NEBRASKA
STATE RESOURCES

Education Degree Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in special education or a post-baccalaureate with initial certification with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA

The NDE requires that all teachers complete a teacher preparation program from their approved list. Those who have attended an approved and accredited Nebraska university or college for their bachelor’s degree will often include this in the coursework.

The special education training required by the NDE is not the same as obtaining an endorsement in special education. This course helps educators understand the major characteristics of disabilities defined under the Special Education Act and provides methods of teaching students with various disabilities within the regular classroom.

Testing Requirements

As of May 16, 2023, the NDE has dropped its Praxis Core (basic skills) testing requirement for certification. However, the content tests are still required for certain endorsements. Special education candidates must take the Praxis II Content Exam – 5355 Special Education Foundational Knowledge

Certificate Information

In order to become a special educator in Nebraska, candidates must:

Complete a bachelor’s degree and submit the transcripts directly from the institution

Complete an approved teacher preparation program and submit institutional verification

Provide proof of completion of special education and human relations training

Submit fingerprinting cards

Submit content test scores

Learn more from the Nebraska Department of Education: https://www.education.ne.gov/tcert/

Alternate Routes

The Nebraska Department of Education provides several alternative pathways to professional licensing:

Pathway One

Have completed at least one-half of the pre-student teaching requirements, including a course in teaching methods, of an approved program.

Have fulfilled at least three-fourths of the requirements for at least one subject or field endorsement. See Rule 24 for more details on the minimum requirements for the available endorsements.

Pathway Two

Have completed a state-approved alternative program for teaching, which includes some education-related coursework.

Educator Certificate – Submit a copy of a current regular teaching certificate from another state.

Employment Verification – Submit evidence that shows at least one year of teaching experience in the last five years in an approved, accredited or otherwise legally operated school in another state.

Pathway Three

Have completed a teacher education program at a standard institution of higher education.

Educator Certificate – Submit a copy of a current teaching certificate from another state in good standing.

Pathway Four

Have earned and been awarded a baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree from a college or university accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Pass any appropriate subject area examination as designated by the Board.

Pathway Five

Earned a baccalaureate degree, which includes at least three-fourths of the course requirements for preparation in the endorsement area.

Submit a written plan from the school system for mentoring and supervision.

Complete a pre-teaching seminar offered by an ESU or standard institution of higher education.

Submit an agreement with an educator preparation program from a Nebraska standard institution of higher education to complete the program for an initial teaching certificate.

Pathway Six

Completed an approved program at a standard institution of higher education.

Held a regular teaching or administrative certificate that has been expire for less than five years.

Prior to the expiration of the alternative permit, submit an official transcript showing the completion of 6 semester hours of education-related coursework from a standard institution of higher education.

Pathway Seven

Completed an approved program at a standard institution of higher education.

Have held a regular teaching or administrative certificate that has been expired for more than five years.

Before the expiration of the Alternative Permit, submit an official transcript showing the completion of 15 semester hours of education-related coursework from a standard institution of higher education outlined below:

A course in instructional techniques

A field experience consisting of one hundred or more clock hours of contact with students in the classroom setting, 50% of which shall consist of performing instructional duties.

A course or courses that address current issues in education, including but not limited to special education, gifted education, reading and writing in the content area, and school law.

The remaining coursework must be directly related to the applicant’s content area on the expired certificate.

Learn more about these pathways from the Nebraska Department of Education: https://www.education.ne.gov/tcert/teaching-certificates/

If individuals hold a current initial/standard/professional teaching certificate, they can add special education endorsement by successfully passing the Praxis II content exam: https://www.education.ne.gov/tcert/gtchcert/#1707851503900-1bc26b16-3f3a