Oklahoma Special Education Certification & Requirements

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Oklahoma Special Education Overview

According to the Oklahoma Sate Snapshot on the Ed.gov website, 15 percent of Oklahoma students have disabilities, two percentage points above the national average. The state employs nearly 3,450 special education teachers, reports Concordia University. Like Texas, its neighbor to the south, Oklahoma has earned the rating of “Needs Intervention” for its special education services, as ranked by the United States Department of Education. The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSBE) and its Special Education Services division oversee policies concerning special education in the state.

Licensure Requirements

For Undergraduates

At the undergraduate level, candidates must complete a bachelor’s degree program that includes the coursework and field experience necessary to qualify for a teaching credential. These requirements must be completed through accredited programs approved by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation (OCTP).

For Graduates

The traditional route to Oklahoma certification entails completing an accredited teacher preparation program in the area of concentration in which you plan to teach.

Types of Licenses

The teacher certification section on the OSBE website summarizes the types of Oklahoma teaching licenses that are granted and the procedures for obtaining and renewing them. A Standard Certificate, which is valid for five years, is granted to those who take a traditional route to licensure. New special education teachers must hold both a special education certificate and a certificate in the area in which they want to teach, such as elementary education or a specific subject. The Specialist Certification is granted to educators working as speech-language pathologists, reading specialists and school psychologists, as well as to those in other areas of specialization, and requires a graduate degree. In certain situations, a Provisional Certificate, which is valid for two years, is issued to individuals who have not yet completed all of the requirements for Standard Certificate. Individuals holding special education teaching certificates can add registry to these certificates. To qualify for registry, teachers must have completed the required hours of training in an area of specialization such as autism, deaf-blindness, multiple disabilities, other health impairment or traumatic brain injury.

Reciprocity

The OSBE has a relatively open policy regarding reciprocity. Individuals holding a valid teaching credential from an out-of-state institution can submit an application, along with their official transcripts, proof of teaching experience and copies of current certifications to the the OSBE; qualified applicants receive a Provisional Certificate. While holding this provisional license, they must comply with all OSBE requirements to ultimately obtain a Standard Certificate. Candidates from foreign institutions must meet the requirements for out-of-state candidates, as well as submit their transcripts and credentials for evaluation by an OSBE-approved credential evaluation service. Review the requirements in the out-of-state and out-of country credential sections on the OSBE’s traditional certification page.

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Special Ed Degree Programs in Oklahoma

The Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education the University of Oklahoma, located in Norman, allows students to choose from several special education programs. Its most accelerated program is offered in response to Oklahoma’s special education teacher shortage: the Special Education Boot Camp is a non-traditional online/hybrid route to special education certification. Other choices include an undergraduate program in special education that results in both a bachelor’s degree and a special education teaching certificate, a master’s degree in special education (with or without a teaching certificate) and a doctorate in special education. Located in Edmond, the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) also provides several degree options for would-be special educators. Undergraduates can earn a bachelor’s degree in special education, focusing on mild-moderate or severe-profound disabilities. At the graduate level, students can opt for a master’s degree in special education or speech-language pathology. One of the region’s oldest universities, UCO also holds the distinction of being a training site for the U.S. Paralympics.

For profiles of all the schools in Oklahoma that offer master’s in special education programs, click here.

Alternatives to Certification

Oklahoma is one of many states experiencing a qualified teacher shortage in select areas, including special education. To help remedy the situation, the Oklahoma Alternative Placement Program allows individuals with bachelor’s degrees in an area relevant to the subject they which to teach to begin teaching in Oklahoma public schools while they work to meet the requirements of a Standard Certificate. Undergraduate coursework in special education may be enough to qualify a candidate for alternative placement in elementary grades, while teaching in upper grades typically requires demonstrating subject area mastery. Oklahoma’s Troops to Teachers program assists veterans and reserve personnel who hold a bachelor’s degree in gaining teaching certification and finding employment in high-need areas.

Working in Special Education in Oklahoma

Public schools

Oklahoma Teachers-Teachers allows special educators to find public education jobs in Oklahoma and sort them by category. The Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA) also lists public school job openings for teachers.

Private schools

Oklahoma City’s Trinity School is a private special education school offering a multi-sensory curriculum.
Tulsa’s Town & Country School serves students in grades 1-12 who have attention disorders, learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.

Other programs

Oklahoma Connections Academy hires certified special educators to teach in the Oklahoma branch of its virtual school.

Professional Development

The OSBE provides a range of professional development opportunities for special educators.
Professional Oklahoma Educators maintains a full roster of training programs for general and special educators in the areas of academic subjects, behavior management, legal issues, classroom instruction and communication.
Oklahoma Directors of Special Services supports special educators with conferences, workshops and other training events, as well as a range of resources.
The OCTP coordinates multiple projects that qualify as professional development for educators.

Oklahoma Organizations for Special Educators

The state teacher’s union, the Oklahoma Education Association is the primary professional organization for Oklahoma teachers. Teachers, administrators and support professionals in Oklahoma’s public education institutions comprise its 40,000-person membership. Membership dues depend upon an individual’s professional category and employment status.

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Oklahoma Special Education Blogs

Chalk Talk Speech Therapy: Alicia is a speech language pathologist who shares her experiences and tips working as a traveling speech pathologist in rural southeastern Oklahoma.
Brain Fitness Strategies: Authors and brain fitness professionals Paul and Susan Phariss are located in Tulsa but are nationally-known neurodevelopmental specialists. Their blog includes information on research and detailed tips on how to use rhythmic movement to overcome learning disabilities.