What Does a Special Education Transition Coordinator Do?

The need for educators who work with children with learning disabilities is on the rise. The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed greatly to the demand for special education teachers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for special education teachers will grow 8% over the next ten years. While that figure is the expected growth for the special education teachers overall, there are a variety of roles that fall under the umbrella of special education. Someone with a degree in special education could be anything from a tutor to an instructional designer. Each job that is a part of special education has its expected growth. If you are currently a special education teacher and considering a master’s degree in special education, there are a variety of potential career options. One of your options is to be a transition coordinator, which falls under special education. Between 2018 and 2028, the expected job growth for a transition coordinator is 13%, according to Zippia.  A transition coordinator is not a widely known position, which has many asking, what is a transition coordinator and what do they do? Let’s dive into exactly what a transition coordinator does, their salary range, and how the University of Cincinnati Online can help you take the necessary steps to begin a career as a transition coordinator.

Job Description

One of the most frequently asked questions about transition coordinators is what do they do? That is a fair question considering it’s not a well-known position. According to the job search and data site Zippia a transition coordinator is a special educator who helps assist students with disabilities through major life transitions. They help individuals transition from student life to adulthood. Assisting with any situation that could be considered “life-altering.” A transition coordinator doesn’t just work with students who have physical disabilities. The individuals they work with could have a learning or emotional disability and need to work with a transition coordinator through major life changes. The transition coordinator evaluates the individual’s situation and provides options for transition programs and support through the transition.

Salary Range

As with most positions, the salary range for a transition coordinator will be different depending on the highest degree you hold. According to a burning glass report, for someone who holds a bachelor’s degree in special education, the salary range for a transition coordinator is between $39.7k and $51.2k with a median salary of S43.8k. That same report showed that someone with a master’s degree in special education could earn between $43.6k and $62.3k as a transition coordinator with a median salary of $52k. With an almost $10k difference in median salary, considering a master’s degree in special education could be a great career move.

Next Steps

If at this point, you’re thinking to yourself that a job as a transition coordinator is where you want to go with your career, you may be asking, what is the next step? Zippia reports that a master’s degree is preferred to become a special education transition coordinator, but it is not required. You can still have a career as a transition coordinator with a bachelor’s degree if you have the necessary education and certification. At the University of Cincinnati Online, you have two paths you can choose from to earn the education you would need to be a transition coordinator. The first path you can go down is to earn your Master of Education in Special Education with a concentration in Transition to Work Endorsement and Special Education Leadership. This route is for the person that has a bachelor’s and holds a currently valid standard Ohio intervention specialist, career-technical teaching or professional pupil services license or certificate and would like to earn a master’s degree. If you reside and teach in a different state, check what your department of education requires. Concentration in Transition to Work Endorsement and Special Education Leadership you will obtain your master’s degree, transition to work endorsement, and a special education leadership graduate certificate. The transition to work endorsement can be added only to an existing educational license.

The second path you can go down is to earn the Transition to Work Endorsement only. This program is designed to increase the knowledge and skills of the various individuals involved in the transition process. These individuals could be transition specialists, intervention specialists, special education administrators, service providers (e.g., counselors and occupational therapists), vocational rehabilitation counselors, parents, advocates, and or any individual who is interested in expanding their knowledge in transition-focused special education. The graduate-level program will equip candidates with specialized knowledge and skills in transition-related legislations and policies, transition procedures, best practices in transition, transition focused instruction and curriculum, and interagency collaboration, so they can become field leaders to facilitate transition planning and incorporate effective transition services as mandated by Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA). This route is for the person who has a bachelor’s degree and a valid teaching license as an Ohio intervention specialist, career-technical teaching or professional pupil services license but is not looking to earn a master’s degree. If you reside and teach in a different state, check what your department of education requires.

Now that we’ve gone through an overview of a special education transition coordinator, our hope is not only that you’re able to answer the question, what do they do, but we hope it has piqued your interest in pursuing a career as a transition coordinator. You may have read this already knowing what a special education transition coordinator does, and you may already have had an interest in the career. Either way, you’re ready to take the next step in your career. At the University of Cincinnati Online, we’ve got you covered whether that next step is earning a master’s degree with a transition to work endorsement or just earning the transition to work endorsement. With a growth rate of 13% between 2018 and 2028, the potential for a long and prosperous career as a special education transition coordinator is certainly there.