Did anyone get their special ed certification after the fact???

I have my initial in Childhood Ed and my bachelors in Psych and my masters in childhood ed. I want to extend my cert to include special ed.

Has anyone done this? I think I need 4 courses and the CST. How hard is that test?

Where did you take the courses? I CANNOT afford Post/Dowling.

Any suggestions/input?

Re: Did anyone get their special ed certification after the fact???

I did this last summer.

took 4 courses and plan to take the CST very soon.

went to dowling

if youre not in a rush, try to buy credits from teachers and do it one by one.


talk to stacey in grad ed. she's amazing!

if you dont have EARLY childhood ed, she can tell you which elective to take so that those 4 courses get you

early childhood
AND
special ed.

Re: Did anyone get their special ed certification after the fact???

I went for special ed certification initially and that is also what I currently teach.

Do you have experience in this area? It takes a special ability to teach this population and I work extremely hard each day, usually staying at school daily until 5pm making remediation sheets, and other related things. I think that often people think that teaching special ed is easier since the pacing is slower, but that's not the case at all. I find it MUCH harder than teaching general ed and the pacing CAN'T slow down since they need to learn the same material for the state exams (unless they are being alternately assessed, in which case they still do need to meet certain standards but the pressure isn't quite the same)

That being said, I love my job and absolutely love my students- just be sure you know what you are getting yourself into because you need A TON of patience!!!!!!!!

Edited- Wanted to add that the CST for Students with Disabilities was not had at all, but you need to prepare for it (unlike the other tests) ... Specifically, you need to know about specific disabilities and types of medications.

Message edited 2/25/2009 11:45:56 PM.

Re: Did anyone get their special ed certification after the fact???

You said you need four classes right? Do you need four specific classes? If not, why don't you just do it through the CITE program? Or find some teacher centers that offer graduate programs? Or sometimes NYSUT has courses online and stuff through the college of st. rose?

Re: Did anyone get their special ed certification after the fact???

I am in the process of doing that now. I have 2 classes to become certified 1-6 and need 1 extra class in early childhood to be certified also in Birth-2. I have been playing with the idea of working for a private agency. I currently work for the NYCDOE and would like to cut down my commute.

Could anyone reccomend an agency? Are there jobs in the Long Island School Districts? Will the Long Island schools hire me if I am in the process of getting my certification?

I am going to take the 2 classes on-line though LIIPS (Brooklyn College) and take the CST in June so that I can be certified for September.