Intervention Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of intervention specialists 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 intervention specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of intervention specialists 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 intervention specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Intervention Specialists?
Do intervention specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do intervention specialists 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 intervention specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Intervention Specialists
Jobs Postings for Intervention Specialists By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 775 (37%)
- High School or GED: 634 (30%)
- Master's degree: 350 (17%)
- No Education Listed: 300 (14%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 58 (3%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of intervention specialists. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 37% of positions. In 30% of job listings a High School diploma or GED was required and in 17% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Intervention Specialists
Jobs Postings for Intervention Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 198 (48%)
- 2-3 Years: 167 (40%)
- 4-6 Years: 15 (4%)
- 7-9 Years: 2 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 31 (8%)
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 intervention specialists. In 48% of job postings for Intervention Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 40% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 10+ years of experience was sought in 8% of job postings for intervention specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Intervention Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for intervention specialists, 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 17 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective intervention specialists, and in 2023 a total of 31,589 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 intervention specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Intervention Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Intervention Specialists (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 22,620 |
| Sign Language Interpretation and Translation. | 1,399 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities. | 1,354 |
| Special Education and Teaching, Other. | 1,237 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism. | 1,118 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 22,620 |
| Sign Language Interpretation and Translation. | 1,399 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities. | 1,354 |
| Special Education and Teaching, Other. | 1,237 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism. | 1,118 |
| American Sign Language (ASL). | 928 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Secondary Special Education Programs. | 738 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities. | 535 |
| Education/Teaching of the Gifted and Talented. | 481 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness. | 348 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments. | 244 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness. | 193 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances. | 139 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed. | 114 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. | 80 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries. | 57 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic and Other Physical Health Impairments. | 4 |
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Degree Options for Intervention Specialists
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- Years To Complete: 3
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Intervention Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by intervention specialists 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 intervention specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Intervention Specialists
Based on 1,381 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Intervention Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 1,337 | 97% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 698 | 51% |
| Lesson Planning | 287 | 21% |
| Curriculum Development | 205 | 15% |
| Disabilities | 205 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Intervention Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 804 | 58% |
| Communication | 520 | 38% |
| Planning | 287 | 21% |
| Writing | 230 | 17% |
| Progress Reporting | 204 | 15% |
Based on 1,381 job postings related to intervention specialists, special education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 97% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for individualized education programs (iep), lesson planning, curriculum development, disabilities and classroom management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for intervention specialists, followed by communication, planning, writing, progress reporting and mathematics.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 1,337 | 97% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 698 | 51% |
| Lesson Planning | 287 | 21% |
| Curriculum Development | 205 | 15% |
| Disabilities | 205 | 15% |
| Classroom Management | 185 | 13% |
| Instructional Strategies | 138 | 10% |
| Learning Styles | 129 | 9% |
| Differentiated Instruction | 126 | 9% |
| Behavior Management | 125 | 9% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 119 | 9% |
| Educational Assessment | 116 | 8% |
| Data Collection | 106 | 8% |
| Student Engagement | 102 | 7% |
| Learning Disabilities | 89 | 6% |
| Life Skills Development | 85 | 6% |
| Effective Communication | 80 | 6% |
| Student Services | 79 | 6% |
| Progress Monitoring | 69 | 5% |
| Case Management | 66 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 804 | 58% |
| Communication | 520 | 38% |
| Planning | 287 | 21% |
| Writing | 230 | 17% |
| Progress Reporting | 204 | 15% |
| Mathematics | 176 | 13% |
| English Language | 159 | 12% |
| Management | 155 | 11% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 120 | 9% |
| Research | 120 | 9% |
| Coaching | 110 | 8% |
| Problem Solving | 91 | 7% |
| Leadership | 90 | 7% |
| Parent Communication | 83 | 6% |
| Social Skills | 82 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 80 | 6% |
| Coordinating | 79 | 6% |
| Professionalism | 79 | 6% |
| Decision Making | 75 | 5% |
| Multilingualism | 73 | 5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about intervention specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for intervention specialists.
What do intervention specialists do?
How much do intervention specialists make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.