If you’re passionate about special education and want to take the next step in your career, this online Director of Special Education and Pupil Services Certificate program will prepare you to be successful.
| Next Session | Summer |
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| Schedule | *Application start date –Monday, October 14, 2024 *Application deadline when student’s entire application file must be complete – Friday, May 9, 2025 *Admitted student online orientation – Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 4:30 p.m.– 6 p.m. *DSEPS courses begin –Monday June 9, 2025 |
Become a leader in Special Education
This 15-credit online certificate program is for individuals who are ready to step into the important leadership role as directors of special education and pupil services. The UW-Eau Claire DSEPS program has a long-standing reputation for excellence; our graduates are well prepared and ready to lead.
Throughout this year-long program, you will be challenged to think from a big picture, systemic point of view by licensed, experienced directors of special education and pupil services. After successful completion of the program, you will be ready to apply for the Wisconsin DPI License #80, and you will earn a UW-Eau Claire Graduate Certificate.
Course topics and approximate dates:
- SEIP 786.681 Systemic Leadership & Ethics (3 credits)
- June 9 - July 6, 2025
- SEIP 787.681 Leadership in Special Education & Pupil Services (3 credits)
- July 7 - August 1, 2025
- SEIP 782.681 Special Education Law (3 credits)
- September 3 - October 19, 2025
- SEIP 788.681 Special Education & Pupil Services Budget and Finance (3 credits)
- October 20 - December 12, 2025
- SEIP 789.681 Practicum: Leadership in Special Education & Pupil Services (3 credits)
- January 30 - May 19, 2026
Why Should I Choose this Program?
- Admitted candidates can complete the program in only one year.
- All instructors are currently or were recently working as DSEPS in K-12 schools — you'll learn from their practical experience.
- All of the classes are online-asynchronous, except for the practicum experience.
- With successful completion of the program, you'll be eligible to apply for Wisconsin DPI License # 80.
- Earn a graduate certificate from UW-Eau Claire, transcribed on your permanent academic record.
Eligibility Requirements for Application to the Director of Special Education and Pupil Services Program (DSEPS)
Education: The applicant must meet BOTH of the following requirements:
— Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
— Master’s Degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a 3.0 GPA minimum (4.0 scale) — A person may apply if their master’s degree is successfully conferred prior to April first — A person may not work on their master’s degree and the DSEPS program simultaneously
Professional Education: The applicant meets ONE of the following requirements:
The applicant meets ONE of the following requirements:
(A) Has kindergarten through grade 12 license (i.e., Special Education and Speech Language Pathologist) or is eligible for a tier II, III, or IV teacher license in kindergarten through grade 12
(B) The applicant holds or is eligible to hold a tier II, III, or IV license as a School Counselor, a School Psychologist, or a School Social Worker
Experience: The applicant meets ONE of the following requirements:
(A) The applicant has 6 semesters of successful paid classroom experience teaching in any K through 12 grade --Student teaching, internships, and practicum experience do not meet the requirement
(B) The applicant has 6 semesters of successful paid experience as a K-12 School Counselor, a School Psychologist, or a School Social Worker, and the applicant has at least 540 hours of successful experience teaching academic content directly to students with special needs
- Teaching experiences may include classroom instruction of academic content, consultation with classroom teachers, and/or direct work with an individual student
- Student teaching, internships, practicum experience, conducting assessments, and IEP meetings do not meet the requirement
Note: Upon successful completion of UW-Eau Claire’s approved DSEPS Wisconsin licensure program, the applicant will be eligible to apply for the WI DPI 80 license for Director of Special Education & Pupil Services. For applicants seeking licensure in other states, please check with that state’s board of education regarding requirements for licensure.
How Much Does the Program Cost?
- Tuition is at the reduced rate of $495 per credit
- As this is a certificate program (as opposed to a degree program) federal financial aid is not available, but some students have been able to obtain private educational loans or have been subsidized by their districts
Questions?
For fastest service, email us at DSEPSgraduate@uwec.edu .
How to Apply for Admission to the DSEPS Program
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Apply using UWEC's application, select Director of Special Education and Pupil Services under the Certificate list.
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Within the Application, you will be asked to:
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Upload Teaching License/Certification
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Upload unofficial transcripts from the institutions that conferred your degree(s). Officials will be required prior to enrollment.
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When prompted, you will be required to write an essay. Use the following prompt: Please provide a statement of up to 600 words of personal intent describing your decision to pursue this Certification and what you believe you will bring to the Director of Special Education & Pupil Services role.
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Upload your resume
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*Complete the Attestation and/or 540-hour Verification form (if applicable)
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Pay the required application fee, as instructed
Email Graduate Admissions with questions at: graduate@uwec.edu
Please note: Admission to the program requires a Criminal Background Check (CBC) with no concerns. The applicant is responsible for the cost of approximately $40 for the CBC. The CBC is required of all students admitted to the DPI licensure programs, even if the applicant has recently passed the CBC at their place of employment.
Online Program Applicants: State of Residency
The requirements of this program meet licensure requirements in the following states or territories:
Wisconsin, Indiana, and Louisiana
These states and territories do not currently license Directors of Special Education & Pupil Services, but students are welcome to apply:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Federated States of Micronesia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Northern Marina Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Republic of Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, U. S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
*The requirements of this program do not meet licensure requirements in the following states and territories:
Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.
NOTE: Applicants from the above listed states and territories will be considered if they attest that they will relocate and work in Wisconsin for their application to be considered (Attestation form will be required as part of the application)
