• woman and a teacher at seminar image by Dmitry Goygel-Sokol from Fotolia.com
  
  Since the No Child Left Behind Act became law, requirements for special education teachers have become more stringent. Requirements to become a special education teacher vary by state. In North Dakota, teaching candidates must meet certain education, student teaching and testing standards before they can be certified.
  
  

Education

• Teacher candidates must earn a bachelor's or master's degree with a major or minor in special education with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
  
  

Student Teaching

• At least 10 weeks of student teaching must be completed in special education. Candidates must student teach in the grade level they wish to be certified.
  
  

Testing

• Teacher candidates in North Dakota have to pass both the Praxis I and II. The Praxis I measures abilities in math, reading and writing. The Praxis II is a subject specific test. Candidates who plan to teach in elementary school will take the elementary general education and the elementary special education Praxis II.
  
  Candidates who plan to teach at the secondary level will take the test in the subject(s) they wish to teach. The tests are offered through the Educational Testing Service (ETS), and teacher candidates must register through their web site. Scores are available four weeks after testing.
  
  

Background Check

• All teacher candidates will be fingerprinted and a background check will be conducted. It is the teacher candidate's responsibility to go to the local department of public safety to be fingerprinted.