Preparing Educators of Students with Autism (PESA) Certificate

Special Education

Certificate in Preparing Educators of Students with Autism (Online)

The Preparing Educators of Students with Autism (PESA) program includes four upper-graduate-level courses. The program is designed for professionals and others interested in understanding and supporting individuals on the autism spectrum.

The PESA certificate prepares students for diverse careers and endeavors, such as: 

  • Autism specialist or consultant
  • Special education teacher
  • School psychologist
  • Speech/language therapist
  • Professional serving families of infants and toddlers
  • Parent of a child on the autism spectrum
  • Higher education faculty
  • Application Deadlines
    Starting SemesterDeadline
    Fall Jun 1
    Spring Nov 1
    Summer Mar 1
    International students are encouraged to apply early to allow extra time for their materials to arrive.
  • Admissions Requirements

    In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Graduate Studies Office will accept unofficial transcripts and self-reported test scores for admission reviews. Any admission made with these documents would be conditioned on receipt of official documents, which should be provided as soon as possible.

    Note: If you are currently enrolled or have applied in the past year, you should qualify for an application fee waiver. Click here for criteria and how to obtain the waiver.

    1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
    2. Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 out of 4.00
    3. Completed online application that includes:
      • Personal statement
      • One letter of recommendation
      • Minimum 79 TOEFL score or minimum 6.5 IELTS score (international students only)

    Learn more about how to apply

  • Program Requirements
  • Tuition and Fees

    Per credit hour

    ResidencyTuitionDE FeeTotal
    IN Resident$480.93$39$519.93
    Non-resident$576.45$39$615.45

    Find more information and calculate your expected costs at Student Central.

  • Student Experiences

    "The online format gives me a chance to reflect on what I‘m going say and refine my ideas before posting them. From the beginning through the end, course expectations were clear and I could always go back and look at my instructor’s directions.”

    “I feel engaged when I see the relationship between my readings and what’s going on in my practice. I am also surprised by how much I learn from the experiences of my fellow classmates. The information that they shared helps me see how what we learned can be applied in multiple settings.” 

PESA's online format gives me a chance to reflect on what I‘m going say and refine my ideas before posting them. From the beginning through the end, course expectations were clear and I could always go back and look at my instructor’s directions.

Courses may be combined for the certificate or a program minor or taken singly, such as for a course elective. Practitioners, family members, and those with related interests are encouraged to apply for the certificate or to enroll in individual courses.

As a specialty certificate, PESA does not grant a teaching license or degree.

Images in banner are from the Third National Painting Exhibition of Children with Autism 2010 sponsored by the Beijing Rehabilitation Association of Autistic Children

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