Is anyone dual certified in elementary and special education? I'm done with my Masters (just need to finish student teaching) and I'm considering getting a special ed. endorsement. I would need 18 credits (already took a class). The job market for teachers is very competitive here and I'm not sure if I should look into special ed. I have experience working in special ed (I was an aide for a few summers) so I know I will like it, but it's not my first choice. That's not to say I wouldn't do my very best as a special ed. teacher if offered a job. I'm just curious to see how many people have dual certifications. Thanks!
I'm on Long Island, I have dual certification from birth until 6th grade, and no job! Well that's not true, I'm teaching Pre-K, but not a tenure track, salaried, job security, paid sick time, benefit-giving job. I think that anything you can do to make yourself more marketable is a good thing, but don't expect to get that degree and automatically get a job- no matter how many certifications you have around here, it just ain't happening.
Both here... coming out with elem. ed. I got no offers, ending up getting emergency certified then certified in special ed. This summer I got a ton of calls! It's definitely easier to get in the door with special ed. It's much easier to switch back later once you have the experience to sell yourself.
I knew the job market in gen ed is tough, so I got my license in special ed instead. I am dual certified in elementary and high school special ed, which really helped me get a job. Anything you can do will help. If it's you and another person with the same qualifications and experience, and they see that you've got the extra endorsement, it puts you ahead. Special ed is hard though, so unless you really want to do it I wouldn't. But it's a good way to get into a district for a year or two and then apply as an inter district person.
I was in the first batch of dually certified teachers in NY state. I am dually certified in grades 1-6. I spent 2 years as a long term sub because I couldn't find a position in either field - the market here in CNY was not so good at the time, and all I heard then was that it was a good thing I was dually certified - it made me more marketable. Last year I was offered a position, regular ed. teacher in a Inclusion Classroom - by the admin i worked for, in the classroom i was a TA in for four years prior to me becoming certified. I can;t say that the dual cert. helped me in any way - she knew me and my background. I think it helps me to have the background classes. My best friend is only certified in Reg. Ed, grades PK-6, and she has been told by numerous administrators that she really needs to get sp.ed certified to make herself more marketable. it ended up being unnecessary this year since she landed her dream position as a PK teacher. However, she is going to add the classes in and build up to her certification slowly over the next few summers. It can't hurt to have it. You never know when you may have a student who isn't identified but needs strategies in place to help him or her, and if you have some background knowledge, you'll be better able to meet the needs of that student.
I have dual certification with a reading endorsement. I'm currently working on my early childhood special education because of my current teaching position. I would recommend getting your sped degree because it's something extra. WHere I live there are 100's of people with just elementary ed degrees. Not too many people have the sped degree with it.
I agree. I got certified in NY-elementary & special ed birth-6th grade (thinking it makes you more marketable) which is does if you live someone where you can actually get a job. After a year and a half of subbing I left NY. I'd say go for it-if it's only a matter of of you studnet teaching and taking the a test.
I have a secondary certificate in English and ELL, but I won't ever use it. I don't even mention it on my resume.
I will be certified in El. Ed. and Special Ed. in the Spring!!! Yay!!!! I have 3 more classes to take. Last year I asked the Superintendent what would make me more marketable and she said Special Ed. I can't wait until next year to put that on my resume and apply for jobs that say Elementary Ed. and Special Ed. certified!!!
Dual certification is always a plus! If it's only a few classes, I say go ahead and do it. I am dual certified in Elem Ed K-6 and Spanish K-12, and I landed a job teaching elementary early on this summer, and it's really tough to get elem jobs in the area I live in (northwestern PA). I am sure that having more than one certification area played a part in getting me hired...schools like to know that if they hire you, they have the flexibility of placing you in different positions. I have also worked with a few teachers who were certified in Special Ed and Elementary who started off in SPED...and basically they saw working in a SPED classroom as a stepping stone to getting their own "regular" classroom later.
I am dual certified in reg ed and spec ed. However, in my state to be certified in spec ed, all you really have to do is pass the Praxis Exam in spec ed. So I did not take any special classes. Of course, my school wanted me to believe that I had to but I checked with my DOE. I suggest you do the same. In my area, you can't even get a job without starting out spec ed. All my reg ed k-4 friends are still jobless
Well, since I already have a MAT, I wouldn't have to student teach again (i'm doing that now). I don't think you need to take a Praxis test to be certified in special ed here in NJ. As long as you take the required 21 credits and have student taught in reg. or spec. ed, you're fine. That might have changed though. I would need to take 6 more classes. But, since I'm in a small program, they only offer 2-3 classes a semester. If I had it my way, I would take all 18 credits at once! My only concern is that I want to find a teaching job for January (mid-year) and a full-year job for next school year (2008-09). I won't have a spec. ed. endorsement by then. Do you think if they see I am in the process of getting it that would look good too?
