Special Education Life Skills Teachers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of special education life skills teachers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for special education life skills teachers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of special education life skills teachers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for special education life skills teachers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Special Education Life Skills Teachers?
Do special education life skills teachers need a degree? What kind of experience do special education life skills teachers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for special education life skills teachers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Special Education Life Skills Teachers
Jobs Postings for Special Education Life Skills Teachers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 14,738 (35%)
- No Education Listed: 12,248 (29%)
- High School or GED: 8,892 (21%)
- Master's degree: 5,977 (14%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 573 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of special education life skills teachers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 35% of positions. In 29% of job listings no education level was listed and in 21% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Special Education Life Skills Teachers
Jobs Postings for Special Education Life Skills Teachers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 9,616 (69%)
- 2-3 Years: 3,776 (27%)
- 4-6 Years: 435 (3%)
- 7-9 Years: 52 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 76 (1%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for special education life skills teachers. In 69% of job postings for Special Education Life Skills Teachers, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 27% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 3% of job postings for special education life skills teachers.
What Kind of Degree Do Special Education Life Skills Teachers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for special education life skills teachers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 19 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective special education life skills teachers, and in 2021 a total of 63,462 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective special education life skills teachers.
Top Degree Programs for Special Education Life Skills Teachers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Special Education Life Skills Teachers (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 24,327 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General. | 13,892 |
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching. | 7,983 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,323 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Special Education and Teaching, General. | 24,327 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General. | 13,892 |
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching. | 7,983 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,323 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities. | 1,789 |
| Physical Fitness Technician. | 1,429 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other. | 1,240 |
| Special Education and Teaching, Other. | 1,210 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism. | 1,123 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities. | 526 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments. | 409 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness. | 362 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances. | 226 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed. | 222 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness. | 134 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. | 122 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic and Other Physical Health Impairments. | 3 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries. | 1 |
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Degree Options for Special Education Life Skills Teachers
Empower your students by maximizing their learning as an Ohio special education teacher in grades K-12.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Rise to meet the unique challenges of a higher education leader with Franklin’s 12-month online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a focus in Higher Education Leadership. The broad-based, theory-to-practice program will prepare you to manage systems and processes that contribute to student achievement.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Make a difference for children and families with an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a focus in K-12 Building-Level Leadership. The streamlined, online program, aligned with National Education Leadership Preparation Program standards, can be completed in 12 months.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Satisfy the requirements to sit for Ohio’s principal licensure exam and earn your M.Ed. with Franklin’s 12-month online principal licensure program.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Special Education Life Skills Teachers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by special education life skills teachers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for special education life skills teachers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Special Education Life Skills Teachers
Based on 37,069 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Special Education Life Skills Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 34,618 | 93% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 16,222 | 44% |
| Disabilities | 6,408 | 17% |
| Lesson Planning | 5,341 | 14% |
| Toileting | 4,437 | 12% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Special Education Life Skills Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 16,166 | 44% |
| Teaching | 15,536 | 42% |
| Writing | 6,720 | 18% |
| Planning | 6,492 | 18% |
| Management | 5,801 | 16% |
Based on 37,069 job postings related to special education life skills teachers, special education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 93% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for individualized education programs (iep), disabilities, lesson planning, toileting and classroom management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for special education life skills teachers, followed by teaching, writing, planning, management and mathematics.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | 34,618 | 93% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 16,222 | 44% |
| Disabilities | 6,408 | 17% |
| Lesson Planning | 5,341 | 14% |
| Toileting | 4,437 | 12% |
| Classroom Management | 4,239 | 11% |
| Behavior Management | 3,965 | 11% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3,850 | 10% |
| Curriculum Development | 3,587 | 10% |
| Personal Care | 3,018 | 8% |
| Instructional Strategies | 2,948 | 8% |
| Learning Styles | 2,904 | 8% |
| Working With Children | 2,738 | 7% |
| Student Services | 2,674 | 7% |
| Office Equipment | 2,434 | 7% |
| Educational Assessment | 2,433 | 7% |
| Data Collection | 2,261 | 6% |
| Child Development | 1,976 | 5% |
| Positive Behavior Support | 1,849 | 5% |
| Life Skills Development | 1,831 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 16,166 | 44% |
| Teaching | 15,536 | 42% |
| Writing | 6,720 | 18% |
| Planning | 6,492 | 18% |
| Management | 5,801 | 16% |
| Mathematics | 4,856 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 4,527 | 12% |
| English Language | 4,326 | 12% |
| Problem Solving | 3,486 | 9% |
| Research | 3,313 | 9% |
| Progress Reporting | 3,287 | 9% |
| Clerical Works | 2,980 | 8% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 2,655 | 7% |
| Lifting Ability | 2,632 | 7% |
| Record Keeping | 2,444 | 7% |
| Multilingualism | 2,383 | 6% |
| Social Skills | 2,375 | 6% |
| Training And Development | 2,095 | 6% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,881 | 5% |
| Professionalism | 1,876 | 5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about special education life skills teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for special education life skills teachers.
What do special education life skills teachers do?
How much do special education life skills teachers make?
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