NAC391.378. Qualifications for teaching pupils who have autism.

     1. Before teaching pupils, ages 3 to 21, inclusive, who have autism, a person must:

     (a) Hold an endorsement 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 6 semester hours from course work 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, the person must:

     (a) Have completed a program of preparation for teaching pupils who have autism, 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 autism;

     (c) Hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the education of pupils who have autism 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 have completed:

          (1) Eight semester hours of student teaching with pupils who have autism, equivalent field experience with such pupils or 1 year of verifiable teaching experience with such pupils; and

          (2) Thirty semester hours of course work, including course work in the following areas:

               (I) Behavior management;

               (II) Speech and language development;

               (III) Assistive technology, or alternative or augmentative communication;

               (IV) Characteristics of pupils who have autism;

               (V) Curriculum development or methods and strategies for teaching pupils who have autism;

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

               (VII) The assessment of pupils who have disabilities;

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

               (IX) 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;

               (X) Methods of teaching mathematics; and

               (XI) Methods of teaching literacy.

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 Comm’n on Prof. Standards in Education, 1-10-96, eff. 9-1-97; A by R103-03, 9-24-2003; R007-05, 10-31-2005; R038-08, 6-17-2008; R028-11, 10-26-2011)