In Idaho, special education teaching certification includes all types of exceptionalities spanning grades Kindergarten to Grade 12. An Idaho teacher certified in special education could teach anywhere from a secondary transition program to an elementary resource room.
The Special Education option prepares an educator to teach in any special education classroom or program, and provides certification for the grade options listed below.
Official Degree Name: Special Education
Degree Type: Bachelor of Arts
Type of Idaho Teaching Certification:K-12th grade option: Exceptional Child Generalist (K-12), P-8th grade option: Exceptional Child Generalist (K-8) and Early Childhood Special Education (Pre-K-3), P-12th grade option: Exceptional Child Generalist (K-12) and Early Childhood Special Education (Pre-K-3)
Note for Students with Out-of-State Home Addresses: If considering an academic program that leads to a professional license or certification in your state, it is highly recommended that you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in your home state BEFORE beginning the academic program located outside your state, or upon changing states. Visit the Professional Licensure Disclosures website for more information.
*Do you already have an undergraduate degree and are looking for a graduate option to earn your teaching certification? Check out our Master In Teaching (MIT) programs. Most programs can be completed within a year and will earn both a master’s degree and teaching certification.
What can I do with this degree?
This degree leads to recommendation in certification for one Idaho teaching certificate: Exceptional Child Generalist (K-12).
Degree Requirements and Advising Resources
To apply to the Teacher Education program, you must have the following things completed:
All lower division courses, including the 200-level pre-professional Teacher Education courses, must be either complete or in progress
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 3.0 or higher GPA in all Teacher Education courses
Once admitted to the Teacher Education program, you complete the upper division Teacher Education courses. During the Teacher Education year, you must also complete the required Praxis 2 tests in order to apply to the Professional Year.
Praxis Tests
The required Praxis 2 tests are:
Praxis 2: Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects test #5001
Praxis 2: Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications test #5543
Program Admissions
The deadline to apply to the Teacher Education program is either the first Friday in February if you apply in the spring and the third Friday in September if you apply in the fall.
The admission process includes an interview which is scheduled after the application deadline.
Professional Year
The deadline to apply for Professional Year is also either the first Friday in February if you apply in the fall or the third Friday in September if you apply in the spring.
After admission to Professional Year, you complete two semesters of student teaching. One semester is a Special Education practicum and the other semester is in a Special Education classroom.
Pathway to Proficiency – Teacher Education Program Requirements
To apply to the Teacher Education program, you must have the following three things completed:
All lower division courses, including the 200-level pre-professional Teacher Education courses, must be either complete or in progress
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 3.0 or higher GPA in all Teacher Education courses
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply to the Teacher Education program is either the first Friday in February if you apply in the spring and the third Friday in September if you apply in the fall.
The admission process includes an interview which is scheduled after the application deadline.
After Admission to the Program
Once admitted to the Teacher Education program, you complete the upper division Teacher Education courses. During the Teacher Education year, you must also complete the required Praxis 2 tests in order to apply to the Professional Year.
For this major, the required Praxis 2 tests are:
Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching #7811
The following subtests are also required:
 Reading and Language Subtest #7812 / Score: 161
Mathematics Subtest #7813 / Score: 150
Social Studies Subtest #7815 / Score: 161
Science Subtest #7814 / Score: 154
Praxis: Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications test #5543 / Score: 153
Praxis: Special Education: Preschool /Â Early Childhood (P-3rd and P-12th only) #5692 / Score: 159
You must successfully complete ALL Praxis exams BEFORE applying to Professional Year.
Applying to Professional Year
The deadline to apply for Professional Year is also either the first Friday in February if you apply in the fall or the third Friday in September if you apply in the spring.
After admission to Professional Year, you complete two semesters of student teaching. One semester is a Special Education practicum or preschool teaching experience and the other semester is in a Special Education classroom.
Pathway to Proficiency – Courses
Courses required for entrance into program
All of the following courses are required for graduation and entrance into the teacher program.
FW ENGL 101 – Writing and Rhetoric I (3 credits)
FW ENGL 102 – Writing and Rhetoric II (3 credits)
UF 100 – Intellectual Foundations (3 credits)
UF 200 – Civic and Ethical Foundations (3 credits)
FM MATH 157 – Number and Operations for Teachers (4 credits)
 MATH 158 (prerequisite: MATH 157) – Geometry and Measurement for Teachers (4 credits)
ED-ESP 329 or ED-ESP 345 (spring only) – Behavior Support in Early Childhood or Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (3 credits)
ED-ESP 460 (fall only) – Special Education at the Secondary Level (3 credits)
ED-ESP 461- Teaching Experience in Preschool Programs (5 credits)
Electives to total 120: 2-4
Total credits = 120
Costs and Scholarships
Boise State provides an affordable, quality education to improve your future. Scholarship opportunities are available for residents and nonresidents, making it even more affordable to attain a quality education.