Special Education Add-On Endorsement

Special Education Add-On Endorsement

The Special Education Endorsement Program at Washington State University provides the skills and knowledge required for those who want to teach students with special needs in grades P-12. The course work can be taken at either the undergraduate level or the graduate level.

In order to earn the add-on special education endorsement, students must be enrolled in or have completed another endorsement (such as elementary education, English language arts, mathematics, etc.). Students must apply for the add-on endorsement.

All of the courses are offered in an online-only, asynchronous format. Students can access the lessons and do the assignments when it is convenient to them; there is no designated time that students have to be online in a given week.  Students do not need to relocate to a WSU campus but do need U.S. student status. They can take classes in their current location if they have access to a reliable internet connection. Some course work is available on site at the four WSU campuses. Check the schedule of courses offered at each campus for current course delivery options.

The requirement to complete an evidence portfolio (SPEC_ED 499) versus a practicum (SPEC_ED 490/590) is determined by the student’s physical location.  WSU students enrolled through the Global Campus will enroll in SPEC_ED 499 and complete an evidence portfolio.  The portfolio will align their out-of-school experiences (e.g., Special Olympics coach) with students with disabilities to the state special education competencies.  In this way students can demonstrate that they have had experiences working with children and youth with disabilities, and they demonstrate positive and productive skills in that experience. Those who complete the endorsement through Global Campus complete 26 credits of course work and evidence portfolio.

Students admitted through Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities or Vancouver will complete two 2 credit practicums (SPEC_ED 490/590) for a total of four credits.  The  practicum experience consists of 90 hours of experience in a special education classroom or setting (usually 6 hours per week, for 15 weeks) for each two credits of practicum. Students not certified in Washington must complete a background check before enrolling in practicum credits. School placements will be made by campus placement personnel; students should not coordinate their own placements.

The WSU Special Education Endorsement Program is designed to meet state and national standards and is accredited by PESB (Professional Educator Standards Board). The federal government requires that school districts employ “Highly Qualified” teachers. That determination is made at the school district level and is dependent on the endorsements and certifications you have obtained.

Pre-Endorsement Waiver:  A teacher who has completed sixteen semester credit hours of the required special education course work is eligible for a pre-endorsement waiver which will allow that teacher to be employed as a special education teacher. This is a district-initiated process and additional information and application can be found on the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s website.  WSU requires students to complete the courses listed in bold below before signing the Verification of Teacher Program Enrollment form (SPI 1534).  The remaining credits and all endorsement requirements must be completed within five years of service as a special education teacher (WAC 392-172A-02090).

Students can begin courses in any semester, if they have met all the prerequisite coursework. To find out more, contact one of the people below.

• Greater Vancouver Area: Jennifer Gallagher, WSU Vancouver Education Academic Coordinator (j.gallagher@wsu.edu; 360-546-9075).
• Tri-Cities area: Niamh O’Leary, WSU Tri-Cities Education Academic Coordinator (niamh.oleary@wsu.edu; 509-372-7394)
• Pullman and Online: Staci Bickelhaupt, WSU Certification Coordinator (sbickel@wsu.edu; 509-335-8146)

Course Offerings and Schedule

Courses listed in bold are required for the pre-endorsement waiver

*Summer course offerings may vary. Check with the campus contact person for current schedules of course offerings.

**SPEC_ED 409/509 is strongly encouraged for teachers endorsed in secondary content prior to applying for the pre-endorsement waiver.

***A minimum of two credits of SPEC_ED 490/590 or completion of Spec Ed 499 (2 credits) must be completed before WSU will sign off on a teacher’s pre-endorsement waiver paperwork.