What Is a Special Education Teacher, and What Do They Do?

Special education teachers help their students succeed not only academically but also emotionally and socially, according to a 2025 report from Edutopia. They also teach their students how to advocate for themselves and develop solutions to address the challenges they face.

As the demand for special education services grows, now is a great time for anyone with an interest in the field to launch a career as a special education teacher. Individuals who have been considering enrolling in an online Master of Education degree program with the goal of becoming a special education teacher can find it helpful to learn more about what people in this role do, what it takes to become qualified to teach special education, and career prospects for special education teachers.

What Does a Special Education Teacher Do?

The core responsibility of special education teachers is to educate students who face learning, physical, emotional, or mental disabilities. Relying on their specialized training, teachers in special education devise strategies that help their students address challenges that affect not only their ability to learn but also their socialization and behavior.

Examples of a special education teacher’s day-to-day duties include:

• Assessing students, and creating individualized education plans to meet students’ needs
• Employing instructional approaches and using educational materials that align with students’ needs
• Using assistive technology that can help students learn
• Monitoring how students are progressing, and making changes to their instruction as needed
• Developing a network of support for students by collaborating with other education professionals and students’ parents
• Advocating for students in special education

As they progress in their career, a special education teacher also can become responsible for duties such as:

• Developing curricula that meet students’ needs
• Sharing best practices in special education with other teachers
• Overseeing a school’s special education program
• Providing professional development in special education to other teachers
• Contributing to district-level special education planning

Some special education teachers specialize in a particular area. For example, they can focus on:

• Providing early childhood instruction
• Making classrooms inclusive
• Educating children who face a particular disability, such as autism or a hearing impairment
• Working with children who have significant behavioral challenges

Where Special Education Teachers Work

The majority of special education teachers work in public and private schools. However, some work in residential care facilities, hospitals, or even in students’ homes.

Requirements to Become a Special Education Teacher

Becoming a special education teacher involves satisfying certain requirements. The standard requirements for this career pathway are summarized below.

• Earn a Relevant Bachelor’s Degree

Earning an undergraduate degree in special education, education, or a related field such as child development helps aspiring special education teachers establish a strong educational foundation. The programs for these types of bachelor’s degrees give students the opportunity to learn about educational psychology and to develop classroom management skills. Some states require special education teachers to complete specific courses in the field.

• Complete Teacher Preparation Required for Licensure

Individuals typically need to gain experience before they can become licensed and start teaching students. They get that experience through teacher preparation programs, such as the student teaching component of their education bachelor’s degree. 

To become a teacher in Oregon, an individual needs to complete a teacher preparation program that the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission has approved. 

Individuals who earned a bachelor’s degree in a nonteaching field can complete their teacher preparation as part of an education master’s degree program.

• Obtain a Required State License and Special Education Endorsement

Teachers of all kinds typically need to obtain a state teaching license to teach in a school. To become a special education teacher, individuals need to supplement their teaching license with a special education endorsement. To get that endorsement, individuals need to complete a state-approved preparation program and pass an exam. 

For example, depending on the type of special education they want to teach, individuals in Oregon who want to become a special education teacher need to pass a specific test or tests, such as the Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA) National Evaluation Series (NES) special education exam or the ETS Praxis special education exam.

• Consider Earning a Graduate Degree

Earning a graduate degree can help special education teachers expand their expertise and boost their credentials. In addition, some employers may require special education teachers to earn a master’s degree. 

Aspiring special education teachers should examine graduate degree program options closely to find one that will prepare them for the role in special education they want to pursue. For example, comparing the features of Master of Arts in Teaching programs and Master of Education programs can help individuals choose the type of program that best aligns with their career goals. 

For teachers who are already licensed, a Master of Education degree program can prepare them to obtain a special education endorsement through courses in subjects such as:

• Foundations of special education
• Special education assessment and evaluation
• Instructional best practices in special education
• Human development

Individuals who are earning a Master of Arts in Teaching to gain teaching licensure may be able to enter a special education endorsement program after graduation.

Special Education Teacher Salary and Job Outlook

Special education teachers had a median annual salary of $64,270 as of May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which is higher than the median for all occupations.

The significant shortage of special education teachers translates into bright employment prospects for educators in the field. For example:

• When the National Center for Education Statistics surveyed schools for the 2024-2025 school year, 72% of the public schools with special education teacher vacancies reported that they encountered difficulty in filling those vacancies with qualified teachers.
• The BLS estimates there will be 35,900 openings for special education teachers each year through 2033.

Tuition Assistance for Aspiring Special Education Teachers

To help fill the need for qualified special education teachers, some universities are offering tuition assistance to students who want to become teachers in high-needs areas. For example, Warner Pacific University’s Adelante grant program offers tuition assistance to individuals who want to earn a teaching degree in special education or bilingual education.

The program provides assistance for a maximum of two years to students enrolled in the special education degree pathway or who want to obtain the Oregon State Seal of Biliteracy. The program also offers grant recipients postgraduate support, such as mentoring for new teachers who gain permanent teaching positions.

Become a Special Education Teacher, and Help Others Fulfill Their Potential

Working as a special education teacher can be a rewarding career that enables educators to make a significant difference in the lives of the students they teach. Equipped with the expertise to teach students facing a range of disabilities, special education teachers have the opportunity to both educate their students and help them with their social and emotional development.

Anyone who has an interest in pursuing an advanced education that can lead to a career in special education can explore Warner Pacific University Online’s Master of Education degree program to learn how it can help them reach their career goals. Offered in an accelerated format, the fully online program prepares students to obtain a license endorsement in special education, English for speakers of other languages, or reading interventionist. 

Start working toward achieving your career goals in education today with WPU Online.

Recommended Readings
Educational Consultant Career Path
How to Develop Teacher Leadership Skills
Types of Social Science Degrees

Sources:
Edutopia, “Supporting All Students With Special Needs”
ETS, Praxis, Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)
Indeed, “How to Become a Special Education Teacher”
National Center for Education Statistics, School Pulse Panel: Surveying High-Priority, Education-Related Topics, Staff Hiring
Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, Frequently Asked Questions
Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, Testing for Teaching License Endorsements and Specializations
Pearson Education, Inc., Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments, Special Education
Teal, “How to Become a Special Education Teacher”
Teal, “What Is a Special Education Teacher?”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Special Education Teachers
Warner Pacific University, “Warner Pacific University Awarded Second Multi-Million Dollar Grant”