To qualify for the endorsement for Mental Retardation (moderate to intense needs for assistance and intervention in their educational processes), a person must:

1. Have completed a program of preparation for teaching pupils who have mental retardation, which has been approved by the Board; or
   Hold a license or certificate, issued by another state, with an endorsement to teach pupils who have mental retardation; or
   Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the education of pupils who have mental retardation and have completed 8 semester credits of student teaching, equivalent field experience or 1 year of verifiable teaching experience with such pupils; or
   Have:
    

   1. Met the requirements for one of the following special education endorsements: Generalist Resource Room, Serious Emotional Disabilities, Specific Learning Disabilities, or Speech and Language Impairments; and

   2. One year of verifiable teaching experience with pupils who have mental retardation; and

   3. Completed 12 semester credits of the course work listed in 5(B) below including #’s 4 through 9; or
       

2. Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and:
    

   1. Have completed 8 semester credits of student teaching of pupils who have mental retardation, equivalent field experience with such pupils or 1 year of verifiable teaching experience with such pupils; and

   2. Have completed 30 semester credits of course work to include each of the following areas:

1. Educational psychology;

2. Human growth and development;

3. Introduction to special education or the education of pupils who have disabilities;

4. The assessment of pupils who have disabilities;

5. Characteristics of pupils who have mental retardation;

6. Curriculum development or methods and strategies for teaching pupils who have mental retardation;

7. Behavior management;

8. Communication programming for pupils who have mental retardation;

9. Medical aspects of pupils who have disabilities;

10. Education or planning for the transition of pupils who have disabilities from their current placement to additional educational programs, employment and living as an adult; and

11. Parental involvement in programs for pupils who have disabilities.

NOTE: Some colleges/universities combine subject matter into one course. We will accept one course that encompasses two areas listed above if the course was specifically designed to fulfill more than one area and is a minimum of three (3) semester credits; however, the allowance will only be made once.
 

The Option Program

The Option Program is a way an employer can fill high-need areas. The Option Program is an agreement between you and your employer and is not coordinated through the Office of Teacher Licensure. Your employer will provide written documentation to you if you are placed on the Option Program. While on the program, you will be required to complete the appropriate course work and meet the requirements for the full endorsement in the time prescribed by your employer but no longer than 3 years from the date that you are placed on the program. The endorsement is not reflected on your license while you are on the program. At the end of the Option Program, you must submit the additional endorsement application and fee to our office in order to add the endorsement to your license.

The minimum requirements for the Mental Retardation Option Program are:

Hold a Nevada elementary, middle school/junior high or secondary license or a special teaching license issued by Nevada with an endorsement in special education or a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with a major or minor in special education. Additionally, you must have completed 6 semester credits of course work listed above from 5(B).