Postbac Dual Certification: Initial Licensure and Teacher of Students with Disabilities

The Postbac Dual Certification pathway allows candidates who have a bachelor’s degree to pursue their initial teaching certification as well as the NJ Teacher of Students with Disabilities certification. Recognizing the neurodiversity present in all classrooms, this pathway equips educators to understand the foundations of special education, characteristic of students with disabilities, inclusive and collaborative methods, and other essential practices for effectively teaching students with disabilities.

Initial Licensure (30-33 credits)

Candidates complete the relevant course work pertaining to their initial licensure areas, with 30 to 33 required credits:

• MAT – Early Childhood (P-3)
• MAT – Elementary Education (K-6)
• MAT – Secondary Education

All initial licensure candidates complete 3 credits toward their TSD licensure via the course:

• EDUC6740 Introduction to Students with Disabilities Including Autism Spectrum Disorders=

Teacher of Students with Disabilities Licensure (12-18 additional credits)

The New Jersey Teacher of Students with Disabilities certification requires 21 credits, 3 of which are addressed in the initial licensure program.

Dual certification candidates complete the following 12 credits:

• EDUC6626 Neurophysiology of Learning 
• EDUC6745 Principles & Practices of Collaboration and Inclusion
• EDUC6746 Learning Environment and Effective Management of Teaching & Learning
• EDUC6792 Assistive Technology for the Inclusive Classroom

Dual certification candidates choose a 3-credit literacy and 3-credit content area course.

*Note, P-3 candidates will complete EDUC6855 and EDUC 6797 as part of their initial licensure program, fulfilling this requirement.

• Choose one literacy course:
  • EDUC6747 Multisensory Reading Instruction for Students with Reading Disabilities
  • EDUC6855* Language and Literacy Development in Early Childhood: Instruction, Assessment, and Intervention
• Choose one content area methods course:
  • EDUC6797* Multisensory Mathematics Instruction for Students with Disabilities
  • EDUC6790 Methods for Students with Disabilities in the Secondary Classroom

This license is required for teaching students with disabilities in settings such as inclusive classrooms, resource centers, or self-contained classrooms. Program completers are certified to teach students with disabilities in general education classrooms and/or resource centers/special class programs in the subject area(s) for which they earned their general education certification(s).