Professional Specialization Certificate (PSC) in Special and Inclusive Education

SPED certficate

Please note that this program is currently on pause for redevelopment. Therefore, we are not accepting applications at the moment.

Research demonstrates that it is the classroom teacher who plays a pivotal role in the successful inclusion of a student with special needs, making the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill this role crucial. Today, most classrooms include students who have a broad range of diverse learning needs.

The Professional Specialization Certificate in Special and Inclusive Education is a professional program for educators who wish to enhance their ability to effectively teach every young person with a specialized learning need within their classroom every day.

  • Work with multidisciplinary faculty who specialize in child development, assessment of learning needs, inclusive education, and instructional approaches such as Universal Design for Learning and Differentiated Instruction.
  • Experience an innovative curriculum developed in consultation with teachers and school district leaders to meet the needs of both general and special educators.
  • Be part of a program that is focused on your future. Our flexible delivery allows you to choose the designation that best meets your career goals and interests. 
  • Learn to complete special education assessments and evaluations that meet the competency requirements for Level B assessment outlined by the Ministry of Education.

Completion of both the Professional Specialization Certificate and Diploma in Special and Inclusive Education from the University of Victoria meets TQS requirements for level upgrades. If the applicant is in TQS category four and holds an acceptable degree, completion of the Certificate and Diploma will qualify for category five. If the applicant holds category five, completion of the Certificate and Diploma it will qualify for the five plus category.

Learn more about the program and its courses and admission.

Contact Program Assistant (eplsprograms@uvic.ca, 250-721-7883 or 250-472-5005) for fee information and any deadlines.

The Professional Specialization Certificate in Special and Inclusive Education is a 7.5 unit program designed to be a part-time program for working professionals.

All of the courses in the certificate program (with the exception of one course, ED-D 415, that requires approximately three weeks of on-campus instruction in the summer) are offered online. 

This progam has the option to ladder all of these credits into our 15 unit part-time Diploma in Special and Inclusive Education, or transfer 1.5 units to a Master's degree in Educational Psychology (with a focus on special education).

Students in the Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies are expected to adhere to a professional code of conduct for the basis of their relationships with peers, faculty, and for any children/adolescents for whom they may provide services.

Students will be subject to the provisions of the ethical guidelines of their respective professions.

Students may be required to withdraw from a course or program when ethical, medical, or other reasons interfere with satisfactory practice in their respective professions.