Credentials in Special Education

Education Specialist Credentials

The Department of Special Education at SFSU offers post-baccalaureate programs leading to the following Educational Specialist Credentials:

• Preliminary Education Specialist Credentials
• Professional Clear Educations Specialist Credentials
• Cinical Rehabilitative Services Credentials (CRS) specializing Orientation and Mobility (O&M).

Programs in teacher preparation for the Education Specialist Credentials are approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Programs are organized via a two-tiered system: The Preliminary Education Specialist and the Professional Clear. Each level is based on California teaching standards with unique requirements for preliminary and professional certification.

SFSU Preliminary and Professional Clear Education Specialist credential preparation programs consist of specializations in the following areas:

• Early Childhood Special Education (birth to pre-K only): children eligible for early intervention, special education, and/or related services under federal law.
• Mild/Moderate Disabilities (K-12, including adults): learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, other health impaired, and emotional disturbance.
• Moderate/Severe Disabilities (K-12, including adults): autism, cognitive impairment, deaf-blindness, emotional disturbance, and multiple disabilities.
• Physical and Health Impairments (0-22): orthopedically impaired, other health impaired, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities.
• Visual Impairments (0-22): blind, visually impaired, deaf-blind

Individuals who hold a Preliminary or Professional Clear Education Specialist credential may take courses in order to be authorized in the following areas of specialization:

• Added Authorizations

  • Autism
  • Early Childhood Special Education
  • Orthopedically Impaired (OI)