Online Education Specialist Certification (Ed.S.)

If you aspire to be a school leader, one with the fulfilling responsibility of safeguarding high-quality teaching and learning for all students, then our online education specialist certification program might be the right fit for you. This Ed.S. degree program gives you the ability to pursue a credential that will further develop your career with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue positions of leadership in your school or throughout your district, especially in areas of school administration and supervision or school counseling.

At University of the Cumberlands, our educational specialist degree program offers a collaborative online environment to facilitate learning and accommodate the busy schedules of working adults like you. We offer six eight-week enrollment periods throughout the year, making it possible to complete your online Ed.S. certification program in just over a year. 

• Why Should I Get an Education Specialist Degree?
• What Careers Can I Do with an Education Specialist Degree?
• Curriculum and Degree Requirements
• Admission Requirements
• Certification and Reciprocity
• Certification Submission
• Tuition
• Graduate Student Success
• Mid-Point Assessment
• Accreditation EPSB and CAEP
• Faculty

Why Should I Get an Education Specialist Degree?

Earning an education specialist degree online is an investment in your future. Some teaching professionals wonder if all the hard work and dedication toward earning an Ed.S. will pay off in the long run. It can, and it does. Certified teachers who earn an education specialist degree open up a number of career opportunities, not just for today, but for years to come. And the skills and insights they learn also have an impact on their day-to-day jobs. 

It’s built to fit your life. Designed to be completed in as little as 16 months, your online Ed.S. degree provides the convenience and flexibility to pursue your course of study at a pace that meets your needs.

Plus, your Ed.S. program from University of the Cumberlands offers a number of different levels with course-relevant tracks that offer the opportunity to develop your professional skills in the key educational role of your choice, including:

• School Counseling
• Director of Special Education
• School Superintendent
• Supervisor of Instruction
• Principal
• Director of Pupil Personnel

Depending on which track you take in your online education specialist degree, classes will cover everything from counseling and psychological assessments to school law and educational administration to community relations and diversity in a multicultural society. You will gain the skills you need to pursue successfully pursue the educational career of your dreams. 

If you’re looking for online Ed.S. programs that can help you accomplish your career goals, give your salary a boost, and inspire change in others with your passion for education, then choose University of the Cumberlands.

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What Careers Can I Do with an Education Specialist Degree?

Whether you are looking to become a school counseling specialist, move into school administration, teach at a community college, or expand your knowledge beyond the master’s or Rank I level, earning your education specialist degree online provides an avenue for advancing your career. 

Depending on the track you take for your online Ed.S., career options can vary. For example, the School Counseling track can help you pursue a school counselor position, where professionals averaged a salary of $60,510 in 2021. Other tracks can lead to administrative opportunities such as a school principal—a position whose annual salary averaged $98,420 in 2021. Or you can branch into district-wide leadership positions, such as an instructional coordinator overseeing curriculum and teaching standards across schools. In 2021, these instructional coordinator averaged $63,740. Other educational leadership opportunities can also include:

• Teacher Lead
• Special Education Specialist
• Educational Technology Specialist
• Assistant Principal
• School Superintendent
• And more

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Curriculum and Degree Requirements

Our Online Ed.S. Program utilizes a collaborative online environment to facilitate learning and accommodate the busy schedules of working adults. We offer six eight-week enrollment periods throughout the year, making it possible to complete an affordable post-graduate degree in education in just over a year.

Click here for Ed.S. Course Details | Click here for Ed.S. Program Resources

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Admission Requirements

The Online Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Certification Program has several different levels and options to choose from.

Click here to view the admissions requirements for the different Ed.S. tracks.

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Certification and Reciprocity 

Certification is the process in which a candidate is recommended for licensure and/or rank change. Upon completion of a degree, certification, or rank change program, it is the responsibility of the candidate to submit the appropriate certification paperwork to the Certification Office. University of the Cumberlands can only submit a recommendation for certification and/or rank change completed through this institution.

Applications for teacher certification/rank change should be turned in to the appropriate certification specialist no earlier than three weeks prior to program completion. Applications for certification/rank change are processed upon verification of successful completion of required assessments and receipt of the candidate’s official transcript verifying completion of the program.

Undergraduate and MAT programs
Ms. Lisa Jones
606.539.4648
lisa.jones@ucumberlands.edu

Advanced Programs
Ms. Kim White
606.539.4525
kim.white@ucumberlands.edu

Certification Office
7792 College Station Drive
Williamsburg KY 40769
Fax: (606) 539-4014

Check Status of CA1
Once an application is processed by the UC Certification Office, candidates may check the status of their CA1 application by logging on to the EPSB website at www.epsb.ky.gov and accessing "View my Application History".

Reciprocity
Certification is provided for the state of Kentucky through the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB), however, certification can transfer to all states through reciprocity. The map below displays the states that have an Interstate Reciprocity Agreement in place with Kentucky; some, not necessarily all certifications will be accepted. 

The interstate agreement, arranged by NASDTEC, is a collection of over 50 individual agreements by states and Canadian provinces. Each individual "agreement" is a statement by that state or jurisdiction outlining which other states' educator certificates will be accepted by that state.

Such an "acceptance" agreement means that the "receiving" state will issue some form of authorization allowing the inbound certificate holder to legally teach or provide service in the receiving state, provided the license issued by the "sending" state is acceptable under the agreement. This authorization may be limited in time by the receiving state, and the receiving state may impose additional requirements which need to be accomplished before the educator can teach or practice after the end of the time limit.

The Interstate Agreement is not a collection of 2-way agreements of reciprocal acceptance. For example, although Georgia affirms with its agreement that it will accept certificates from Connecticut, this acceptance in no way implies that Connecticut will accept Georgia certificates. Also the agreement does not necessarily indicate "full" reciprocity. The educator may have to complete additional requirements, such as coursework, assessments, or classroom experience, before receiving a full professional certificate in the new state. Candidates working out-of-state should contact their state’s certification office for reciprocity eligibility and details.

Click here for links to State Boards.

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Certification Submission

Kentucky
Click here to view certification submission details for the state of Kentucky. 

Out of State
It is the responsibility of the candidate to check with their home state regarding certification requirements. If a state licensure application requires verification of degree/certification completion, the application/verification form may be sent directly to the Certification Office. Please be certain to provide your full name, UC student ID number, phone number, and email address in the event that additional information is needed.

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Tuition

Costs for programs of study at University of the Cumberlands are competitive and affordable. Click here to view tuition rates and fees.

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Graduate Student Success

The purpose of Graduate Student Success (GSS) is to assist students with class registration and program management. Click here to navigate the GSS webpage to better understand what to expect throughout the Ed.S. program.

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Mid-Point Assessment

You will be working with the Graduate Advising Center (GAC) to make sure you are on track. UC offers a variety of programs in education so certain requirements do not apply to everyone. It is important to review your specific Plan Program/Curriculum Contract to know what is required of you.

GAC has provided a list of items you are required to have turned in by the time you complete your program. The list can be seen on your MyUC account located under the “Student Tab”. The list appears in red and will show the item(s) that are past due. Please do not be alarmed when you see this, it is a computer glitch and you need not worry. We are simply letting you know what is still needed from you at this point, as well as, what will be required of you to complete the program. It is our hope that you will have a smooth transition when you exit your program.

Click here to view the mid-point assessment documents. 

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Accreditation

Click here to view University of the Cumberlands' accreditation information. 

In addition to the overall institutional accreditation statement above, the specialized accrediting bodies related to this degree are listed below. 

KDE/EPSB – State Accreditation
University of the Cumberlands' School of Education is further accredited through Kentucky's Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB), 100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601. (502) 564-4606. Fax: (502) 564-7080.

CAEP – National Accreditation
The School of Education at University of the Cumberlands (UC) is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at the initial-licensure level and advanced-level.  CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement.  UC’s School of Education has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.
 
CAEP Address: 1140 19th St NW #400, Washington, DC 20036
CAEP Phone Number: (202) 223-0077

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Faculty

Click here to view a list of the Ed.S. faculty. 

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