Special Ed Certification?

YES GO FOR IT. You sound like me when I was about to graduate college and still did not know what I was going to do with my Psyc degree. I LOVE Special Ed. I taught PPCD before having children.....I see myself going back at some point but am enjoying being a mom right now.....I did go alternative route and you will have an easier time than other people; the need for spec ed teachers is high. I go a job first year applied and loved every minute of it (minus some of the mountains of paper work, but that comes with the territory). I observed a few different types of rooms I could teach and knew when I walked into the PPCD room that that was for me!!!

If you want to pursue special ed, I'd like to recommend getting some experience as an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) tutor under your belt at some point. There are a lot of children on the autism spectrum who are in our school system now and ABA a really important teaching technique for children who pre-k and elementary age.

I have heard there is a higher demand for math, science, and special ed teachers. I also heard that there were special college loan forgiveness programs for special ed teachers (maybe math too) for those who teach x many years.

Sounds like it is something you like and take pride in.

My sister-in-law did that. Loved the work, not the paperwork. My daughter-in-law taught elementary. She loved teaching; hated the public school paperwork and said that the paperwork for the special ed teachers was the worst.

She encouraged my daughter to teach pre-K in a private school so she'd have more time to teach which she loves. So, if paperwork isn't your calling, investigate private schools.

I would say go for it! Even with today's layoffs of teachers everywhere, I believe special ed teachers are in pretty high demand. There are federally mandated laws for special ed, so schools MUST have the faculty, and there aren't enough people who choose to go into it. When I was teaching here in GA 10 years ago, the state would pay for you to get your Master's degree in special ed! If you enjoy it and are willing, I think you would be great at it. Pick up a math or science certification while you're at it, and you'll be a school system's dream! Just be prepared -you'll have a caseload of IEPs to manage, and there is a ton of paperwork to deal with -just know that going into it.

It sounds like you love it, so go for it! The job market all over the country is great for special ed teachers, especially those with moderate/severe credentials (that's what it's called in CA when you teach kids with more significant disabilities.) I have a moderate/severe special ed credential and got started much in the same way you are starting. I had no idea such programs even existed before I started subbing. I do think of my career as a calling, since it's definitely not for just anyone. I've been teaching for 12 years now and can't imagine doing anything else (even though the pay should be much better.)

I don't know what the credential process is like in TX, but check out your state dep't of ed website for more info. Also, any extra training in autism (TEACCH, Floortime, ABA, positive behavior support) will increase your experience and marketability.