Special Education Associates: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of special education associates about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for special education associates to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of special education associates expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for special education associates.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Special Education Associates?
Do special education associates need a degree? What kind of experience do special education associates typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for special education associates to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Special Education Associates
Jobs Postings for Special Education Associates By Education
- No Education Listed: 4,901 (34%)
- Bachelor's degree: 4,372 (30%)
- High School or GED: 2,655 (19%)
- Master's degree: 2,071 (14%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 338 (2%)
No education was listed by most employers of special education associates. According to job data, no education was required for 34% of positions. In 30% of job listings a bachelor's degree was required and in 19% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Special Education Associates
Jobs Postings for Special Education Associates By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 2,194 (53%)
- 2-3 Years: 1,349 (33%)
- 4-6 Years: 446 (11%)
- 7-9 Years: 48 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 79 (2%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for special education associates. In 53% of job postings for Special Education Associates, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 33% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 11% of job postings for special education associates.
What Kind of Degree Do Special Education Associates Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for special education associates, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 21 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective special education associates, and in 2021 a total of 79,547 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective special education associates.
Top Degree Programs for Special Education Associates
Top 5 Degree Programs for Special Education Associates (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 32,693 |
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 24,327 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs. | 3,110 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,323 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 32,693 |
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 24,327 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs. | 3,110 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,323 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities. | 1,789 |
| Sign Language Interpretation and Translation. | 1,762 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs. | 1,625 |
| Special Education and Teaching, Other. | 1,210 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism. | 1,123 |
| American Sign Language (ASL). | 935 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities. | 526 |
| Education/Teaching of the Gifted and Talented. | 504 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments. | 409 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness. | 362 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances. | 226 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed. | 222 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness. | 134 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. | 122 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic and Other Physical Health Impairments. | 3 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries. | 1 |
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Degree Options for Special Education Associates
Empower your students by maximizing their learning as an Ohio special education teacher in grades K-12.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Special Education Associates Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by special education associates to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for special education associates, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Special Education Associates
Based on 13,105 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Special Education Associates
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 8,080 | 62% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 3,085 | 24% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,636 | 12% |
| Disabilities | 1,357 | 10% |
| Classroom Management | 1,253 | 10% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Special Education Associates
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 5,062 | 39% |
| Teaching | 4,951 | 38% |
| Planning | 2,063 | 16% |
| Writing | 1,977 | 15% |
| Mathematics | 1,863 | 14% |
Based on 13,105 job postings related to special education associates, special education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 62% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for individualized education programs (iep), lesson planning, disabilities, classroom management and reading instruction were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for special education associates, followed by teaching, planning, writing, mathematics and management.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 8,080 | 62% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 3,085 | 24% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,636 | 12% |
| Disabilities | 1,357 | 10% |
| Classroom Management | 1,253 | 10% |
| Reading Instruction | 1,026 | 8% |
| Curriculum Development | 928 | 7% |
| Behavior Management | 910 | 7% |
| Instructional Strategies | 876 | 7% |
| Toileting | 869 | 7% |
| Working With Children | 864 | 7% |
| Data Collection | 829 | 6% |
| Learning Styles | 674 | 5% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 641 | 5% |
| Child Development | 625 | 5% |
| Office Equipment | 617 | 5% |
| Student Services | 605 | 5% |
| Educational Assessment | 586 | 4% |
| Progress Monitoring | 526 | 4% |
| Intervention Plans | 520 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 5,062 | 39% |
| Teaching | 4,951 | 38% |
| Planning | 2,063 | 16% |
| Writing | 1,977 | 15% |
| Mathematics | 1,863 | 14% |
| Management | 1,469 | 11% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,399 | 11% |
| English Language | 1,318 | 10% |
| Research | 1,299 | 10% |
| Leadership | 1,201 | 9% |
| Multilingualism | 1,111 | 8% |
| Problem Solving | 976 | 7% |
| Progress Reporting | 970 | 7% |
| Training And Development | 883 | 7% |
| Coaching | 833 | 6% |
| Clerical Works | 800 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 752 | 6% |
| Coordinating | 748 | 6% |
| Professionalism | 742 | 6% |
| Spanish Language | 689 | 5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about special education associates? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for special education associates.
What do special education associates do?
How much do special education associates make?
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