The most in-demand add-on credential for NJ teachers. GCU's TOSD Endorsement program prepares certified general education teachers to serve students with disabilities in inclusive and special education settings — completing the 21-credit endorsement or continuing to a full 36 credit M.Ed.
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No single credential addition does more for a NJ teacher's employability and compensation potential than the Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TOSD) endorsement. Districts actively prefer TOSD-endorsed candidates for general education roles, require it for resource room and co-teaching positions, and in many districts, TOSD-endorsed teachers access higher salary steps. It is the single most practical credential investment most certified NJ teachers can make.
Today's inclusive classrooms serve students with a wide range of learning profiles — and most general education teachers are already working with students who have IEPs, 504 plans, or significant learning needs without the formal preparation to serve them optimally. This endorsement closes that gap, developing the assessment, curriculum modification, and intervention skills that make you genuinely effective with every student.
The seven TOSD endorsement courses aren't purely theoretical — each includes structured clinical experience in disability-related settings. By the time you complete the endorsement, you'll have accumulated 60 clinical hours working with students with disabilities, building the practical skills that coursework alone cannot develop.
If you want a graduate degree alongside your endorsement, GCU's program is structured so that 15 additional credits earn you a full M.Ed. — adding deeper ASD specialization and research skills to your TOSD preparation. You stop at the endorsement or continue to the degree based on your goals. No credits are ever repeated.
New Jersey’s commitment to inclusive education means that the Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TOSD) endorsement has become one of the most valued and sought credentials in the state. Nearly every district prefers or requires it for at least some positions — and for many roles, it opens salary schedule upgrades and expanded employment options.
GCU’s 21-credit program is aligned with the standards of the Council for Exceptional Children, the NJ Professional Standards for Teachers, and InTASC standards. It prepares already-certified general education teachers to serve students with disabilities across inclusive and self-contained settings, at the level and subject area(s) of their existing instructional certificate.
Coursework covers education of students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment, curriculum planning and accommodations, community services for students at risk, understanding learning disabilities, psychological and educational assessment, strategies for students with autism and developmental disorders, and social communication interventions for students with ASD. Clinical experience is embedded in multiple courses.
An additional 15 credits (research methods, two more ASD courses, and a thesis experience) earns you a full M.Ed. — an excellent option for teachers who want to formalize their expertise at the graduate level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| TOSD Endorsement Program | ||
| EDC5030 | Educ Students w/Disab in LRE | 3.0 |
| EDC5031 | Curr Plan Accom & Mod Students w/Disab 1 | 3.0 |
| EDC5032 | Comm Serv for Stdts at-Risk & w/ Except 1 | 3.0 |
| EDC5034 | Understanding Learning Disabilities 2 | 3.0 |
| EDC5037 | Psych & Ed Assess of Studnts w/ Disabl | 3.0 |
| EDC5302 | Strategies Teach Students w/Aut & DevDis 2 | 3.0 |
| EDC5303 | Soc Communic Intervent Students w/ASD | 3.0 |
| Total Credits | 21.0 | |
Requires 15 hours of clinical experience.
Requires 10 hours of clinical experience.
Additional courses required for master’s degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDC5014 | Methods of Res for Leaders in Incl Sch | 3.0 |
| EDC5304 | Assess & Curr Inter for Autism Spec Dis | 3.0 |
| EDC5305 | Intervent & Supports Level 1 Char ASD | 3.0 |
| EDC6095 | Project Applied Thesis I | 3.0 |
| EDC6099 | Project Applied Thesis II | 3.0 |
| Total Credits | 15.0 | |
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