Education

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• applying directly

University

Most teaching courses include options on teaching children with special educational needs.

Undergraduate degree

You can do an undergraduate degree that leads to qualified teacher status (QTS), for example:

• Bachelor of Education (BEd)
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) with QTS
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) with QTS

Postgraduate certificate

If you already have a bachelor's degree without qualified teacher status, you can complete a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE). This is a common choice and can be done at university or through a training programme based in a school.

More teacher training options

There are more training options if you want to change career or specialise in teaching certain subjects.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
• GCSE science at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) for primary school teaching
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

For more information

• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
• funding for teacher training |https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-my-teacher-training
• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• postgraduate teacher training courses|https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-postgraduate-teacher-training-courses-in-england

Apprenticeship

You can do a degree level teaching apprenticeship if you have a degree.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths
• GCSE science at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) for primary school teaching
• a degree for a teaching apprenticeship

For more information

• postgraduate teaching apprenticeships|https://www.ucas.com/teaching-option/postgraduate-teaching-apprenticeship
• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Work

You could start as a teaching assistant and do a part time degree. You could then move onto a postgraduate teaching course to qualify as a teacher.

Volunteering and work experience

You'll find it helpful to get some experience of working with young people with special educational needs or disabilities.

You could volunteer at a school or work at a youth club or on a holiday scheme.

You can also find volunteering opportunities through Do IT.

Direct application

If you're a qualified teacher, you can get extra training to teach students with special educational needs. You can find a course through your local education authority.

Many local education authorities offer courses for teachers who want to do this.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

• You'll need further specialist qualifications to teach students with hearing impairment, vision impairment or multi-sensory impairment.
• pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults

More information

Career tips

You can attend a Get Into Teaching event before you apply to get advice about teaching, funding and the different training routes available. You can attend events in person and online.

Professional and industry bodies

You could become a member of the National Association for Special Educational Needs to help with professional development.

Further information

You can find out more about teaching students with special educational needs from Get Into Teaching and the National Association for Special Educational Needs.

You can also search for jobs through the Teaching Vacancies service.

View all vacancies in this region

With experience you could:become a special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) and manage the special educational needs strategy at a school; move into management roles like head of department, key stage co-ordinator, deputy head or headteacher; use your specialist skills and knowledge and become a special needs assessment officer at a local council; become a higher education lecturer; move into teacher training, private training or tutoring