School of Education
Special Education Accelerated Teacher Licensure Certification
Graduate Teaching Certification
we’re here so you can be there for them
Are you looking to make a career change and move into the world of special education? Are you currently teaching special education with an emergency license? This accelerated program is designed to help our students earn an initial teaching licensure/certification for Cross Categorical Special Education K-12th grade so you can thrive in dynamic educational settings while assisting students with special needs.
Program Benefits
- Flexible curriculum with courses offered 100% online.
- Help your students reach their full potential while understanding their unique needs.
- Paid student teaching is an option to those already employed in a setting that meets student teaching requirements prior to the start of the student teaching semester. If you have specific questions about student teaching placements please contact the Office of Field Experiences.
- Program can be combined with the Master’s in Education program to help you earn your degree.
- Courses taught by experienced faculty.
- Free workshops and online training to help students pass the Foundations of Reading Test or alternative pathways to meet licensure/certification requirements.
- Curriculum includes required practicum to ensure hands-on learning.
Why choose the Special Education Accelerated Teacher Certification program at UW-Stevens Point?
At UW-Stevens Point we provide online, interactive classes that create opportunities for you to examine and enrich your personal and professional goals. With engaged and passionate faculty, we strive to help every student succeed so they can earn their licensure/certification and begin/continue their work in special education.
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Special Education Accelerated Teacher Certification
By the Numbers
US Dollars450
Per Credit + Fees
Courses and Requirements
This program is ideal for those who have a non-teaching bachelor’s degree and are either teaching special education with a license with stipulations (emergency license) or want a career change to impact students. Anyone who is looking to earn a teaching license in special education is welcome to apply to this program.
Please note that students must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 to apply. Probationary admission will be considered for a lower GPA.
| Course |
Credits |
Term |
| EDUC 723 – The Psychology of the Classroom |
2 |
Summer I |
| EDUC 755 – Foundations of Special Education |
3 |
Summer I |
| EDUC 713 – Essential Skills for Special Educators |
3 |
Fall I |
| EDUC 769 – Curriculum and Instruction II |
3 |
Fall I |
| EDUC 737 – Collaboration for Successful Transition |
3 |
Winterim I |
| EDUC 764 – Curriculum and Instruction for Students with Disabilities I |
3 |
Spring I |
| EDUC 756 – Special Education Assessment |
3 |
Spring I |
| Take PRAXIS if required |
|
|
| EDUC 724 – Diversity and Development |
2 |
Summer II |
| EDUC 704 – Strategies for Discipline and Classroom Management |
3 |
Summer II |
| EDUC 718 – Core Components of Teaching Reading |
3 |
Fall II |
| EDUC 715 – Application and Analysis of Reading Instruction |
3 |
Fall II |
| Take FORT Test |
|
|
| EDUC 773 – Special Education Technology |
2 |
Winterim II |
EDUC 798 – Student Teaching
Must apply to student teach the semester prior to student teaching. Appropriate content tests, and Foundations of Reading Test (FoRT) must be passed for full WI licensure. Paid student teaching is an option to those already employed in a setting that meets student teaching requirements prior to the start of the student teaching semester. If you have specific questions about student teaching placements please contact the Office of Field Experiences. |
6 |
Spring II |
| EDUC 700 – Student Teaching Seminar |
1 |
Spring II |
| Total |
40 credits |
|
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.
Students must also obtain a 3.00 or higher in all coursework throughout the program. If they fall below 3.00 then they must take the Praxis Subject Area Assessment in their content area to earn their licensure/certification.
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 accelerated teaching licensure/certification program are considered non-degree seeking and will not be eligible for financial aid. If students combine their accelerated teaching licensure/certification program with the Master’s in Education degree program, they are degree-seeking and are eligible for financial aid.
Are you Ready to Apply?
This program is ideal for those who have a non-teaching bachelor’s degree and are either teaching special education with a license with stipulations (emergency license) or want a career change to impact students. Anyone who is looking to earn a teaching license in special education is welcome to apply to this program.
Please note that students must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 to apply. Probationary admission will be considered for a lower GPA.
- Apply to the School of Education and submit:
- All unofficial transcripts (including transfer credits)
- Letter of Intent – describe your background and interest in becoming an special educator.
- Current Resume
- Background check – must be from the last six months.
-
- All initial licensure programs, CWIC, ACEE and initial FCS licenses need to complete the UWSP Viewpoint screening “Pre-Clinical Background Check” or Recheck within the last 6 months: www.viewpointscreening.com/uwsp. There is a fee associated with this. Directions
- Once you have been accepted into the program, you will apply to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as a non-degree seeking student. If you are adding the Master’s in Education degree, then you will apply as a degree seeking student.
- Once you have been accepted into the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, you will be emailed instructions to set up your student account and register for classes.
Add a Master’s in Education
Are you interested in earning your Master’s in Education degree? With one additional research course you could earn your master’s degree along with your initial teaching licensure/certification in special education. This program’s courses can count towards the 30 graduate credits required for the master’s degree.
Add-On Teacher Certifications
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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.
Sydney Bueno
- Associate Professor – Special Education
- Director – School of Education Graduate Programs
- Liaison – Project Search
- College of Professional Studies Diversity Task Force
715-346-2354
Nikki Logan
- Professor – Education
- Coordinator – Special Education
Emily Wahlquist
- Outreach Program Coordinator – Harju Center for Equity in Education
715-346-2524
Rayvn Knipple
- Graduate Programs Assistant – School of Education
- CPS University Staff Common Council Representative
715 346-2048
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: Wisconsin
- The requirements of this program do not meet Certification/Licensure in the following states: Not applicable
- The requirements of this program have not been determined if they meet Certification/Licensure in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming; District of Columbia; American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands