Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

University of New Mexico Special Education Program Educational Diagnostician Certificate FAQ

1. When am I eligible to apply to the Educational Diagnostician Certificate?

   Although we encourage applications to be submitted by Spring and Fall admissions deadlines, we also offer the option of rolling admission.

2. What are the foundational Special Education requirements? 

   Foundational Requirements include the following three UNM graduate Special Education courses: 1) SPCD 510 Special Education Law; 2) SPCD 517/527 Special Education Assessment; and 3) SPCD 518/519 ABA/Positive Behavior Support. However, if equivalent coursework was completed at other institutions, these courses can be petitioned for review and may be deemed transferable.

3. May I take Educational Diagnostician courses even before I am accepted into the Educational Diagnostician Certificate program? 

   Yes, you can take some of the core educational diagnostician courses before you are accepted into the EDAG Program.

4. What if I don’t have a master’s currently and want to become a licensed Educational Diagnostician, in what area of study should I consider enrolling?

   Diagnosticians need to have a strong background in special education. It would probably make the most sense to apply to the graduate level program in Special Education at UNM. The Educational Diagnostician program is integrated with the UNM graduate level program in Special Education, with some of the courses overlapping, and the possibility for some of your Educational Diagnostician courses to "count" as electives in your MA program (depending on decisions that you would make with your MA advisor).

5. Can I complete the Educational Diagnostician Preparation Program while completing an MA or PhD in Special Education? 

   Yes, you can take EDAG courses while concurrently taking other special Education programs.

6. How many hours are required to complete the Educational Diagnostician program?
   The Educational Diagnostician Preparation Program is a 30-hour program. This includes 7 classes, (with 3 associated labs), and a 300-hour clinical internship.

   • SPCD 559/560 Teaching Bilingual/Multicultural Special Education
   • SPCD 564L Introduction to Assessment for Eligibility for Special Education Supports
   • SPCD 561L Educational Diagnosis: Diagnostic Assessment of Young Children
   • SPCD 563L Multidisciplinary Collaboration for Diagnostic Assessment Exceptional Children
   • SPCD 568L Diagnosis of Multicultural Exceptional Children
   • SPCD 566L Differential Diagnosis I
   • SPCD 567L Differential Diagnosis II
   • SPCD 596L Lab courses associated with SPCD courses: 566L, 564L, and 567L)
   • SPCD 569L Clinical Internship in Educational Diagnosis
     

7. When are courses offered? 

   All of the core courses within the EDAG Program are offered at least once each academic year.

8. Does it matter when I take the courses? 

   Not entirely, some advanced core courses need to be scheduled toward the end of your plan of program. Flexibility has been designed to allow students to either take the program at a pace and time frames that work best with their academic goals.

9. Can I take any classes on-line? 

   None of the core courses are currently available on-line at this time.

10. When are the core courses offered?

    With the exception of the summer semester, all core courses are offered in the late afternoon or evening, with classes scheduled to start at 4:15pm/4:30pm or 7:00pm. Such a schedule allows you to continue to work full time while completing the Educational Diagnostician Program.

11. Do you have a website for the Educational Diagnostician Preparation Program? 

    Yes. You can find information about Educational Diagnostician Preparation Program on the College of Education website and can be accessed directly via the following URL: http://coe.unm.edu/departments-programs/es/special-education-program/educational-diagnosis-certificate/index.html

12. Where do I find information about the New Mexico Public Education Department?

    NM PED’s requirements for a license as an Educational Diagnostician can be found on their website: www.ped.state.nm.us

13. Whom do I contact for more information? 

    Margo Collier, PhD, Associate Professor, Educational Diagnostician Preparation Program Special Education Program, Department of Special Education.

    Email: collierm@unm.edu
    Cell: (801) 718-5188
    Fax: (505) 277-6929