Certification Central (CC) is an alternative certification program leading to full certification as a Special Education Technician. CC is competency-based and aligned to national Council for Exceptional Children’s preparation standards. Learners demonstrate competencies through authentic, performance-based assessments to make them career-ready.
Certification Central encourages learners to enroll at any time and to move at their own pace, which supports those with life experience to accelerate their course of study. Asynchronous, online instruction makes this program borderless and accessible.
To obtain a certificate of completion as a special education technician, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction requires the following training:
•40-semester hours of college education or an equivalent under Century Code 15.1-13-10 in the area of special education that aligns with the Council for Exceptional Children preparation standards for paraeducators, including; learner development and individual differences, legal/ethnical practices, behavior management, curricular content knowledge, assessment, instructional planning and strategies, and collaboration; and
•A two-credit transcribable practicum minimum of one hundred clock-hours of fieldwork experience which is supervised by a licensed special education teacher.
This program is comprised of a Special Education Core and a Special Education Technician Core. The Special Education Core is comprised of a 15-credit equivalent that provides learners the foundational knowledge of special education. The Special Education Technician Core is a 25-credit equivalent that equips learners with the skills and dispositions to become a successful special education technician. Certification Central is a practice-based program that leverages on-the-job training by adding a lab to each module. This provides learners the opportunity to anchor their learning into an applied educational setting, which can be completed while on-the-job in an educational setting.
Special Education Core
SPED Module 1: Learner Development & Individual Learning/Cultural Differences
3 Credit Equivalent
SPED Module 1L: Learner Development & Individual Learning/Cultural Differences Lab
2 Credit Equivalent
SPED Module 2: Legal/Ethical Practices & Professional Learning
3 Credit Equivalent
SPED Module 2L: Legal/Ethical Practices & Professional Learning Lab
2 Credit Equivalent
SPED Module 7: Collaboration, Consultation, & Supervision
3 Credit Equivalent
SPED Module 7L: Collaboration, Consultation, & Supervision Lab
2 Credit Equivalent
Special Education Technician Core
SPED TECH 101: Individualized Education/Family Service Programs
3 Credit Equivalent
SPED TECH 101L: Individualized Education/Family Service Programs Lab
2 Credit Equivalent
SPED TECH102: Behavior Management in Educational Settings
3 Credit Equivalent
SPED TECH102L: Behavior Management in Educational Settings Lab
2 Credit Equivalent
SPED TECH103: Curriculum Based Evaluations for Assessment
3 Credit Equivalent
SPED TECH103L: Curriculum Based Evaluations for Assessment Lab
2 Credit Equivalent
SPED TECH 104: High Leverage Practices for High Incidence Disabilities
3 Credit Equivalent
SPED TECH 104L: High Leverage Practices for High Incidence Disabilities Lab
2 Credit Equivalent
SPED TECH 110: Special Education Technician Practicum
7 Credit Equivalent
Total Credit Equivalent: 42
The total cost of this program is $12,600.
All undergraduate credits are valued at $300/credit.
Upon completion, you will be eligible to apply for a certificate of completion as a special education technician from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. You will be issued an official, postsecondary education transcript.
https://www.nd.gov/dpi/educators/credentials-and-certificates
Micro Scholarships are now available!
Certification Central has micro scholarship available for the Special Education Technician Program. A micro
scholarship is designed to cover the cost of one module and lab. Additional micro scholarships can be earned
for subsequent modules and labs if the candidate is able to demonstrate commitment and competence.
Essentially, these micro scholarships are performance-based. If the candidate performs well in this program, the
candidate is awarded more micro scholarships.
How It Works
Upon receiving full admission into the Special Education Technician program, a candidate will be issued one
micro scholarship to pay for the first module and lab (worth a total of 5 credits). Additional micro scholarships
will be issued if the candidate meets the following criteria for each module and lab:
1. completes the module and lab within 12 weeks or less; and
2. earns a 3.00 Connecting GPA or higher.
The total number of micro scholarships earned is based on the candidate’s performance. For example, if a
candidate completes every module and lab within the 12 week timeframe and earns a 3.0 Connecting GPA or
higher, a micro scholarship will have been issued to cover the tuition cost of the entire program. However, if a
candidate does not complete a module and lab within 12 weeks and/or does not earn the target competency of
3.0, the cost of the next module and lab will not be covered with a micro scholarship. The candidate assumes
this financial responsibility. But, if the candidate is able to finish the module and lab that they are paying for
within 12 weeks and with a 3.0 or higher, a micro scholarship will be awarded for the next module and lab. The
micro scholarship criteria will not be adjusted nor exceptions made.
There is no micro scholarship application to be completed. If you meet the aforementioned criteria, you will be
awarded a micro scholarship. It is that simple!
Candidates are responsible for the cost of textbooks/course materials. Candidates should consider asking their
school district or special education unit for assistance at covering this cost.
Apply to the Special Education Technician below!
Micro Scholarship will be awarded upon acceptance into the program
Certification Central and Minot State University have built a PIPELINE that allows you to seamlessly transfer your special education technician credits into MSU’s undergraduate degree in special education. You can work as a special education technician while earning your teaching license! If you would like to talk to MSU, please contact Dr. Holly Pedersen at holly.pedersen@minotstateu.edu
PIPELINE Project website: www.ndspedpipeline.org
Admission Criteria
- Certification Central (CC) is an enroll anytime program with no deadlines. After you submit the completed application, you will be notified of our admission decision within 1 week.
- You must have earned a high school diploma or an equivalent. Verification needs to be submitted.
- You must pass a Criminal History Record Check check (no older than 3 months) or submit a copy of your current ND’s Educator Professional License (expired license can’t be accepted). Regarding the background check, do this right away as the process can take a while. Use the following link to request the Non-Criminal Justice Request for Criminal History Record Information. Be sure to read through the instructions carefully. Attach the receipt of a cleared background check in your application. https://certificationcentral.education/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Public-Request-for-Criminal-History-Record-Informaiton-filled-out.pdf
- You need 2 professional letters of recommendation that speak to your experiences or interests in the field of special education. Please avoid submitting references from friends and family. You will collect these letters then submit them when you complete the application.
- You will write a 2-page essay that answers the following questions: a) What experiences have you had working in an educational setting? b) Why do you want to become a special education technician?
