Qualifications
If you're the kind of person who's thinking—eh, maybe college isn't for me, then there's some good news and bad news here.
Here's the bad news: In order to become a special education teacher in all United States public school systems you need at least a bachelor's degree. People who are interested in becoming a special education teacher usually get a degree in—real shocker here—special education. During the last year of this degree, you'll be in a classroom doing student teaching, while being supervised by a certified special education teacher (this is a part of the teacher preparation program).
Now don't worry—we didn't forget about the good news. The good news is that in private schools, teachers don't have to meet state requirements, so a private school can hire you without having a bachelor's degree. However—and here's some more bad news—private schools often prefer to hire teachers who have a bachelor's degree in special education. We can't say we blame them.
Long story short, to be a teacher you better stay in school.
Now things don't end when you graduate with your bachelor's degree—there's more. States require a license/certification/credential before becoming a teacher in the public school system. But again, private schools get to play by their own rules and do not necessarily require their teachers to be licensed/certified/credentialed.
There are a variety of licenses you can look into and the one you decide to go for may depend on your state. While some states allow teachers to transfer their license to a different state if they choose to move, others won't allow you to teach unless you pass the state license requirements.
So how does one obtain their license or teacher's certification? Well, you need a bachelor's degree (remember all public schools mandate their teachers have a bachelor's degree) and the completion of a teacher preparation program (which many universities offer).
Many states also conduct criminal background checks—you're working with kids, remember?
Additionally, different states may have extra requirements for teachers interested in pursuing their teaching license, so it's extremely important to make sure you know the requirements of the state you wish to teach in. You'll also need to pass all required examinations, which are determined by the certification you are interested in.
The cost of applying for your license depends on the state, so you better do a little research.
Are we there yet? Yes. Once you've completed your bachelor's degree, a teaching program, and have obtained your license, you are now fully certified to teach and are ready to nurture the minds of America's future.
Hold on. There are a few more things you'll need to teach special education.
You'll have to have lights-out communication skills, because you'll be dealing with students, teachers, parents, and administrators. Creativity and patience will also come in handy, because—well—kids. Lastly, it also helps to just be a nice person. That should be a given for all careers, but it's especially true when dealing with students and parents.