Middle School Special Education Teachers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of middle school special education teachers 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 middle school special education teachers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of middle school special education teachers 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 middle school special education teachers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Middle School Special Education Teachers?
Do middle school special education teachers need a degree? What kind of experience do middle school special education teachers 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 middle school special education teachers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Middle School Special Education Teachers
Jobs Postings for Middle School Special Education Teachers 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 middle school special education teachers. 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 Middle School Special Education Teachers
Jobs Postings for Middle School Special Education Teachers 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 middle school special education teachers. In 48% of job postings for Middle School Special Education Teachers, 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 middle school special education teachers.
What Kind of Degree Do Middle School Special Education Teachers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for middle school special education teachers, 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 middle school special education teachers, 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 middle school special education teachers.
Top Degree Programs for Middle School Special Education Teachers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Middle School Special Education Teachers (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 Middle School Special Education Teachers
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 Middle School Special Education Teachers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by middle school special education teachers 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 middle school special education teachers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Middle School Special Education Teachers
Based on 1,381 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Middle School Special Education Teachers
| 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 Middle School Special Education Teachers
| 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 middle school special education teachers, 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 middle school special education teachers, 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 middle school special education teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for middle school special education teachers.
What do middle school special education teachers do?
How much do middle school special education teachers make?
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