Special Education (PK-12) Certification| Online
The PK-12 Special Education Certification program is designed for those who already hold a PA teaching certificate and want to become eligible to apply for the PA Special Education PK-12 certification.
Why a Certification in Special Education?
Maximize your capacity to work with students with special needs and significantly impact their lives through this biblical online program. Enhance your career options with your special education certificate. Designed for individuals holding a valid teaching license or certificate, this program can be a stand-alone or part of the M.S. in Special Education degree.
Upon completion of this program, a student is eligible for PA Special Education PK-12 certificate if the individual also passes the PA Special Education PK-12 Certificate Test and holds or intends to hold US citizenship. The student is also eligible to apply to ACSI for a special education certificate if additional ACSI requirements are met.
Special Education (PK-12) Certificate from Cairn
Biblical Integration
91吃瓜 is committed to the centrality of Christ and the Word of God and is reflected in the curriculum and instruction. At Cairn, faith and truth do matter. We teach our students accordingly, challenge you to think deeply on these things, and strive to make you ready to serve Christ in the church, society, and the world as biblically minded men and women who not only give assent to truth but think and live in light of it.
Experienced Faculty
All courses are designed and taught by Cairn professors, who bring their scholarly expertise and ministry experience to bear. Students don鈥檛 just have professors, they have mentors听who invest in them throughout the program and often remain connected long after graduation.
Career Preparation
Grounded in best practices and current research, this online program provides you with opportunities to apply concepts and coursework in the field while you study. Furthermore, the program addresses mild to severe disabilities and includes two Applied Behavior Analysis courses.
Flexibility
Complete coursework from anywhere through our asynchronous course design, reinforced by substantive faculty engagement and weekly course requirements.
Hands-On Education
91吃瓜 students earn more than a professional credential 鈥� you develop a solid foundation for all of life and learning. Wherever you go after you graduate from Cairn, you go prepared and ready to make a difference in your workplace, your community, your church, and around the world. And our competitive tuition rates and financial aid packages help to keep your education costs reasonable. Educators working in Christian schools also receive a 20% tuition discount.
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Get an inside look at our Special Education Certification Program
Upon completion of this program, a student is eligible for PA Special Education PK-12 certification if the individual also passes the PA Special Education PK-12 Certification Test and holds or intends to听hold US citizenship. The student is also eligible to apply to ACSI for a special education certificate if additional ACSI requirements are met.
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Required Credits:听34
Curriculum Highlights:听
- SPE 762 Develop/Diag Reading Intervent
- SPE 763 Teach Child Higher Incidence
- SPE 764 Teach Child Lower Incidence
- SPE 787 Stud Teach Initial Certificat
- Principal
- 骋耻颈诲补苍肠别听肠辞耻苍蝉别濒辞谤
- School psychologist
- Reading specialist
91吃瓜 strives to keep tuition costs affordable despite providing a rigorous education. Courses are taught by Cairn faculty and not TAs.
The tuition rate for the 2026-2027 academic year for full-time status (6 credits per semester) is听 $580/credit. Additional details on fees and part-time status are available on this page.听
Christian school educators and employees may be eligible for the听$400/credit听discounted rate upon verification of employment. 91吃瓜 also partners with many organizations and offers tuition discounts. Please contact us to find out if your organization has a partnership with 91吃瓜.听
Additional information on scholarships, grants, and loans is available from听this page.听
Cairn Online has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), which regionally oversees postsecondary online education.
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Tuition and Financial Aid
The tuition rates are posted on听this page.听
91吃瓜 also partners with many organizations and offers tuition discounts. Tuition discounts are also available for those working in Christian schools.听Please contact us to find out if your organization has a partnership with 91吃瓜.听
Additional information on scholarships, grants, and loans is available from听this page.听
Featured Faculty
Barbara Cooper
Chair, Special Education; Assistant Professor, School of Education
Barbara Cooper teaches classes in Special Education. She began her teaching career as a missionary, training people from around the globe. From there she taught in public and private school settings teaching in elementary levels and special education. She also has been an adjunct professor at Biblical Theological Seminary for seven years, teaching international students English and American culture. She is married to Derek, and they have three children.
Juliana Duprey
Faculty, School of Education
Mrs. Duprey taught in Autism Support for 7 years in the School District of Philadelphia and also has experience with ESL tutoring and working with children in early childhood programs. At Cairn she teaches education courses such as Foundations of Special Education and Diagnosis and Evaluation of Exceptional Learners. She has been married to her husband, Marques, for seven years, and they have two boys. She grew up in Philadelphia but now lives in the Abington area where she and her family are excited to be part of a church plant in Brewerytown.
What Our Students Have To Say
David Falcon
Being involved with the Special Education program has provided me the opportunity to form many meaningful and impactful relationships with peers and mentor teachers who have opened their classrooms to me. There couldn't be enough said about Professor Cooper, who always made herself available for guidance, mentorship, and prayer. Special Education is always viewed through a biblical lens, which allows everyone to be viewed as God's unique and perfectly designed creation.
Cairn Online Frequently Asked Questions鈥�
Currently there are over 6 million online learners in the United States, and those numbers are growing every day. Online degrees that have regional accreditation are held to the same standards as traditional universities, ensuring that students earn a valuable degree that will prepare them with the skills and credentials for their career. Do research to find an online degree that is听accredited听and reputable, such as those offered at 91吃瓜.
Our program is intentionally grounded in God鈥檚 Word. Courses are thoughtfully designed by Cairn faculty to promote deep learning and active engagement through instructor-led instruction, research-driven activities, active learning, and meaningful interactions with peers and faculty.听At Cairn, the students鈥� education and experience is designed to shape听Christian character, cultivate wisdom, and prepare them to think, live, and serve biblically in an ever-changing world.
All courses, except the research courses, are structured in seven units and delivered in accelerated 7-week terms.
Each unit contains 5鈥�7 modular activities, including:
- Assigned readings and reading reflections
- Instructional videos from Cairn faculty
- Active learning activities
- Weekly application projects
- A component of the ongoing course research project
Faculty also schedule a few optional Zoom sessions throughout the term to connect with students and address questions.
Faculty are actively involved throughout the week鈥攇uiding learning activities, leading asynchronous discussions, grading work, and delivering personalized feedback. Online students also receive priority technical support and have access to valuable resources from the Masland Library and the Writing Lab.
Cairn is approved to offer financial aid because of its regional accreditation. There are many options available and typically students qualify for at least one type of federal aid. Many students receive scholarships and grants that make earning their degree even more affordable. Cairn offers a variety of scholarships and discounts in addition to options for loans and grants. Please refer to this page for details.听
This program is a certification program. If you are looking for a certificate option, please check out the Graduate Certificate in Autism program.听