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Disability specialist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a disability specialist. Disability specialists usually study business, psychology, or social work. 60% of disability specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,672 real disability specialist resumes to see exactly what disability specialist education sections show.
The most common colleges for disability specialists are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online disability specialist courses to help get the education required to be a disability specialist.
There are certain disability specialist certifications that you should consider. These disability specialist certifications include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.
What education do you need to become a disability specialist?
What degree do you need to be a disability specialist?
- Bachelor's, 60%
- Associate, 15%
- Master's, 14%
- High School Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a disability specialist?
- Business, 20%
- Psychology, 17%
- Social Work, 6%
- Nursing, 6%
- Other Majors, 51%
Most common colleges for disability specialists
| Disability specialist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 13.48% |
| The University of Alabama | 8.51% |
| Auburn University Main Campus | 5.67% |
| Savannah State University | 5.67% |
| Fayetteville State University | 4.96% |
Best majors for disability specialists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 20.0% |
| 2 | Psychology | 17.4% |
| 3 | Social Work | 6.5% |
| 4 | Nursing | 6.0% |
| 5 | Criminal Justice | 5.9% |
Best colleges for disability specialists
The best colleges for disability specialists are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Southern California.
A disability specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for disability specialists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become disability specialists.
1. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Enrollment
13,871
4. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
5. Howard University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$26,756
Enrollment
6,166
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
7. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
8. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
9. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
20 best online courses for disability specialists
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1. Community Awareness Course: Sexuality and Disability
This community awareness course from the University of Minnesota Program on Human Sexuality will provide you with a solid introduction to human sexuality for those living with disabilities. Often there are assumptions that the disabled or differently abled people are not sexual, do not have sexual needs, or cannot be involved sexually. In this professionally produced one-hour course, you'll learn about the basics of disabilities and human sexuality. We'll then learn about three different...
2. Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners
In the U.S., social policy accounts for two-thirds of government spending. Knowing how policies are constructed, what values underlie them, and how they succeed or fail makes everyone more effective at work or in their civic role. This specialization includes an HONORS track in which learners will complete a professional social policy analysis.\n\nTeachers, health care workers, police, and social workers interact with policy daily, but all of us should care about the impact and effectiveness of...
3. Supporting Employees with Disabilities
How to Make Your Workplace More Accessible and Inclusive for People with Disabilities...
4. Teach Children with Learning Disabilities. A Practical Guide
Insights into the neurobiology behind various learning issues – How learning is hindered & how to improve learning...
5. An Introduction to Accessibility and Inclusive Design
This course introduces some of the fundamental principles of accessibility and prepares learners for further study in accessibility and inclusive design. Learners will have an opportunity to explore the major types of disabilities and related assistive technology and adaptive strategies, the most salient contours of the legal landscape, and the major principles that guide universal design and accessible content creation. Spotlight guest videos will highlight firsthand perspectives on...
6. Accessibility to the Scenic Arts
Is your show accessible? When we ask about accessibility to shows, most people think about access for wheel chairs: the sitting arrangements and where their WC is accessible. When we ask for more details, people usually think about producing a show where persons with disabilities are performing, for example producing a show where there is some dancing with people on wheel chairs. Accessiblity for us is a comprehensive concept that goes from purchasing a ticket through an accessible website to...
7. Occupational Therapy Introduction - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
How to become occupational therapist, basic Psychology, Physiology & Anatomy, working with disabilities, children adults...
8. Data Science for Healthcare Claims Data
Learn and practice how to transform raw healthcare claims data into valuable knowledge and actionable insights!...
9. School Health for Children and Adolescents
Children and adolescents spend so much of their time in school regardless of where they live in the world. Health and learning are closely connected in the school setting, where good health and healthy practices create the optimal conditions for students’ academic success. And the contrary is also true: poor heath and unhealthy practices build tall barriers to student learning.\n\nThe courses of this specialization are designed to equip learners to manage common health conditions including...
10. Diversity and Inclusion in Education
Student diversity is becoming the rule rather than the exception in education systems across the world. Students bring to classroom different characteristics such as ability and disability, socio-economic background, race, ethnicity, and cultural background, beliefs and religion, and gender characteristics. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all (United Nations, 2015)...
11. ICD 10 & 11 Medical Coding and Billing
Preparation for Medical Coding Certification Exam...
12. Medical Terminology
Introduction to the meaning of various roots, terms and combining forms that are components of medical words...
13. Justice and Equity in Technology Policy
More than ever, technology is shaping, and being shaped by, public policy. This has an enormous impact, particularly for marginalized communities. The artificial intelligence and computer algorithms increasingly driving government and industry decisions—from the allocation of social services to hiring—are reflecting and reinforcing social biases towards women, people of color, and disabled people, among others. Global climate change is having a disproportionately negative impact on low- and...
14. Fundamentals of Diversity
"The Fundamentals of Diversity" is the first course in IE University's specialization titled "The Journey to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging." This course will provide learners with the basic tools to navigate diversity and diverse organizations. Throughout the course, learners will analyze how to promote diversity across demographic categories such as gender, ethnicity, race, disability, age, and physical appearance. The course will also empower learners to identify the challenges posed by...
15. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist
Health Information Technology HIT...
16. Complete Linux Security & Hardening with Practical Examples
The Best Linux Security Course that prepare you to protects your Systems from attacks by hackers. Helps in RHCSA & RHCE...
17. Managing mental health issues in the workplace
Learn how to support your own mental health and wellbeing and that of your staff...
18. The Comprehensive PTSD Course
**The Only Dedicated & Comprehensive PTSD Course On The (UDEMY) Platform! – Everything You Need To Know About PTSD**...
19. Medical coding for U.S. healthcare industry
Jump start your career in the fastest growing career choice in the healthcare industry...
20. Mental Health and Neuroplasticity: Change your Brain
10 Alternatives to Medication to Improve Mental Health - Research backed treatments for Depression and Anxiety...
Top 10 most affordable universities for disability specialists
The most affordable schools for disability specialists are California State University - Bakersfield, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for disability specialists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for disability specialists.
1. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
2. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
5. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
6. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
7. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
8. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
9. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for disability specialists
The hardest universities for disability specialists to get into are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for disability specialists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for disability specialists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
7. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
8. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
10. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for disability specialists
The easiest schools for disability specialists to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, bluefield college, and wayland baptist university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a disability specialist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for disability specialists.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA • Private
Admissions rate
95%
SAT average
980
3. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
4. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
5. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
6. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
7. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
8. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
9. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
10. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
Average disability specialist salary by education level
| Disability specialist education level | Disability specialist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $64,140 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $45,925 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $55,655 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $46,409 |
Disability specialist education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025