NAC391.343. Qualifications for teaching pupils who have specific learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, health impairments, orthopedic impairments or traumatic brain injuries.

     1. Before teaching pupils who have specific learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, health impairments, orthopedic impairments or traumatic brain injuries, a person must:

     (a) Hold an endorsement to perform the duties of a generalist in special education issued pursuant to this section; or

     (b) Hold a teacher’s elementary or secondary license, a license to teach special education, a license to teach middle school or junior high school education, or a bachelor’s or master’s degree with a major or minor in special education, must have completed at least 6 semester hours from the courses prescribed in subparagraph (2) of paragraph (d) of subsection 2 and must complete a program of preparation leading to licensing in this field within 3 years after beginning to teach such pupils.

     2. To receive the endorsement to perform the duties of a generalist in special education, the person must:

     (a) Have completed a program of preparation for teaching pupils who have specific learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, intellectual disabilities, health impairments, orthopedic impairments or traumatic brain injuries which has been approved by the Board;

     (b) Hold a license or certificate, issued by another state, with an endorsement to teach pupils who have specific learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, intellectual disabilities, health impairments, orthopedic impairments or traumatic brain injuries;

     (c) Hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the education of pupils who have specific learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, intellectual disabilities, health impairments, orthopedic impairments or traumatic brain injuries and have completed 8 semester hours of student teaching, equivalent field experience or 1 year of verifiable teaching experience in special education; or

     (d) Hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree and:

          (1) Have completed 8 semester hours of student teaching of pupils who have learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, intellectual disabilities, health impairments, orthopedic impairments or traumatic brain injuries, equivalent field experience with such pupils or 1 year of verifiable teaching experience with such pupils; and

          (2) Have completed 30 semester hours of course work, including course work in the following areas:

               (I) Human growth and development;

               (II) Educational psychology;

               (III) Methods and materials of teaching reading or mathematics;

               (IV) Additional studies in methods of teaching reading or mathematics;

               (V) Introduction to special education or the education of pupils who have disabilities;

               (VI) The characteristics of pupils who have specific learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, intellectual disabilities, health impairments, orthopedic impairments or traumatic brain injuries;

               (VII) The assessment of pupils who have disabilities;

               (VIII) Behavior management;

               (IX) Parental involvement in programs for pupils who have disabilities;

               (X) Curriculum development or methods and strategies for teaching pupils who have specific learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, intellectual disabilities, health impairments, orthopedic impairments or traumatic brain injuries; and

               (XI) Education or planning for the transition of pupils who have disabilities from their current placement to placement in additional educational programs, employment and living independently as an adult.

Ê The requirement for course work in two of these areas may be satisfied by completing one course, of at least 3 semester hours, that encompasses both subject matters.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Education, eff. 3-7-84; A 11-25-86; A by Comm’n on Prof. Standards in Education, 7-18-88; 11-27-91, eff. 1-11-92; 1-10-96; R016-04, 8-25-2004; R005-05, 10-31-2005; R028-11, 10-26-2011)