Certification
SWD Generalist Grade Level Extensions
Teachers who hold valid Students with Disabilities (SWD) certificates may be eligible for grade level extensions if they have teaching experience in particular grade levels and completed specified coursework or Continuing Teacher and Leader Education Requirements (CTLE).
The following tables list the teaching experience and the coursework/CTLE required for the grade level extension. All of the requirements for the grade level extensions can be found on the Search Certification Requirements webpage and choosing “Classroom Teacher Extensions” as the area of interest and “Students with Disabilities” as the subject area.
The Teacher Centers offer CTLE that focuses on students with disabilities at the various developments levels and fulfills the coursework/CTLE requirement for the grade level extension.
SWD Certificate Grade Levels |
Extension Grade Levels |
Teaching Experience Requirement |
Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) or a College Course (Choose One) |
|
Birth-Grade 2 |
Grades 3-4 |
Minimum of 3 years at the 1st and/or 2nd grade levels. |
Minimum of 45 clock hours of acceptable CTLE focused on SWD at the elementary level. |
Minimum of 3 semester hours of pedagogical coursework focused on SWD at the elementary level. |
Grades 1-6 |
PK-K |
Minimum of 3 years at the 1st and/or 2nd grade levels. |
Minimum of 45 clock hours of acceptable CTLE focused on SWD at the early childhood level. |
Minimum of 3 semester hours of pedagogical coursework focused on SWD at the early childhood level. |
Grades 1-6 |
Grades 7-8 |
Minimum of 3 years at the 5th and/or 6th grade levels. |
Minimum of 45 clock hours of acceptable CTLE focused on SWD at the middle level. |
Minimum of 3 semester hours of pedagogical coursework focused on SWD at the middle level. |
Grades 7-12 (Generalist or Content Specialist) |
Grades 5-6 |
Minimum of 3 years at the 7th and/or 8th grade levels. |
Minimum of 45 clock hours of acceptable CTLE focused on SWD at the middle level. |
Minimum of 3 semester hours of pedagogical coursework focused on SWD at the middle level. |
SWD Certificate Grade Levels |
Extension Grade Levels |
Teaching Experience Requirement |
SWD at the Adolescent Level |
English Language Arts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Grades 5-9 (Generalist or Content Specialist) |
Grades 10-12 |
Minimum of 3 years at the 8th and/or 9th grade levels. |
Minimum of 45 clock hours of acceptable CTLE or a minimum of 3 semester hours. |
Minimum of 15 hours of acceptable CTLE or a minimum of 3 semester hours. |