Certificate Program
Graduate Alternative Pathway/Special Education Certificate
Achieving the Alternative Pathway/Special Education Certificate can prepare you to help students with disabilities thrive in their educational pursuits. If you have six months previous teaching experience and an undergraduate degree, you'll be educationally prepared to obtain your Hawaii teaching license with the completion of this program. You’ll expand on the skills and knowledge you already have, so you can become a more confident and effective teacher. A combination of relevant coursework, field experiences and special education teaching can boost your development in becoming a more effective educator.
A pre-assessment course will first gauge your teaching skills to make sure the accelerated program is the right fit for you. The program focuses on assessing the learning of students with mild to moderate learning disabilities and providing necessary support for various behavioral and learning disorders. You’ll be tested with a Teacher Performance Assessment at the end of the program, which is required to successfully finish and receive your certificate. Once done, you’ll have the skills necessary to better support students with special needs on their educational journey.
The certificate program is intended for you if you have prior teaching experience and are seeking preparation for licensure in Hawaii.
Special Education Certificate (Graduate)
The Graduate Alternative Pathway/Special Education Certificate requires a minimum of 20 credits, which may come from a combination of required and elective courses.
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.
The Alternative Pathway/Special Education Certificate is a certificate program intended for students with prior teaching experience for the special education teacher license in Hawaii. The program includes a clinical component requiring field experiences and student teaching above and beyond program coursework. As state licensure requirements may change frequently, students must contact the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to verify current requirements to become a licensed teacher. There may be additional qualifications and/or disqualifications applicable in order to work as a teacher with any local, state, or federal entity.
Make an informed choice
We believe that students and families should be prepared financially for college and understand gainful employment opportunities before starting any program. So we want to ensure you have the information you need to make an informed choice - information like what it will cost, the skills you'll learn through your chosen program, and the types of occupations the program prepares you for. For important information about the educational debt, earnings, and completion rates of students who attended this program:
Related information
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.