Professional Standards

In 1922 the founders of CEC embraced professional standards and ethics for the field of special education. As the recognized leader for special education professional standards, CEC continues to develop standards, ethics and practices, and guidelines to assure that individuals with exceptionalities have well-prepared, career-oriented special educators.

CEC collaborates with other professional organizations to ensure that all educators are well-prepared to support the learning of individuals with exceptionalities and to recruit, retain, and develop well-prepared special educators.

Ethics & Practice Standards

As professionals serving individuals with exceptionalities, special educators possess a special trust endowed by the community and recognized by professional licensure. As such, special educators have a responsibility to be guided by their ethical principles and professional practice standards.

Ethical Principles
Practice Standards

Professional Preparation & Credential Standards

The special education preparation standards are the specialized knowledge and skills that are the foundation of professional preparation and that influence licensure. The standards provide benchmarks to states, provinces, and nations for program accreditation, entry-level licensure, professional practice, and continuing professional growth.

CEC Preparation Program & Credentialing Standards 
CEC Program Recognition

Paraeducator Development Guidelines

For more than 50 years, special education paraeducators have helped special educators provide services to individuals with exceptional learning conditions. Today special education paraeducators are an essential member of the special education team.

The CEC Paraeducator Development Guidelines help paraeducator programs ensure the program addresses nationally validated knowledge and skills for safe and effective practice.

Common Core Standards (references)
Interveners for Individuals with Deafblindness (references)

Evidence-based Practices

CEC Evidence-based Practice Studies are systematic analyses of the research on a practice to determine the quality of the evidence. Learn more about evidence-based practices.

CEC Proposed Professional Standards Report