Special Needs Certificate Program

The U.S. State Department’s Office of Overseas Schools has had a longstanding commitment to supporting children and youth with exceptionalities.

In an effort to provide continuing support to Department Assisted International Schools overseas, OOS is offering a quality program for essential professional development for primary and secondary educators who provide or coordinate services for children with learning challenges. OOS will offer a “certificate” or digital badge to participants who complete the 2-year program by participating in the entire 80 hours of professional development.

This Professional Development program will first be showcased at the 2019 CEESA Conference. It will include a two-day pre-conference workshop (Wednesday and Thursday, March 13-14) and four sessions at the main conference (Friday and Saturday, March 15-16).

We would like to encourage regular education and special needs teachers, but also school leaders (Director/Coordinator of Learning Support, Assistant Principal or Principal) to attend the Special Needs Certificate Program.

Participating schools who include school leaders will be better positioned to implement ideas, strategies and programs learned during the Certificate Program, particularly if the program is attended by several members of the school team.

The cost of the Special Needs Certificate Program at the 2019 CEESA Conference:

CEESA members: $250 Pre-Conference + $475 Conference registration = $725
Non-members: $300 Pre-Conference + $525 Conference registration = $825

Participants may sign up through the Conference participant registration form.

UPDATE (February 1): The next part of the program will be hosted by the Anglo American School of Sofia, April 5-7, 2019. Details will be emailed to the registered participants shortly.

UPDATE (February 4): We have reached the maximum number of participants for the Special Needs Certificate Program at the CEESA Conference. If you would like to attend the program, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.