Special Education Certificate

In fall 2025, UNCW’s Watson College of Education introduced a graduate-level certificate program for special education residency teachers seeking North Carolina licensure. The program has now expanded to include non-certified teaching assistants, teacher apprentices and other school staff with a bachelor’s degree who want to become lead teachers in special education settings.

 “We are excited to open the certificate program to additional aspiring teachers,” said Sharon Richter, coordinator of WCE’s Special Education MAT and Certificate programs. “Special education is one of the highest-need and most understaffed fields in K-12 education. Watson has offered a successful bachelor’s degree program for many years. In 2025, we introduced an MAT and a residency certificate program, and we are excited to continue expanding our programs to attract more special educators to the field.”

The Special Education Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is a 21-credit-hour program designed for working professionals.

Students can choose from two concentrations:

• Special Education: General Curriculum prepares educators to teach individuals with mild to moderate disabilities.
• Special Education: Adapted Curriculum prepares educators to teach learners with significant intellectual and multiple disabilities.

All courses are offered online, and field experiences are aligned with each candidate’s licensure pathway. Residency teachers complete field placements in their own classrooms, while the Watson College’s Office of Professional Experiences works with teacher assistants and other candidates to arrange convenient placements with their local school districts.

The program is taught by dedicated faculty with extensive teaching experience. Personalized advising is provided, and edTPA support is embedded throughout the program to help streamline the licensure process. Successful completion leads to North Carolina Special Education (K–12) teacher licensure.

Special education courses are offered at the graduate level. The certificate is not a degree program, but all courses can be applied toward the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Special Education degree program.

For more information, contact Dr. Richter at richters@uncw.edu or visit the Special Education Post-Baccalaureate Certificate webpage.

For information about WCE’s residency programs, visit the Residency Licensure webpage.