Switching careers - I want to teach special education - please give advice?

Elaina Adolfson: Start with your State Dept of Education teacher certification requirementshttp://www.teacher-world.com/statespages/Ohio.htmlYou didn't say what level you were aiming for, elementary or secondary...but it will be a different credential depending on the level you teach. There may also be a requirement for practice teaching as part of your new course work for credentialing. And there may be some other exams AFTER you complete your studies (e.g. PRAXIS, more info at http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.fab236...Some general background on becoming a special ed teacher can be found athttp://www.alleducationschools.com/faqs/special-ed...Find a school near you that has a teacher training/credentialing program with a special education program and get the college catalogGet a copy of your transcripts for your existing degree.compare/contrast the course work for your prior degree with the requirements for the new degree in special ed...that should be your s! tarting point to assess the course work you need to do. It would be unlikely you have to start from zero. the first 2 years of an undergrad program are mostly general ed and similar from school to schoolPossibility of spring boarding from your exist BA to an MA in special ed should be explored with counselors at the university you would attend. If this is possible, there may be upper division undergrad courses you may need to "make up" or that may be pre-requisites to some of the MA course work...so be prepared there may be extra work/time/costs here.Possible work experience credit? some schools allow this, but you have to ask and see. Here's a good way to connect your current work and previous degree to your new effort.Use the US Dept of Labor SCANS checklists to do a personal inventory, another inventory of your current job description, and an inventory job description for special ed teacher. The checklists are essentially a list of knowledge/skills employers expect! you do to once they hire you.Armed with these inventories, co! mpare/contrast them to see how you (as an individual) and what you actually do on your current job stack up to what is needed to be a special ed teacher. A close match is good...a not so close match shows what you need to get from your new education in order to qualify for your new special ed teaching job.Look over the course work and do a SCANS inventory of the course work...and what you should learn from each course. Compare/contrast that to your existing job. If any of the course work obviously improves your ability to do your existing job, the education expenses may be tax deductible (see http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ and talk with your tax adviser.) And check with your current employer about possible tuition reimbursement is some courses do relate to your current job.Well, this is probably the tip of the iceberg...but your State Dept of Education is the starting point.Hope this helps....best wishes for a smooth and successful transition....Show more