Many students have certain physical or emotional conditions that make it difficult for them to learn in a traditional school setting. Whether they have ADHD, Autism, anxiety, learning disorders, or any other condition, these students need extra attention in the classroom to reach their full potential, It takes a special kind of person with the right educational background to help these students reach their goals and find success. If you’re considering a career in special education, there are many different options to choose from. Find out about special education careers from teaching and beyond.
You’re A Perfect Fit For A Special Education Career
If you're an empathetic, patient, fearless, flexible, and dedicated person, a career in special education may be right for you.
Working in special education comes with obstacles and triumphs. Your mission is to help your students or clients thrive in ways they otherwise wouldn’t. You’re giving people the tools they need to succeed, whether helping a student with dyslexia read or translating the spoken word to sign language.
What Special Education Professionals Need To Know
Despite the fact that your education will prepare you for the technical aspects of your career, there are still some things you need to know when heading into a career in special education.
- It will be challenging. In general, working to help others can be challenging. When you compound that with the emotional and physical needs of those in your charge, it can be overwhelming. There are days when your patience and kindness will be tested.
- There is a lot of paperwork. With every special education student, patient, and client, there is a lot to paperwork. Evaluations, reports, Individualized Education Programs, meeting invitations, and so much more, need to be filled out.
- You may get very emotionally attached. So many special education professionals get very involved in the lives of their students/clients. Because you’ll be communicating with many others included on the team of professionals, you’ll be deeply invested in their struggles, and it’s only natural to form an attachment.
- You need to adaptable which means you’ll need to be good natured and patient.
- There are many difficulties you'll face. Your students or clients are going to be giving it their all. But, you may be doing a lot of the same things over and over until they’re able to catch on.
- You may be extremely satisfied. As frustrating as some of the instances can be, you’ll find tremendous satisfaction when your students or clients reach milestones and breakthroughs.
Career Options in Special Education
There are many different paths you can take—and degrees you can get—if you want to work in special education, from a bachelor’s degree to a doctorate.
9 Careers in Special Education
Recreational Therapist: You’ll use arts, crafts, music, dance, aquatics, and other modalities to help people with disabilities, injuries, or illness.
- A bachelor’s degree is necessary.
- Certification is preferred by most employers.
Translation for the Hearing Impaired: You’ll translate the spoken word to sign language for your hearing impaired clients.
- Bachelor’s degree is required and fluency in English and American Sign Language (ASL) is a must.
- Certifications are available through the National Association of the Deaf as well as Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
Occupational Therapist: You’ll help patients with disabilities learn, develop, and recover tasks they’ll use in everyday life. This is done through exercises, special equipment, and other forms of relevant therapies.
- A master’s degree in occupational therapy is required. To be an aid or assistant, hands-on training and an associate degree are recommended.
- Each state may have its own licensing requirements, and it is a requirement to be licensed in most states.
Physical Therapist: As a physical therapist, you’ll be trained to use different forms of exercise to help your patients manage their pain and improve their movement.
- A doctoral degree in physical therapy is required.
- Every state in the U.S. requires PTs to be licensed.
School Social Worker: You’ll work with students and help them tackle situations that occur in their lives.
- Bachelor’s degrees are the minimum requirement for entry-level social work positions.
- Licensing is required, and you must have a master’s degree and two years of experience to obtain a license.
School Psychologist: You use your study and observation of social, cognitive, and emotional processes to help improve the students’ behavior.
- A Ph.D or Psy.D are required.
- Licensing is required in every state.
Speech-Language Pathologist: As a speech therapist, you’ll help with swallowing and communication disorders with children.
- A master’s degree is necessary, at the very least.
- Licensing or registration will be required, depending on your state.
Audiologist: You’ll diagnose hearing, balance, or other ear problems. Many audiologists work in doctor offices and clinics, but there are also many who work in school districts traveling between schools.
- A doctoral degree in audiology is required.
- Licensing is required in all states.
Special Education Educator: You’ll teach students with moderate to severe emotional or physical disabilities.
- A bachelor’s degree is required.
- A license to teach at each grade level is necessary.
Salary and Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average salary for special education teachers working in high schools in 2023 was $76,000, with the top 10 percent making $114,360. The BLS also predicts that by 2032, demand for special education teachers will show little to no increase or decrease.
The job of a special education teacher is especially important and meaningful. If you are a patient and resourceful person with a passion for helping those with special needs, a job as a special education teacher may be a great fit for you.
References:
https://www.cec.sped.org/Professional-Development/Job-Profiles-in-Special-Education
https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/career-in-special-education/