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Special Education

Office of Special Education

Special Education Teaching Assignments and Certification

The following table shows the certification required for various types of special education teaching assignments. The types of teaching assignments are described on theÌýContinuum of Special Education Services for School-Age Students with Disabilities webpage. Certification requirements are available on theÌý.

Effective July 1, 2021, all special education teachers who teach one or more subject areas in a special class (self-contained class) in grades 7-12, with some or no students under alternate assessment, must either:

  • be certified in each subject area that they teach, or
  • meet the teaching experience requirement for theÌýÌýand have an active SOCE application in theÌýÌýin each subject area that they teach.

Please note that teachers who hold any of the special education certificates listed in the following table can teachÌýstudents who are under alternate assessmentÌýat any grade level.

While ÈËÑý¸Ø½» defines what certification is required for various types of teaching assignments, local districts/schools are responsible for determining how those certified teachers are assigned and utilized within their schools, based on their certification.ÌýThe following table andÌý, can be utilized by schools when making these determinations.

For questions regarding teacher certification requirements, please contact the Office of Teaching Initiatives atÌýtcert@nysed.gov.ÌýÌý

For questions regarding teacher certifications required to teach English Language Learners (ELLs), who are identified as eligible for special education, who receive language acquisition services as required under Part 154 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education and federal civil rights law, please contact the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) at OBEWL@nysed.gov.

Special Education Teaching Assignments

Special Education Certification

Early Intervention

(students with disabilities from ages 0-2 years)

Preschool Itinerant Teacher

(students with disabilities from ages 3-4 years)

Consultant Teacher, Resource Room Teacher, Integrated Co-Teacher

(school-age students with disabilities)

Special Class Teacher – Some or No Students Under Alternate Assessment

(school-age students with disabilities)

Special Class Teacher – All Students Under Alternate Assessment

(school-age students with disabilities)

Permanent Special Education (issued prior to February 2004) only

Yes

Yes

Prekindergarten-Grade 12

Prekindergarten-Grade 6

All grades

Permanent Special Education (issued prior to February 2004)

  • With a certificate, extension, limited extension, or statement of continued eligibility (SOCE) in grades 7-12 and in the subject area to be taught

Yes

Yes

Prekindergarten-Grade 12
  • Prekindergarten-Grade 6
  • Grades 7-12 in the subject area of certificate held

Ìý

All grades

SWD (Birth-Grade 2) only

Yes

Yes

Birth-Grade 2

Birth-Grade 2

All grades

SWD (Birth-Grade 2)

  • With SWD grade-level extension (Grades 3-4)

Yes

Yes

Birth-Grade 4

Birth-Grade 4

All grades

SWD (All Grades) only

No

Yes

Prekindergarten-Grade 12

Prekindergarten-Grade 6

All Grades

SWD (All Grades)

  • With a certificate, extension, limited extension, or statement of continued eligibility (SOCE) in grades 7-12 and in the subject area to be taught

No

Yes

Prekindergarten-Grade 12
  • Prekindergarten-Grade 6
  • Grades 7-12 in the subject area of certificate held

Ìý

All grades

SWD (Grades 1-6) only

No

No

Grades 1-6

Grades 1-6

All grades

SWD (Grades 1-6)

  • With SWD grade-level extension (PK-K)

No

Yes

PK-Grade 6

PK-Grade 6

All grades

SWD (Grades 1-6)

  • With SWD grade-level extension (Grades 7-8)

No

No

Grades 1-8

Grades 1-6

All grades

SWD (Grades 5-9) Generalist only

No

No

Grades 5-9

Grades 5-6

All grades

SWD (Grades 5-9) Generalist

  • With SWD grade-level extension (Grades 10-12)

No

No

Grades 5-12

Grades 5-6

All grades

SWD (Grades 5-9) Generalist

  • With a certificate or extension in grades 5-9 and in the subject area to be taught

No

No

Grades 5-9
  • Grades 5-6
  • Grades 7-9 in the subject area of the certificate held

Ìý

All grades

SWD (Grades 5-9) Generalist

  • With a limited extension or statement of continued eligibility (SOCE) in grades 7-12 and in the subject area to be taught (only valid in a special class)

No

No

Grades 5-9
  • Grades 5-6
  • Grades 7-12 in the subject area of the certificate held

Ìý

All grades

SWD (Grades 5-9) Content Specialist only

No

No

Grades 5-9
  • Grades 5-6
  • Grades 7-9 in the subject area of the content specialty

All grades

SWD (Grades 5-9) Content Specialist

  • With SWD grade-level extension (Grades 10-12)

No

No

Grades 5-12
  • Grades 5-6
  • Grades 7-12 in the subject area of the content specialty

All grades

SWD (Grades 5-9) Content Specialist

  • With a limited extension or statement of continued eligibility (SOCE) in grades 7-12 and in the subject area to be taught (only valid in a special class)

No

No

Grades 5-9
  • Grades 5-6
  • Grades 7-9 in the subject area of content specialty
  • Grades 7-12 in the subject area of the certificate held

All grades

SWD Generalist (Grades 7-12) only

No

No

Grades 7-12

Not eligible;

does not hold content area certification

All grades

SWD Generalist (Grades 7-12)

  • With SWD grade-level extension (Grades 5-6)

No

No

Grades 5-12

Grades 5-6

All grades

SWD Generalist (Grades 7-12)

  • With a certificate, extension, limited extension, or statement of continued eligibility (SOCE) in grades 7-12 and in the subject area to be taught

No

No

Grades 7-12

Grades 7-12 in the subject area of the certificate held

All grades

SWD (Grades 7-12) Content Specialist only

No

No

Grades 7-12

Grades 7-12 in the subject area of the content specialty

All grades

SWD (Grades 7-12) Content Specialist

  • With SWD grade-level extension (Grades 5-6)

No

No

Grades 5-12
  • Grades 5-6
  • Grades 7-12 in the subject area of the content specialty

All grades

SWD (Grades 7-12) Content Specialist

  • With a limited extension or statement of continued eligibility (SOCE) in grades 7-12 and in the subject area to be taught

No

No

Grades 7-12
  • Grades 7-12 in the subject area of the content specialty
  • Grades 7-12 in the subject area of certificate held

All grades

Ìý

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