Special education teacher laughing with student in classroom setting

Special Education K-12 Certificate Online

Arkansas State University's online Special Education K-12 Certificate is a 21-credit-hour, CAEP-accredited program completed in as few as 10 months through accelerated online courses (7 weeks in fall and spring, 5 weeks in summer). Built for Arkansas-licensed teachers who want to add a K-12 Special Education Teaching License without completing a new master's degree, it prepares graduates to assess, diagnose and serve the needs of students with disabilities.

Next Apply Date: 9/28/26
Next Class Start Date: 10/12/26
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 9/28/26
Next Class Start Date: 10/12/26

Program Overview

What does A-State's online Special Education K-12 Certificate offer?

This program is designed for Arkansas educators who seek to acquire an Arkansas K-12 Special Education Teaching License. The program builds on previous degrees through our curriculum-intense courses and is designed to provide an accelerated, affordable route to obtaining licensure.

For state program approvals, please refer to our State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.

In this program you will:

  • Learn and understand the tools used in the assessment and diagnosis of exceptional learners
  • Develop effective teaching strategies for students with disabilities
  • Apply positive intervention methods for diverse learners with behavioral challenges
  • Gain field-based experience in the area of special education
In this program you will:+
  • Learn and understand the tools used in the assessment and diagnosis of exceptional learners
  • Develop effective teaching strategies for students with disabilities
  • Apply positive intervention methods for diverse learners with behavioral challenges
  • Gain field-based experience in the area of special education

Career roles this program prepares you for:

  • Special Education Teacher (K-12 endorsement holder)
  • Inclusion Teacher
  • Resource Room Teacher
  • Special Education Case Manager
Career roles this program prepares you for:+
  • Special Education Teacher (K-12 endorsement holder)
  • Inclusion Teacher
  • Resource Room Teacher
  • Special Education Case Manager
+

Additional Information

This program requires Watermark – Student Learning & Licensure (SL&L).

Additional Information+

This program requires Watermark – Student Learning & Licensure (SL&L).

Also available:

This certificate is one of several special education credential paths. If you're weighing your options, explore the related programs below:

Total Tuition: $7,350
Program Duration: As few as 10 months
Credit Hours 21

Accreditation

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Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

Tuition

How much does the online Special Education K-12 Certificate cost?

Our Special Education K-12 Certificate online program offers the same affordable tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.

Please note, certificate programs are not financial aid eligible.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $350
Total Tuition: $7,350

Calendar

When can you start the online Special Education K-12 Certificate program?

Our Special Education K-12 Certificate online program is designed to be flexible and convenient for working professionals, featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates a year.

Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.

View full calendar +

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Fall 18/19/268/5/268/5/268/17/268/17/2610/2/26
Fall 210/12/269/28/269/28/2610/8/2610/9/2612/4/26
Spring 11/11/2712/28/2612/28/261/7/271/8/272/26/27
Spring 23/8/273/4/272/22/273/4/273/5/274/30/27

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 9/28/26
Start Class 10/12/26

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Admissions

What are the admission requirements for the Special Education K-12 Certificate?

Students interested in the Special Education K-12 Certificate online program should review the full admission requirements below.

Admission Requirements:

  • Online application
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Valid teaching license
View all admission requirements +

  • Have a Baccalaureate degree with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least a 2.75 on a 4.00 scale from an accredited institution
  • A valid teaching certificate with one year of teaching experience
  • Commitment from an appropriate professional who will function as your mentor during the degree program. View acceptable mentors (PDF).
  • Read and submit the Professional Dispositions Signature Document

For further information concerning admissions, contact A-State Online Services at 866-881-3168, or email the Graduate Admission Coordinator.

If you have questions during that time, you can use our Self Service feature, which allows you to see when transcripts and teaching certificates reach our offices. When you receive your decision letter, it will provide instructions for enrolling yourself into the program and downloading the necessary software. If you have questions during this process, please call us at 866-621-8096.

Arkansas State University is authorized for operation as a postsecondary educational institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. In order to view detailed job placement and completion information on the programs offered by Arkansas State University, please visit www.state.tn.us/thec and click on the Authorized Institutions Data button.

Additional information:

While not required for admission, Teacher/Leader Effectiveness Credentials will be required prior to registering for your first course.

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467

Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

For Non-US Postal Mail Overnight Delivery Only:

A-State Online
c/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401

A-State is Nationally Recognized

A-State is ranked among the "Best National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report (2026)

Courses

What courses are in the Special Education K-12 Certificate curriculum?

Students in the Special Education K-12 Certificate online program must complete the following seven courses (21 credit hours).

You can view your schedule of courses for this certificate through the Course Smartsheet:

View the AOS Course Smartsheet

How to Use the Course Smartsheet

Expand All
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Experience in the admin­istration and interpretation of assessment procedures for planning and implementing instructional interventions for students with exceptionalities.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Developing comprehensive understanding of diagnostic and corrective needs of individuals with reading dis­abilities in special education classrooms.  Prerequisites: ELSE 5653.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Relation­ship of language acquisition and literacy development for exceptional learners, focusing on the identification, analysis, and correction of literacy development in print knowledge, oral reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.  Prerequisites: admission to the MSE in Special Education Instructional Specialist K-12 program or MAT in Special Education K-12 program.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
General and specialized curriculum and methods for teaching students with mild/moderate needs in the K-12 setting, including curricula and intervention strategies for the development of cognitive, academic, social, language and functional life skills for independent, community, and employment living.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Ev­idenced-based research is presented with regard to all educational programs for students with severe, intellectual disabilities and autism, including strategies educators use in concert with team members to plan, teach, and monitor students’ progress.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This provides a basis of under­standing and addressing behavior challenges of diverse learners. In this course a range of is­sues, concepts and practices centering on Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) in school, communities, and other social settings.  Prerequisites: MSE candidates in Special Educa­tion.
Duration: 14 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Special Education Laboratory Experience is the internship component of the MSE in Special Education K-12 program. Candidates will develop and implement field-based projects for the purpose of applying the knowledge and skill sets ob­tained in all courses leading up to the Laboratory Experience course. Implementation of projects will take place in a special education setting to provide an opportunity for candidates to work with students with exceptionalities. Emphasis is on practical application of theoretical methods. Prereq­uisites, Passage of Special Education Praxis II and permission of advisor.

Built for Arkansas Educators

Arkansas State University's Special Education K-12 Certificate is designed for Arkansas-licensed teachers who want a K-12 Special Education Teaching License without completing a new master's degree. The 21-credit-hour program is completed entirely online in as few as 10 months. For state authorization and Arkansas-specific licensure approval details, visit the State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.

FAQ

Special Education K-12 Certificate Online FAQs

Intro copy

Licensed teachers complete seven courses (21 credit hours) covering assessment, diagnosis, instructional methods and positive behavior intervention, plus a field-based laboratory experience, in as few as 10 months through 7-week spring/fall and 5-week summer terms.
This certificate is the mechanism: it layers special-education-specific coursework and a supervised field experience onto your existing license, leading to Arkansas's K-12 Special Education Teaching License.
Choose this certificate if you already hold a related teaching license and just need the K-12 special education endorsement, at lower cost and in less time (21 credit hours, as few as 10 months). Choose A-State's MSE in Special Education – Instructional Specialist K-12 instead if you want the full master's-level credential and eligibility for instructional-leadership roles.
Yes. A-State's Special Education K-12 Certificate is a 21-credit-hour, fully online program built specifically to add a K-12 Special Education Teaching License to an existing credential, without requiring a new master's degree.

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