Special Education PreK-12th Grade
- This pathway is best for recent high school graduates and adult learners.
- There are two primary areas of focus within special education: Mild/Moderate and Severe/Profound.
Option 1: Teacher Certification and Employment Steps
Earn a bachelor’s degree in Special Education from an Oklahoma Accredited Education Preparation Program, listed below:
Private Universities
Create a Single Sign-On (SSO) account to start your teacher certification process.
To be certified you must pass the Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT) and the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT). Find more information about testing Praxis Website and CEOE Website.
Upon completion of your degree, your university will then recommend you to OSDE for teacher certification.
Before you can apply for certification, a background check and fingerprinting must be completed. The cost is $58.25. Visit the background check/fingerprinting page for more information.
To complete the application, log in to OECS via Single Sign-On (SSO) to utilize the Educator Application Wizard. Be sure to submit your official transcripts from your university, the completed District Verification D1 form, and the $50 application fee.
Once you are certified, you can apply for teaching jobs in any district in the state. Click the Jobs tab on this website to see a map of districts including links to job boards.
Option 2: Earning Income While Pursuing Your Teaching Certificate
This path allows you to work while you earn your teaching certificate. To begin, you'll need to work towards completing a bachelor’s degree. Start by earning an associate degree or completing two years of college. We recommend taking general education courses along with classes in the subject area you want to teach.
Associate Degree Community Colleges
- Oklahoma City Community College
- Tulsa Community College
- Rose State College
- Redlands Community College
- Connors State College
- Eastern Oklahoma State
- Murray State College
- Northern Oklahoma College
- Western Oklahoma State College
- Carl Albert State College
- Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
- Seminole State College
Create a Single Sign-On (SSO) account to start your teacher certification process.
While working focus on completing your bachelor’s degree. Below is a list of universities offering online programs to help you finish your degree.
- Your degree should focus on the area you want to teach (e.g. math, science, or history).
- You should also take Classroom Management and a Pedagogical course as they will be required to complete your certification.
- You must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.
Private Universities
Before you can apply for certification, a background check and fingerprinting must be completed. The cost is $58.25. Visit the background check/fingerprinting page for more information.
To complete the application, log in to OECS via Single Sign-On (SSO) and utilize the Educator Application Wizard. Be sure to submit your official transcripts from your university, the completed District Verification D1 form, and the $50 application fee.
Before you can apply for certification, you must pass the Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT) in the subject area/s you have been approved for and the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT). Find more information about testing Praxis Website and CEOE Website.
Once you are certified, you can apply for teaching jobs in any district in the state. Click the Jobs tab on this website to see a map of districts including links to job boards.
