passing standardized or state-specific exams. Teachers of all kinds, including special education teachers, generally must hold a teaching certificate.
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A special education certification is an additional credential that special education teachers can earn voluntarily to demonstrate their expertise. A special education teacher needs to satisfy certain eligibility requirements and pass an exam to earn one of these certifications. Earning a certification in special education demonstrates that an individual possesses specialized knowledge and skills. It also reflects the individual’s dedication to special education and desire to serve students by acquiring additional expertise.
Types of Special Education Certifications
Many different professional organizations and nonprofits offer special education certifications. For example, the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) offers the following certifications:
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Board Certification in Special Education: The BCSE demonstrates competency in a range of areas, such as special education assessment, responsiveness to interventions, and critical concepts in special education.
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Board Certification in IEP Development: The BCIEP reflects competency in developing and implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for special education students.
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Board Certification in Inclusion for Special Education: The BCISE is evidence of an individual’s expertise in inclusive education that can serve diverse groups of students.
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Board Certified Advocate in Special Education: The BCASE shows that an individual has expertise in acting as an advocate for special education students and their parents so that the students receive all the services and protections they’re entitled to under the law.
Another option is the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE). This organization offers an international special education certification and certifications for teachers in specific states, including:
- Florida
- Idaho
- Montana
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Alternatively, while the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) doesn’t offer certifications, it does offer online and in-person professional development classes on family collaboration, IEP development, research-backed special education strategies, and more. These resources are available to individuals, schools, and districts.
Steps to Get a Special Education Certification
Knowing the steps to get a special education certification is important for individuals who want to enhance their special education credentials.
Step 1: Earn the Degree Specified in the Certification’s Eligibility Requirements
Candidates for the BCSE must hold a graduate degree (a master’s degree or higher) in a subject that involves students with disabilities and special needs. For example, a candidate who’s earned a Master of Special Education degree or a master’s degree in special education administration meets this requirement.
Candidates for the BCIEP must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in their field, while candidates for the BCIES must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in education.
The BCASE has no specific educational degree requirements.
Step 2: Prepare for and Pass the Certification Exam
To earn the BCSE, BCIEP, BCIES, or BCASE, candidates must pay the required fees and submit the application to take the certification exam. This is also true for ABCTE’s certification.
Candidates must learn about the various modules (or topics) that the exam covers to know what to study in preparation for the exam. NASET provides a handbook for each exam that details the content within these modules.
Candidates take the exam in sections that correspond with each module. They can take the exam sections online on their own schedule. However, as of August 2026:
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BCSE candidates must pass all exam sections within four years of the acceptance of their applications.
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BCIEP, BCISE, and BCASE candidates must pass exam sections within two years of the acceptance of their applications.
Step 3: Receive Approval for Certification and Fulfill Certification Renewal Requirements
After passing the exam for a special education certification, individuals receive their certification. Those who get certified through NASET must renew their certification annually.
Conversely, states that accept ABCTE’s certification often recognize it for initial certification and then require educators to upgrade to full state-level certification or licensure. Renewal and upgrade policies vary by state.
Above and Beyond: Combining a Master’s Degree With Certification
While earning a Master of Special Education is an important step in earning some types of certifications, it’s not always a requirement. That said, there are some advantages to pairing a master’s degree with a certification.
Extra Preparation for Certification Exams
Certification exams cover a wide range of domains: legal issues, assistive technology, and more depending on the type of certification. Organizations offer courses on exam content, but for master’s-level educators, these courses are more about reviewing previously learned principles than learning entirely new concepts.
Learn How to Conduct and Apply Research
In general, master’s degree programs in special education often advanced skills such as conducting assessments and helping students transition to the next steps in their lives. Students also typically complete a long-term project in which they identify an issue in special education, conduct research, and devise solutions. This skill, combined with the continuing education offered by certification programs, prepares educators to implement the latest research-backed strategies in their daily lives.
Build a Bigger Support Network
As rewarding as special education is, it can also be challenging. In a master’s degree program, educators can meet peers from different schools and districts as well as knowledgeable instructors with years of experience. Such a network can be instrumental to discovering new solutions to classroom problems and finding camaraderie.
Benefits of Obtaining a Special Education Certification
Earning a certification in special education can benefit both teachers and their students. Examples of specific benefits are described below.
Strengthen Their Skills and Improve Education
Working toward a special education certification can deepen special education teachers’ knowledge and abilities and help them improve their students’ education. Teachers can learn new approaches to learning that can enhance their success in working with students in special education.
Become a Resource for Other Educators
According to ED, about 68% of students receiving special education services spend 80% or more of their time in general education classrooms. This means that more general education teachers than ever must be equipped to work in inclusive environments.
In this landscape, extra training and certification can help current special education teachers better guide their peers. Just as important, it can help educators without in-depth special education training serve all their students to the best of their abilities.
Strengthen Their Credentials and Advance in Their Careers
Special education positions often require a multifaceted skill set. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that about 52% of all special educators hold master’s degrees despite many states requiring only a bachelor’s degree.
By adding a master’s degree and certification to their resumes, teachers can demonstrate the breadth of their skills and their commitment to special education as highly trained professionals. A certification can also make teachers’ skills more marketable and help them advance in their careers.
Prepare for Leadership Roles
Earning a special education certification prepares teachers for positions of greater responsibility and leadership in education. A certification demonstrates an individual’s professionalism and commitment to both continuing their own education and contributing to the field of special education.
Stay Up to Date on Advancements in Special Education
In working toward earning a special education certification, teachers can learn about advancements and new approaches in special education that they can incorporate into their teaching practice. In addition, when individuals renew their NASET certification, they receive updated information related to the subject of their certification.
Special Education Certifications Enhance Teachers’ Skills and Strengthen Students’ Education
Pursuing a special education certification is a great way for teachers to improve their ability to provide special education services and advance in their careers. Individuals who are interested in furthering their knowledge of special education can explore Wilson College Online’s Master of Special Education degree program to learn how it can help them achieve their goals.
With coursework designed to deepen teachers’ expertise in pedagogical theories and technology relevant to teaching special education—as well as their expertise in subject areas that are relevant to earning a special education certification—the program is designed to help teachers advance along the special education career path.
For future special education professionals, Wilson College Online also offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Special Education program. At this level, students learn the research-backed and trauma-informed strategies they need to start careers as inclusive, well-rounded educators.
Make the commitment to enhance your special education expertise today.
Recommended Readings
Master of Teaching vs. Master of Education: What’s the Difference?
Tips for Building an Engaging Special Education Classroom
What Can You Do With an Early Childhood Education Degree?
Sources:
Indeed, “How to Become a Special Education Teacher”
National Association of Special Education Teachers, Certifications
