Course
PK12-SPEC1
Special Education Part 1
Special Education Part 1 provides an overview of special education. This includes an introduction to the various exceptionalities, working with program planning and delivery challenges, awareness of assistive technology, classroom management skills, as well as knowledge of other issues related to teaching students with special needs in a variety of settings.
This course will be of greatest interest to those teachers who wish to deepen their knowledge regarding students with exceptionalities, noting the Ministry of Education's move to greater inclusion. Participants leave the course with a number of valuable resources to enhance their teaching practice.
Notes
Teachers holding qualifications in technological education are also eligible to take this Three-Session Qualification course.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites for Part 1:
- Certificate of Qualification:
Must be registered with the Ontario College of Teachers. It is no longer necessary to send in a copy of your Certificate of Qualification. We have access to this information via the OCT Public Registry.
Please Note:
- Successful completion of all versions of this course (SPEC1E/SPEC1S/SPEC1) will lead to a "Special Education Part 1" qualification with the Ontario College of Teachers. A distinction is made between the "Elementary" and "Secondary" Focus courses to offer teachers the opportunity to engage with colleagues within the same teaching panel.
Recommendations
Successful completion is a final grade of C-
Upon successful completion of the course, a recommendation will be sent to the Ontario College of Teachers.
Affiliation to outside organizations
This course is recognized by the Ontario College of Teachers.
Full Course Details
Section Title:
Enrolment Session:
Type:
Total Hours:
Instructors:
Dates:
Delivery Option:
Course Fee(s):
$749
$559
Section Note(s):
Deadline to register: February 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST - late registration beyond this deadline may be available if space permits.
This session will run for 7 weeks. Your learning will take the form of in-depth online discussions as well as group and individual assignments.
Learners will be expected to engage in approximately 18 hours of learning per week for a total of 125 hours:
- 100 hours online learning (asynchronous, but facilitator-led and paced into modules)
- 25 hours assignments and independent study
Technology Requirements
You’ll need a reliable internet connection and a modern web browser to access course materials. Optional live sessions (if offered) will be announced within the course site.
Registration Process
- Select “Add to Cart” and proceed to checkout.
- Log in to your Learner Portal (or create an account) and complete payment.
- In your learner account, go to My Applications > Start to complete your application.
- An OISE CPL representative will review your submission and confirm your enrollment before the course begins.
Withdrawal and Refund Policy
Withdrawal, transfer, and refund requests must be submitted before the course start date. Partial refunds or one-time transfers may be available within a short period after the start date (see policy for details). View the full policy on our website under Policies & Guidelines > Withdrawals and Transfer Policy.
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