Anyone here certified as a Reading Specialist in Texas?

[Amy in TX]

I'm thinking of becoming a Reading Specialist, and wondering what the employment outlook is like, and precisely what training is required.

 

I have a Bachelor's in English. From googling, I have gathered that a teaching certification and a Reading Specialist certification are required, but I can't tell whether a Master's in Education is also required--some sites say it is, others don't.

 

Any experience/thoughts, especially if you are in Texas?

 

TIA

[fhjmom]

I'm thinking of becoming a Reading Specialist, and wondering what the employment outlook is like, and precisely what training is required.

 

I have a Bachelor's in English. From googling, I have gathered that a teaching certification and a Reading Specialist certification are required, but I can't tell whether a Master's in Education is also required--some sites say it is, others don't.

 

Any experience/thoughts, especially if you are in Texas?

 

TIA

 

I found this info on the Texas Education Agency website:

School Counselor, School Librarian, Educational Diagnostician, or Reading Specialist

 

To become a school counselor, school librarian, educational diagnostician, or reading specialist, you must enroll in and complete an Approved Educator Preparation Program. Contact the approved program of your choice to find out the specific requirements for that program.

To be eligible to receive the Standard School Counselor, School Librarian, Educational Diagnostician or Reading Specialist Certificate, you must:

• successfully complete an approved educator preparation program for the specific certificate desired;
  
• hold a master's degree from an institution of higher education that is accredited by an accrediting agency, as recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (outside source);
  
• successfully complete the assessments required;
  
• have two years of classroom teaching experience in a public or accredited private school.
  

 

It looks pretty straightforward that a masters is required according to that and TEA is pretty much the final authority in Texas. I am kind of curious as to what you found stating otherwise. (ETA: I didn't mean for this to sound snarky at all; I believe you in that you found conflicting info and I am genuinely curious as to what other sites have info that doesn'tline up with the TEA requirements. I have found that districts do not always follow the rules set by TEA. :p )

 

I have considered getting my reading specialist certificate just in passing because one of my professors has encouraged me to, but I am currently enrolled in a masters program for deaf education and reading specialists that are also deaf ed certified seems to be a very good combination. I probably will not do it simply because I am ready to be finished with school for a while.

[Amy in TX]

I am kind of curious as to what you found stating otherwise. (ETA: I didn't mean for this to sound snarky at all; I believe you in that you found conflicting info and I am genuinely curious as to what other sites have info that doesn'tline up with the TEA requirements. I have found that districts do not always follow the rules set by TEA. :p )

 

 

Sorry, my wording was misleading. I didn't find anything actually stating otherwise; I just found a lot of seperate pieces of info on university websites, certification-provider websites, etc., and TEA was the only one that mentioned a master's. It does make sense that they are the final authority; I just wasn't sure.

 

Do you know what the certification path would be for someone who already has a Bachelor's-- 1) Master's in Education, 2) Texas teaching certification, 3) Reading Specialist certification?

 

Do you have any idea of the employment outlook for reading specialists?

 

Thanks!

[staceyobu]

Sorry, my wording was misleading. I didn't find anything actually stating otherwise; I just found a lot of seperate pieces of info on university websites, certification-provider websites, etc., and TEA was the only one that mentioned a master's. It does make sense that they are the final authority; I just wasn't sure.

 

Do you know what the certification path would be for someone who already has a Bachelor's-- 1) Master's in Education, 2) Texas teaching certification, 3) Reading Specialist certification?

 

Do you have any idea of the employment outlook for reading specialists?

 

Thanks!

 

 

I don't know much about this, but if you don't get other help send me a pm and I can give you my mom's email.

 

She got a language therapist certification, then went back for a masters that also gave her a teaching certification, and is now working on a doctorate in reading. She would probably know a lot about this stuff and is in the Dallas area.

[Amy in TX]

I don't know much about this, but if you don't get other help send me a pm and I can give you my mom's email.

 

She got a language therapist certification, then went back for a masters that also gave her a teaching certification, and is now working on a doctorate in reading. She would probably know a lot about this stuff and is in the Dallas area.

 

 

Thanks, Stacey, I will do that.

[Amy in TX]

Bumping for the morning crowd. :)