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Gesell Institute

School of Education Early Childhood Special Education Add-On Certification

Graduate Teaching Certification

Earn your 809 Add-on License

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has proudly offered certifications in special education since 1972. The Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Add-on Teacher Licensure/Certification provides opportunities for licensed teachers to gain valuable knowledge and experience working with special needs children from ages birth through 3rd grade.  

Program Benefits  

  • courses are 100% online
  • collaborate with other special education teachers 
  • advocate for the unique needs of your students
  • offered at the undergraduate and graduate level 
Ed.D. in Educational Sustainability

Why choose the Early Childhood Special Education Add-On program at UW-Stevens Point?

At UW-Stevens Point, we have online, interactive classes that will provide opportunities for you to examine and enrich your personal and professional goals. The number of credits required for this add-on llicensure/certification program is dependent on each participant’s educational and professional background. We will work with you to review your transcripts and determine each participant’s unique course requirements.

School of Education
School of Education

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Add-On Program

By the Numbers

6
Courses
1
Year
US Dollars465
Per Credit + Fees

Courses and Requirements

Students for this program must already have a bachelor’s degree and teacher license/certification in early childhood, elementary, secondary, or K-12 education.

The following courses are professional education requirements for the early childhood special education add-on teacher licensure/certification. We will let you know during your transcript review if these prerequisites have or have not been met. If not, these courses will be required before you can begin the program.

  • Psychology 260: Introduction to Developmental Psychology (3 cr.) OR Human Development 261: Child Growth and Development (3 cr.) OR Human Development 265: Human Growth and Development – A Life-Span Approach (3 cr.) OR Education 723: The Psychology of the Classroom (2 cr.)
  • Early Childhood Education 368/568: Creative Integrated Curriculum and Methods for Young Children (3 cr.)

The following courses will need to be completed to earn the early childhood special education add-on teacher licensure/certification:

  • Education 737: Family, Community, and Agency Collaboration for Transitioning Individuals with Disabilities (3 cr.)
  • Education 318/518: Individualized Education Program (IEP) Development for Special Educators (1 cr.)
  • Education 365/565: Assessment and Intervention Strategies for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and Their Families (3 cr.)
  • Education 366/566: Assessment/Intervention Strategies for Preschool Children with Disabilities and Their Families (3 cr.)
  • Education 756: Special Education Assessment *Requires clinical experience/practicum hours (3 cr.)
  • Education 398: Student Teaching with Students with Disabilities based the area of specialization you are teaching (1-16 cr.) OR Education 781: Teaching Students with Disabilities Practicum – Internship (1 cr.)

Throughout the coursework, students must maintain a GPA of 3.00 or higher. If they fall below 3.00 then they must take the Praxis Subject Area Assessment Test #5018 and achieve a minimum score of 146 to earn their licensure/certification.

To earn a licensure/certification, students must pass the Foundations of Reading Test (FoRT). At UW-Stevens Point, our program includes preparation for the FoRT through two literacy courses and an on-site preparation workshop. **If you plan on taking the FoRT Alternative, you must take EDUC 718 and EDUC 747.

“I have enjoyed every class, every video, every assignment and believe me that it has served me tremendously in my training as a teacher, I have always loved my exceptional students and now I not only love them but I respect more their struggle to be included in our society, in our schools and in our lives.”
Norma Schmidt

How much will it cost?

Tuition rates for School of Education master’s degree-level courses are $465/credit.
State Teacher College Rock at Old Main

Tuition and Costs

We recognize that cost is essential when determining which program is best for you. Tuition, segregated fees, and a distance education fee combine to determine the program’s total cost, and each item is priced on a per-credit basis. There is an additional $25 administrative fee per semester of enrollment. For questions about tuition or more information, please reach out to Student Financial Services.

Students enrolled in an add-on licensure program are considered non-degree seeking and will not be eligible for financial aid. If students combine their add-on licensure with the master’s in education degree, they are degree-seeking and are eligible for financial aid.

Master's in Education

Add a Master’s in Education

Are you interested in earning your Master’s in Education? Why not use the credits from this add-on licensure/certification to count towards your degree? The M.S. in Education degree requires 30 graduate credits, and these courses can be used to count towards your degree. Learn more about our master’s degree and how you can earn both a degree and an add-on licensure/certification at the same time.

Meet your Faculty and Staff

Our instructors consistently achieve exemplary ratings and strive to utilize innovative instructional strategies in an online environment. We are available to assist our students and care deeply about their needs.
Nikki Logan

Nikki Logan

  • Professor – Education
  • Coordinator – Special Education
Sydney Bueno

Sydney Bueno

  • Associate Professor – Special Education
  • Director – School of Education Graduate Programs
  • Liaison – Project Search
715-346-2354
Rayvn Knipple

Rayvn Knipple

  • Graduate Programs Assistant – School of Education
  • CPS University Staff Common Council Representative
715 346-2048
DPI Logo

DPI Accreditation

UW-Stevens Point’s teacher education programs are accredited by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

The United States Department of Education requires institutions that provide distance education to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure about whether each program meets state educational requirements for initial licensure or certification. Following is this disclosure information for this program:

  • The requirements of this program meet Certification/Licensure in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.
  • The requirements of this program do not meet Certification/Licensure in the following states: Kentucky, Montana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • Note: If you live in a state or territory that does not meet certification/licensure requirements, contact the School of Education and we will investigate further.