Master of Education in Inclusive Early Childhood Education, Concentration in Early Childhood Special Education (Licensure)

Students completing this licensure program may pursue careers in the following areas:

• Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
• Early Interventionist

If you are currently working within Early Childhood Special Education in a Northern Virginia school system, our Cohort Program might be right for you. Please see more information here.

• Students have the opportunity to participate in, engage in, and conduct research alongside faculty across the program.
• Students can engage with professional organizations to create connections, learn about advocacy opportunities, and stay informed about current trends and developments in the field. Our professional organizations include Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and Northern Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children (NVAEYC).

Some courses require field observation within a Northern Virginia regional school. If a course has a field experience requirement it will be noted in PatriotWeb. Our field experience office coordinates with our local schools to assign placements.

Early Childhood Education students engage in an off-campus, semester-long internship experience in accordance with VDOE licensure parameters. Internships can be completed on the job with program approval. This internship is a capstone experience and is a full-time obligation. The program assists with the placement process.

Students must submit an internship application in the semester prior to the internship. Please consult with the Early Childhood Education advisor and review the information on this page for more details.

In addition to completing program courses, students must complete mandated state required licensure exams and content area coursework prior to their internship application deadline. The most up-to-date information regarding exams can be found on the Licensure Testing Requirements page.

Students who have completed the university VDOE-approved program must meet all requirements for their licensure program, including internships and test requirements, prior to submitting for teacher licensure in Virginia. Once requirements for licensure have been met (e.g., grades posted for all classes, waivers submitted if applicable, tests completed, etc.), students may apply. Graduate students do not have to wait until conferral of their degree. Students seeking VDOE licensure may submit for licensure either by submitting all VDOE required documentation through Mason or by obtaining a college verification form from Mason and submitting through their school division.

Students are encouraged to check their records when they are approximately 6 weeks away from completion of their final coursework to avoid delays in processing licensure paperwork. Any concerns about academic records should be directed to the Program Advisor, Kayla Turner, as soon as possible. This provides necessary time for adjustments to be entered on your record before the licensure specialist completes your paperwork.

College Verification Form

There are 3 options that the Mason licensure specialist can check on the college verification form:

• Option 1: Completed state approved program — This is the ideal route to licensure and the only route recommended by Mason. Program requirements are pre-approved by VDOE to cover licensure competencies. This option is available to students who complete either the MEd in Inclusive Early Childhood Education with Early/Primary PK3 Licensure Concentration, Early Childhood Special Education Concentration, or a Graduate Licensure Certificate. All program requirements including internships and program test requirements (e.g, VCLA) must be met.

• Option 2: "No – all but internships" — Graduate students with teaching experience in the public schools, for example in teaching general education or teaching as a provisionally licensed special education teacher, who complete all components of the licensure certificate program including program test requirements (e.g, VCLA) can receive a college verification form stating that while the program was not complete, all requirements for the licensure program other than internship were met. School divisions must verify teaching experience. Transcripts are then reviewed by VDOE to determine if the licensure requirements, including the requirement for supervised classroom experience, have been met. This option does NOT guarantee licensure and it is possible students will need coursework outside of their program to meet state licensure requirements. This route is not recommended by Mason.

• Option 3: No, has not completed a state approved program — Students who do not complete a licensure program at the university can submit transcripts to VDOE and request a review to determine which licensure competencies were met with the courses completed. This option does NOT guarantee licensure and it is likely students will need coursework outside of their program to meet state licensure requirements. Mason recommends all students pursuing licensure do so by completion of a pre-approved university program as noted in Option 1.

Licensure Outside of Virginia
Licensure requirements are state-specific. If you intend to seek licensure outside of Virginia, begin by consulting with the Department of Education of the state. You may also want to review the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement Facilitating Mobility of Educational Personnel. If a form is required by the state indicating your completion of a licensure program, or status in a licensure program, submit the form to the CEHD Licensure Specialist.

George Mason University will verify completion of the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) state-approved preparation program at the graduate or undergraduate level. Such verification does not guarantee the issuance of a Virginia Collegiate Professional, Postgraduate Professional, or Pupil Personnel license from the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is solely the student's responsibility to comply with all requirements for licensure by the Commonwealth. Under Virginia law, a social security number is required for licensure.

This program has been identified by George Mason University as one that may lead to a career requiring professional licensure/certification. Federal regulations require George Mason to disclose information as to whether this program meets/does not meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in your state, or whether such a determination has not been made. Please consult our Licensure Disclosure Tool for the disclosure statement specific to your desired state/program combination.