Most people who
pursue a master’s in special education do so with the intent of becoming a
special education teacher. After all, most states require such educators to
have completed, at minimum, a special education training program if a master’s
degree isn’t required.
However, earning
such a degree presents a number of opportunities
outside the classroom as well. Law enforcement, health care, social
services, and the media are all in need of experienced professionals with a
background in special education.
Not convinced? Check out some of the
doors that your special education credential can open up.
Social Services Providers
When children
are hospitalized due to illness or injury, their medical team relies upon
social services coordinators to help the patient and his or her family access
necessary programs and services, and to
help them provide the best possible
care to their young patients. With your degree in special education, you can
help determine patient eligibility for extra services, advocate for patients’
educational needs, and help coordinate treatment plans. A special education
program also helps prepare you for certification as a Child Life Specialist, a
health care professional who helps children and families as they deal with
illness, injury, disability, and hospitalization.
Depending on the
agency or organization, a social services provider earns an average of around
$40,000 per year, with those who earn the Certified Child Life Specialist
credential among the top earners overall.
Writer and Tester
In order for
children to receive special education services, in most cases they must undergo
a series of diagnostic tests designed to pinpoint the issue and identify appropriate
measures. The tests are usually administered by trained professionals with a
background in special education who can effectively interpret the results and
make appropriate recommendations.
Not only do
special education professionals deliver exams, they also help create them.
Using their in-depth knowledge and experience, they devise exams that are both
effective and developmentally appropriate. Special education experts are also
in demand as writers of textbooks, and training and informational materials. In
most cases, these roles also require some degree of classroom experience in
addition to a degree, but the earning potential is competitive. A full time
writer, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, earns about $50,000 per
year. However, many special education teachers provide writing, editing, and
testing services on a freelance basis, earning a steady income in addition to
their full time jobs.
Rehabilitation
You might find
these positions in schools, where you would work with a single student or a
small group in a classroom, at a rehabilitation center, or in private practice.
Private practice usually requires that you obtain a license, which may require
additional education and training. Demand for rehabilitation counselors is
expected to grow by 20 percent within the next decade, but salaries are still
on the lower end of the spectrum, averaging in the low to mid $30s. Counselors
in private practice tend to earn substantially more money each year.
Law Enforcement
It might seem
strange that you can use your special education degree in the law enforcement
field, but it’s true. Correctional facilities often hire people with a
background in special education to teach or provide rehabilitation services to
inmates. Studies
show that more than a third of all inmates in juvenile correctional
facilities received special education services at some point prior to
incarceration, and the law requires that children with disabilities continue to
receive those services while they are in detention.
This is an
extremely challenging, yet rewarding specialization, with above average earning
potential. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salaries for
a corrections officer is about $48,000 per year, with the region, level of
security, and level of education all factors in actual salaries.
Earning a
special education master’s degree does not mean that you are limited to working
in schools. From hospitals to jails to your own private practice, a special
education degree is a versatile credential that offers a wealth of career
opportunities.
