Special Needs Caregivers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of special needs caregivers 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 needs caregivers 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 needs caregivers 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 needs caregivers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Special Needs Caregivers?
Do special needs caregivers need a degree? What kind of experience do special needs caregivers 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 needs caregivers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Special Needs Caregivers
Jobs Postings for Special Needs Caregivers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 44,905 (39%)
- No Education Listed: 32,843 (29%)
- Master's degree: 17,596 (15%)
- High School or GED: 15,837 (14%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 2,555 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of special needs caregivers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 39% of positions. In 29% of job listings no education level was listed and in 15% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Special Needs Caregivers
Jobs Postings for Special Needs Caregivers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 18,651 (58%)
- 2-3 Years: 9,360 (29%)
- 4-6 Years: 3,002 (9%)
- 7-9 Years: 434 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 636 (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 needs caregivers. In 58% of job postings for Special Needs Caregivers, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 29% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 9% of job postings for special needs caregivers.
What Kind of Degree Do Special Needs Caregivers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for special needs caregivers, 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 19 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective special needs caregivers, and in 2023 a total of 58,654 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 needs caregivers.
Top Degree Programs for Special Needs Caregivers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Special Needs Caregivers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 22,620 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General. | 12,748 |
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching. | 6,779 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,310 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,396 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 22,620 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General. | 12,748 |
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching. | 6,779 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,310 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,396 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities. | 1,354 |
| Special Education and Teaching, Other. | 1,237 |
| Physical Fitness Technician. | 1,231 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other. | 1,147 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism. | 1,118 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities. | 535 |
| 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 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Special Needs Caregivers
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 Needs Caregivers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by special needs caregivers 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 needs caregivers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Special Needs Caregivers
Based on 96,850 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Special Needs Caregivers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 65,673 | 68% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 35,214 | 36% |
| Lesson Planning | 12,241 | 13% |
| Disabilities | 10,469 | 11% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 8,967 | 9% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Special Needs Caregivers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 41,512 | 43% |
| Communication | 33,276 | 34% |
| Planning | 14,820 | 15% |
| Writing | 13,114 | 14% |
| Management | 11,026 | 11% |
Based on 96,850 job postings related to special needs caregivers, special education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 68% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for individualized education programs (iep), lesson planning, disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and classroom management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for special needs caregivers, followed by communication, planning, writing, management and english language.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 65,673 | 68% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 35,214 | 36% |
| Lesson Planning | 12,241 | 13% |
| Disabilities | 10,469 | 11% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 8,967 | 9% |
| Classroom Management | 8,121 | 8% |
| Behavior Management | 6,947 | 7% |
| Curriculum Development | 6,033 | 6% |
| Student Services | 5,743 | 6% |
| Toileting | 5,606 | 6% |
| Instructional Strategies | 5,578 | 6% |
| Learning Styles | 5,312 | 5% |
| Working With Children | 5,302 | 5% |
| Educational Assessment | 4,849 | 5% |
| Data Collection | 4,721 | 5% |
| Psychology | 4,643 | 5% |
| Child Development | 3,859 | 4% |
| Office Equipment | 3,789 | 4% |
| Intervention Plans | 3,740 | 4% |
| Learning Disabilities | 3,691 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 41,512 | 43% |
| Communication | 33,276 | 34% |
| Planning | 14,820 | 15% |
| Writing | 13,114 | 14% |
| Management | 11,026 | 11% |
| English Language | 9,900 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 9,810 | 10% |
| Mathematics | 9,185 | 9% |
| Research | 8,591 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 7,464 | 8% |
| Leadership | 7,108 | 7% |
| Progress Reporting | 6,008 | 6% |
| Lifting Ability | 4,578 | 5% |
| Coordinating | 4,570 | 5% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 4,354 | 4% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 4,326 | 4% |
| Multilingualism | 4,299 | 4% |
| Coaching | 4,235 | 4% |
| Organizational Skills | 4,161 | 4% |
| Record Keeping | 4,093 | 4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about special needs caregivers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for special needs caregivers.
What do special needs caregivers do?
How much do special needs caregivers 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.