Lead every learner toward a career-ready future—100% online career and technical education certificate, aligned with Virginia CTE standards.
Earn a Career and Technical Education Certificate in Transition & Special Needs
This certificate will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to develop transition plans equipping special student populations for college and career readiness. The CTE – Transition & Special Needs Add On Endorsement Certificate equips you with person-centered planning skills to remove barriers and light up futures—100% online and built for working educators.
- Champion possibility. Turn student passions into data-driven transition plans aligned with Virginia CTE standards and industry credentials.
- Lift every voice. Apply inclusive instructional methods that respect culture, disability, and individual career goals—core to modern career and technical education curriculum.
- Lead with confidence. Become the transition specialist districts trust for CTE teacher certification expertise, workforce partnerships, and IEP transition strategies.
- Advance your career. Earn a state-approved endorsement that raises your profile, salary potential, and impact across the CTE community as a transition specialist.
Join a network of passionate career and technical education teachers who refuse to let talent stall. Together, we’ll turn classrooms into launchpads—and watch students of every ability take flight.
Masters Degree Options
Courses may be applied toward the Master of Education in Special Education: Adapted Curriculum Emphasis or paired with another graduate certificate through the Build-Your-Own Master of Education
Curriculum and Resources
2024-25 Academic Year Information
In just 12–15 graduate credits, our online, 7-week courses deliver the career and technical education curriculum you need to meet Virginia CTE standards for the Transition & Special Needs endorsement—without pausing your teaching career.
| Course | Credits | What You’ll Master |
|---|---|---|
| SPED 600 — Foundations & Legal Aspects of Special Education | 3 | Navigate IDEA, ADA, and CTE regulations so you can advocate confidently for every learner’s right to work-ready skills. |
| SPED 601 — Designing & Implementing IEPs | 3 | Build transition-focused IEPs that translate classroom competencies into tangible career pathways. |
| SPED 666 — Adapted Instructional Methods & Strategies | 3 | Modify hands-on lessons to ensure inclusive, industry-aligned training across welding bays, coding labs, and beyond. |
| SPED 635 — Transitioning to Adult Life | 3 | Connect students to workforce partners, apprenticeships, and community resources—turning diplomas into paychecks. |
| SPED 698 — Internship in Special Education (optional) | 3 | Apply your new expertise in a supervised CTE setting—or waive if you already hold a year of relevant experience. |
To be eligible for this endorsement, applicants must hold an active license with a teaching endorsement issued by the Virginia Board of Education.
Graduate Tuition
Below is an overview of the cost of the program:
The 40% Aspiring Educator Discount applies to all emphasis areas and is available to all current and aspiring educators and paraprofessionals pursuing a Master of Education (MEd) degree or an associated certificate.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Graduate Certificate: Transition & Special Needs
$
590
Cost Per Credit Hour
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Credit Hours: 15+
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Estimated Cost of Completion: $8,850
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Cost Per Credit Hour: $354 (With 40% Tuition Discount)
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Estimated Cost of Completion: $5,310 (With 40% Tuition Discount)
Financial Aid
The cost figures provided are estimates and may vary based on factors such as the duration of your enrollment, specific classes taken, and any future changes to tuition or fees.
