TEACHER TRAINING - BASIC AND SPECIALIST TRAINING

Basic training
Pre-primary teachers follow a three-year course at teacher training colleges.

Teachers of compulsory school-age pupils now complete a four-year programme of university or teacher training college education. University trained teachers can only teach the subject they have specialised in. College trained teachers are qualified to teach all curriculum subjects.

All teachers receive introductory courses in special education and support services in their initial training. Half a year of special education is required in the initial teacher training. There are also mainstream in-service training programmes on special education issues

Specialist teacher training
All initial teaching qualifications include elements of study in the field of special education. Teachers may also take additional in-service courses.

Special education is offered as an upgrading course. Many colleges offer one or two years of training in special education on a full-time or part-time basis. The Institute for Special Education at the University of Oslo offers training at masters and doctorate levels. Nearly 18% of the teachers in compulsory schools have studied special education one year or more in addition to their initial training.

The focus in the training for special education teachers is upon different special educational topics and on preventive work and counselling. There are no special programmes focused on inclusion.