How to Become a Special Education Teacher in Wyoming

If you have a passion for working with children with disabilities, becoming a special education teacher could be a great career. Special education teachers have the opportunity to work with students and their families to develop unique learning goals and strategies. Some special education teachers work alongside general classroom teachers, while others lead their own classrooms or even work in specialized schools for children with disabilities.

By choosing to become a special education teacher in Wyoming, you could join one of the country’s leading states in education. Wyoming is the sixth-best state in the nation for education, according to a ranking from U.S. News & World Report.

Keep reading to learn more about how you could earn your license and become a special education teacher in the Equality State.

Comprehensive Guide on How to Become a Teacher in Wyoming

Aspiring special education teachers in Wyoming should familiarize themselves with individualized education programs, or IEPs, which outline a student with disabilities’ unique needs, educational goals, and the services they need to meet those goals. Special education teachers will also need to pass specific licensure exams depending on the grades they want to teach and any particular groups of students they want to work with.

For the most part, though, the process of becoming a special education teacher is similar to the process of becoming an educator at any other level or subject in Wyoming. To learn more, check out our How to Become a Teacher in Wyoming guide. This guide explains the state’s different types of licenses, testing requirements, the various routes to becoming a teacher in the state, and tips on how to best transition into teaching in Wyoming.

What Do You Need to Be a Special Education Teacher in Wyoming?

Wyoming requires teachers to have a bachelor’s degree, complete an Educator Preparation Program (EPP), pass licensure exams, and clear a background check.

If you’re a high school graduate and you know you want to become a special education teacher, you could earn a bachelor’s degree in education from a 4-year college or university.

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, even in a non-education field, you don’t have to start the process over, meaning your path to licensure could be much faster. For example, Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program can be completed in as little as 9 months. Moreland’s program is 100% online and offers rolling admissions and monthly start dates. It is important to note that TEACH-NOW is an out-of-state EPP in Wyoming, so you would need to follow the process for out-of-state licensure.

Steps to Becoming a Special Education Teacher in Wyoming

In-State vs. Out-of-State Pathway

There are multiple pathways to becoming a special education teacher in Wyoming, including traditional undergraduate programs in education and alternative routes for those who already have a bachelor’s degree.

You can also choose between an in-state EPP (Wyoming provides guidelines on how to pick an approved program) or an out-of-state EPP. If you choose the out-of-state route, you’ll follow Wyoming’s path for out-of-state applicants, which is outlined on the state’s website.

Steps to a Teaching License Via an Out-of-State EPP

Let’s say you choose Moreland University’s online TEACH-NOW program, an out-of-state EPP in Wyoming. Below you’ll find an example of the steps you could take to earn your special education teaching license:

1. Earn your bachelor’s degree. If you already have a bachelor’s, even in another field, you can skip this step.
2. Complete an EPP. The TEACH-NOW program can be completed in as little as 9 months.  
3. Submit official transcripts and 2 blue FBI fingerprint cards, including a background check, to the Wyoming Professional Teacher Standards Board (PTSB). 
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the U.S. and Wyoming constitutions, either through prerequisites or exams. 
5. Pass the state-mandated Praxis exams, including any required content area exams needed to be a “teacher of record” in subject areas like math, reading, or science. You can learn more about these requirements on the Wyoming PTSB’s website. 
6. Submit your licensure application through the Wyoming PTSB’s online system. 

This is just one example of a potential path to licensure through an out-of-state EPP in Wyoming. For more detailed information, visit the Wyoming PTSB website.

Why the Out-of-State Path Might Make Sense for You

Picking the right EPP is an important part of choosing to become a special education teacher. For some teachers, one of Wyoming’s in-state programs will be a great match. For others, an online or out-of-state option may work better.

Here are a few questions to consider before you choose your program:

• Do you prefer in-person or online learning?  
• How long is the program?  
• How much is tuition?  
• Does it follow a traditional school calendar or are there more frequent start dates?  
• How large are the classes? (i.e. How much 1:1 attention will you get from your instructors?) 

Once you narrow down your priorities, including what’s a must-have for you and what’s just nice-to-have, you can make your choice.

Can You Become a Special Education Teacher in Wyoming Without a Teaching Degree?

Yes, the Equality State welcomes career changers. Wyoming is a great state for teachers and offers options for people of different backgrounds to earn a teaching license and build a lasting career. If you’ve worked with adults with disabilities or children with disabilities in other settings, you will bring even more expertise and experience into the classroom. If your background is in an entirely different field, that can be useful, too, as you encourage your students to lean into their curiosity and explore interests and passions outside the classroom.

To learn more about how to become a teacher in Wyoming, visit our Wyoming teacher licensure page.

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Ready to take the next step? Earn your teaching license in as little as 9 months with Moreland University. Our TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program is accredited and 100% online, with rolling admissions and monthly start dates.

Once you complete the TEACH-NOW program, you have the option to add on a master’s degree in just 3 additional months. Apply for free (the application only takes about 15 minutes), and you’ll hear back within 2 business days.