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Certificate

Graduate Alternative Pathway/Special Education Certificate

13 months

Approximate Program Length

24

Total Credits

$540

Cost per Credit

Online

Format

Start when you're ready

Choose an upcoming start date:

Register by: Jun 16, 2021

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Call (844) 937-8679
Are you changing careers, using an emergency teaching certification or preparing for teaching licensure? Help students with disabilities thrive in education with our accelerated certificate program for a Graduate Alternative Pathway/Special Education Certificate. You’ll focus on assessing how students with mild to moderate learning disabilities learn and on providing necessary support for various behavioral and learning disorders. Credits from this certificate can transfer toward a Master of Arts in Education/Special Education.

You won’t be in this alone. Our program support specialist can help you navigate teacher licensure and credentialing requirements. We’ll also help you with school placements for your clinical experience and clinical practice through our close partnerships with hundreds of school districts nationwide.

  • Design and implement effective instruction

  • Apply professional ethics to teaching practices in special education

  • Create and modify instructional and behavioral plans for a variety of learning needs

  • Create innovative strategies and incorporate technology into the classroom

Download program details

Courses

1

Course at a time

6

Weeks per course

9

Courses per year

COE Central

College of Education students will find many helpful resources on COE Central. Program handbooks provide a wealth of information on topics such as professional expectations, clinical experiences, clinical practice, internships, edTPA and much more. Milestone roadmaps, technology and multimedia resources, and various toolkits are also available.

Licensure Requirements

The Graduate Alternative Pathway/Special Education Certificate prepares candidates for initial teacher licensure as a K-12, mild-moderate special education teacher. Program requirements may change based upon state agency licensure requirements and they can be found at https://www.phoenix.edu/colleges/college-of-education/teacher-licensure/state-requirements.html. Please check this list regularly prior to contacting your state agency for state-specific requirements.

Schedule

Your academic counselor will help you schedule your classes for the Graduate Alternative Pathway/Special Education Certificate.

Program Purpose Statement

The Alternative Teaching Certificate in Special Education is a graduate-level certificate program intended to prepare students with no prior teaching experience for initial teacher licensure. The certificate program is designed for students who want to become special education teachers. Candidates for this certificate program have already earned a bachelor’s degree. The certificate program includes a clinical component requiring field experiences and student teaching above and beyond program coursework. There may be additional qualifications and/or disqualifications applicable in order to work as a teacher with any local, state or federal entity. Requirements for licensure vary by state. View your state’s teacher licensure requirements.

Tuition

Paying for school

Keep the same fixed, affordable tuition from start to finish of your degree program, even if it takes longer than you planned. That’s our promise: no matter what surprises life brings, you can count on us.

Save time and money on your degree

Credit transfer made easy
Graduate faster by transferring in prior eligible credits from another accredited institution.

Transfer credits
Enrollment representative

NEED SOME HELP?

Our enrollment representatives can help answer your questions, so you can make an informed choice about going back to school. Reach us by phone at (844) 937-8679 or chat with us 5 days a week.

NEED SOME HELP?

Our enrollment representatives can help answer your questions, so you can make an informed choice about going back to school. Reach us by phone at 844-937-8679 or chat with us 5 days a week.

Connect with us

Student Experience

An education that fits your busy life

Balancing family, work and school

Work toward your degree without giving up what matters most. Take one class at a time and choose a start date that works for your schedule.

Learn about our flexibility

Online or campus-based learning

Enroll in online classes and study anytime of the day or night, 24/7/365. Or enroll at a campus in your state to attend classes virtually with your peers.

Read about online classes
Find a campus near you

Around-the-clock support and resources

Access our online resources 24/7 or reach our trained representatives by phone or chat 20 hours a day, 5 days a week.

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Accreditation & Faculty

Count on the quality of your education

Institutional accreditation

University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org. Since 1978, University of Phoenix has been continually accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and its predecessor.

Real-world faculty

24

Average years of industry experience

60

Principals

19:1

Student-faculty ratio

Faculty Spotlight

As a faculty member, I'm on your team. I'm your coach and your cheerleader."

Doris Savron

Vice Provost of Colleges, University of Phoenix

Read her story

The following programs — BSEd/E, BSEd/ECH, MAEd/TED-E, MAEd/TED-S, MAEd/SPE, CERT/AP-E, CERT/AP-S, and CERT/AP-SE — provide the academic preparation to sit for initial teacher certification exams in select states.

Educator/Principal licensure requirements vary by state. Candidates located in a state that does not provide a direct path to licensure will be required to obtain Arizona certification first, prior to seeking licensure in their home state as an out-of-state prepared teacher/principal candidate. Arizona certification requires candidates to pass all Arizona-specific licensure requirements, including any Arizona-specific exams (or home state equivalents if recognized by Arizona Department of Education.) After obtaining an Arizona teacher/principal certificate, candidates can then apply for licensure in their home state and may be required to complete additional testing and/or requirements at additional cost. Program requirements may change based upon your home state’s agency licensure requirements. Please visit the teacher licensure page https://www.phoenix.edu/colleges/college-of-education/teacher-licensure/state-requirements.html  or the principal licensure page https://www.phoenix.edu/colleges/college-of-education/principal-licensure.html for state specific requirements prior to reaching out to your state agency.

While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

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