Special Education Endorsement FAQs

1. How many credits does WSU’s Special Education Endorsement require? 
   • 24 graded credits of coursework + school-based field experience (2 practicum; each 2 credits; point #5 further below offers more information). Also see SPED Add-On Endorsement
2.   How much does the WSU Special Education Endorsement cost? 
   • WSU charges tuition per credit. Graded courses are 3 credits each. For a Washington resident taking the Special Education Endorsement at the undergraduate level, tuition costs can be found at. See Tuition & Expenses  (e.g., $614 per credit or $1842 for 3 credits). 
3. Can students take the Special Education Endorsement as part of a master’s degree?
   • Yes. See Special Education Master’s Degrees
4.  How long do students typically take to complete the Special Education Endorsement? 
   • About 1.5-2.0 years. Students typically take 2-3 courses in fall, spring and summer 
5. Is practicum experience required? 
   • Yes, WSU requires two semesters of practicum (Spec Ed 490; or 590 if taking endorsement classes as part of the EdM degree) to be completed (e.g., one in fall, one in spring). If you are in the Pullman, Tr-Cities or Vancouver area, the faculty at that campus will work with you to arrange a placement in a local school with a mentor Special Education teacher. You would be at the school one day a week (or two half days) for the 15-week semester; click Semester Timeline and Tasks to see the format of student tasks across the 15 weeks. 
   • If you are located far (e.g., more than a 30-minute drive) from one of the three WSU campuses mentioned above, then you can do the online Spec Ed 499 Portfolio online/asynchronously while you are working in a school in your area. A key task is to complete the evidence-based portfolio, which documents practitioner’s use of the Council for Exceptional Children in competencies in their professional work. 
6. Is financial aid available to teachers seeking add-on endorsements? 
   • WSU students who are completing the endorsement as non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid. Teachers can apply for the Washington Student Achievement Council’s Educator Retooling Conditional Scholarship. 
   • Students can be eligible for financial aid by completing the endorsement by taking master’s (500-level) courses (e.g., as part of an EdM degree). 
7. How is the endorsement added to my Washington teacher certificate? 
   • Once all coursework is completed and a passing score has been achieved on the Special Education WEST-E, notify the Office of Field Services and Certification and they will recommend you to OSPI for the add-on endorsement.  
8. Does WSU accept transfer work? 
   • Yes. WSU requires that 50% of the endorsement coursework be completed at WSU. If you have completed special education coursework at another accredited college or university, please complete the self-evaluation.  
9. What is WSU students’ success rate with the WEST-E test that Special Education Endorsement students need to take?  
   • About 99% of students passed the WEST-E. 
10. How do I qualify for the pre-endorsement waiver? 
    • The State of Washington allows Washington-certified teachers to apply for a pre-endorsement authorization after completing 16 semester credit hours in Special Education for details visit Personnel Qualifications Guidance. The WSU faculty have determined that candidates should complete the following courses to meet this requirement: SPEC ED 301, 401, 402, 404, 421, and 490/499. 
    • Once the teacher has met these requirements, a Washington school district can hire them and begin the pre-endorsement authorization process. Staci Bickelhaupt Certification Coordinator will need to sign the verification of program enrollment. 
11. Still have questions about the endorsement’s content/coursework or applying to the EdM degree, contact either: 
    • Via email: Dr. Don McMahon or by telephone 509-335-1631 
    • Via email Dr. Michael Dunn or by telephone: 360-546-9662 
12. Can I earn a certificate from this program?
    • Yes, there is a Transition Certificate option.