All About Teaching >> Help Me! What Should I Do? >> NJ - Special Education and Certification
NJ - Special Education and Certification
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Posted 3 months ago Hello- I am desperately trying to figure out if the path I am considering is the right way to go in NJ. Teaching will be a new career for me. I do not hold a teaching certification. I will be starting a job as a student aid in a school for children with autism Sept. 1. I have a bachelors degree. Ultimatley I would like to teach Special Education in NJ ideally K-3. I want to know the best route to take to obtain the right credentials to get a job in this field. I am considering enrolling in an online program "MED Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Does anyone out there know if this is appropriate for what I want to do? I think I will also need a teaching certification in NJ, right? My understanding is that w/60 undergad liberal arts credits I can obtain that certificate, is that right? Do I also need to take more classes to obtain credentials to teach K-3?
I am so confused, can anyone help??? Any insite would be greatly appreciated, thanks! |
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| Posted 3 months ago Why don't you ask the people in the school you will be working in? |
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| Posted 3 months ago This site has all the information about NJ certification http://www.state.nj.us/education/educators/license/ I am also trying to become certified as a special education teacher in NJ. Before you can do that you need to hold a CE, CEAS, or standard NJ certificate. There is a link on the site above that explains the differences. Since you are interested in K-3 you would want your initial certification to be in either “preschool through grade 3” or “elementary school teacher in grades k-5.” If you go to http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/education/license/endorsement.pl?str... you can click on a link that states specifically what you will need to obtain each of the 3 types of certificates for the subject area. Regardless of the route you choose you will need to take a Praxis exam. I hope this helped. Good Luck! |
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| Posted 3 months ago
thank you for your answer Samantha! I have been doing a lot of research as well. It looks like I will be elegible for at least a CE in k-5 and a Standard in Special Ed once I have completed my Masters Program. I wish you lots of luck and keep me posted on how it is going for you!!
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| Posted 2 months ago I just received my K-5 certification in the mail and shipped out my application for the special education certification. |
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| Posted 2 months ago I have had my CE in K-5, and SE for two years, have worked as a Para since 2006, and before that was a substitute teacher, and summer camp counselor--all for the same school district. This past year I also received my CE in P-3. Last summer I took the Stage 1 requirement of the New Pathways to Teaching in NJ Program while I taught 3rd and 4th grade ESY (extended school year program) for the district, and this past summer I was hired to teach Preschool ESY for the district. Unfortunately, having all of this experience and the CE's was not enought to get a job teaching in September for the district. I applied for each job opportunity, and was told by my building principal that there is a lot of competition with students who graduate with dual certification and student teaching. He recommended that I try to get my CE in Math or Science, but I was a Liberal Arts/Communications major in college--I would need more credits in Math or Science. I am currently back as a paraprofessional (teacher instructional aide) for Preschool (so I taught Pre-K in the summer, and now am an aide again...go figure!) I don't understand if it's this particular district, but I've applied in numerous districts, and was only interviewed in one. Maybe if the economy gets better, it will weed out all of the students who are graduating and feel they don't make enough money. I personally am not in it for the money as much as the love for what I do. I have been a classroom mom, girl scout leader, advisor for after school club activities, assisted with Kindergarten orientation, and organized fundraisers for charity in my district. What 22 year old out of college is going to say they've done all that? Truth be told, and I hate to burst bubbles, but take it from me, I have been an employee in the same district for about 5 years, gone above and beyond, hold 3 CE's, and I can't get a full-time teaching job for September--WITHOUT A VERY GOOD CONNECTION, YOU WON"T GET A JOB...It sucks, but it's 100% TRUE! P.S mejmej, if you don't have promise of employment or a standard Certificate, you will not be able to take Masters courses.If you do get hired, you will have 5 years to complete your Masters. If you are considering K-5 or P-3, I took both Praxis exams, and P-3 is much easier. I did pass both on the first try, but the K-5 was tough and I studied for a month. |
