A learning behavior specialist designs and modifies educational plans to help students with learning, emotional, and cognitive disabilities succeed. Specialized training in special education is crucial for creating effective and inclusive learning spaces. By equipping teachers with the skills to meet varied student needs, adapt curriculum, and use formalized strategies like individualized education programs (IEP), special education endorsement programs can improve student outcomes across the board.
Aurora University’s online Special Education Endorsement: Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS 1) program offers a clear pathway for career growth in special education, preparing graduates for in-demand roles and opening doors to leadership positions. This guide will explore everything you need to know about the LBS 1 Endorsement and how it can advance your career in education.
What Does a Learning Behavior Specialist Do?
Learning behavior specialists are professionals who work with students, families, and school staff to implement systems and policies that address behavioral and emotional issues that affect learning. They work with a diverse body of students, adapting classrooms and policies to benefit learners at every level. This can include developing interventions for students with special needs, such as autism, ADHD, and other developmental or behavioral disorders.
A learning behavior specialist acts as a consultant, working with school teams to implement effective policy and procedure. The core work of a learning behavior specialist includes assessments and evaluations, IEPs, plan development, intervention, training, and communication.
What Is the Learning Behavior Specialist 1 Endorsement?
The LBS 1 Endorsement involves completing specific coursework that covers topics such as the characteristics and identification of disabilities, strategies and assistive technology for students, differentiating instruction, and psychoeducational assessment. AU’s flexible online program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in coordination with the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. The LBS 1 Endorsement program aligns with the following:
- Council for Exceptional Children Professional Teaching Standards
- Illinois Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Standards
- Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards
- Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) Standards
The Illinois LBS 1 Endorsement program prepares professionals with real-world skills they can apply immediately. By expanding an existing teaching license to include teaching students with disabilities, the LBS 1 Endorsement enhances the scope of a teaching license. It can be automatically renewed hand-in-hand with a teaching license.
What Are the Benefits of the LBS 1 Endorsement?
Inclusive teaching and instructional strategies earned through the LBS 1 Endorsement equip teachers with niche skills that go beyond general teaching abilities, focusing on specialized instruction and ethical practice. The 18 credit hours led by expert faculty develop in-demand skills for learning behavior specialists in areas such as assessment modification, cognitive development, disability law, intervention methods, reading disorders, and social-emotional development.
An LBS 1 Endorsement can support career advancement in roles such as adult education instructor, behavioral counselor, disability case manager, or elementary school special education teacher. Pursuing a master’s program post-LBS 1 Endorsement, like AU’s online MA in Educational Leadership with Principal Endorsement program, can also lead to principal or program management roles, faculty positions at universities, or specialization in fields like early intervention or multiple disabilities.
Using evidence-based instructional methods, LBS 1-endorsed educators help students with disabilities learn and thrive. Learning behavior specialists work with general education teachers and help special education departments work together more effectively, ensuring a collaborative environment where students receive a consistent and supportive education across various settings.
What Is the Career Outlook for Learning Behavior Specialists?
Due to an increasing number of students requiring special education services, demand for special education has grown in recent years. This is driven by better early intervention and identification of disabilities, more robust federal policies, and a deeper understanding of how to support diverse students with individualized needs.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 37,800 openings for special education teachers are projected each year through 2034. Graduates of this program can pursue a range of positions, including adult education instructor, behavioral counselor, disability case manager, or elementary school special education teacher. Below is an overview with October 2025 salary data sources from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Payscale’s Average Disability Case Manager statistics.
- Adult education instructor: An adult education instructor teaches and facilitates learning for adults, helping them to acquire new skills, complete their education, and prepare for career advancements. The median salary for an adult education instructor in Illinois is $67,660 per year.
- Behavioral counselor: A behavioral counselor is a mental health professional who specializes in helping individuals identify, understand, and modify behaviors. The median salary for a behavioral counselor in Illinois is $63,450 per year.
- Disability case manager: Disability case managers provide support, advocacy, and coordination for individuals with disabilities, helping clients navigate complex systems. The national median salary for a disability case manager is $59,530 per year.
- Elementary school special education teacher: An elementary school special education teacher provides specialized instruction to students with disabilities to help them succeed in their academic and social-emotional development within the K-12 school system. The median salary of an elementary school special education teacher in Illinois is $75,640 per year.
Learn more about AU's online Special Education Endorsement program.
Unlock a world of career opportunities and benefits with an LBS 1 program.
Learn MoreAdvancing Your Career With Aurora University
AU’s Special Education Endorsement: LBS 1 online program provides educators with the knowledge to support students with a wide range of disabilities. Each course is taught by AU’s expert faculty, within a flexible format designed for working teachers. Students complete assignments, projects, and key assessments using differentiated approaches with a focus on research.
The curriculum includes specialized courses like Strategies and Assistive Technology for Students with Low Incidence and Multiple Disabilities; Trends: Collaboration, Differentiating Instruction in the Inclusive Classroom, and Transition; and Psychoeducational Assessment of Students with Disabilities. Your education is backed by small-college-style personal attention and a full suite of career services and resources.
Take the Next Step Toward Endorsement Today
Becoming a learning behavior specialist with an LBS 1 Endorsement unlocks a world of career opportunities and benefits, whether you aim to continue specialized work in the classroom, become a district leader, or make a direct impact on your community outside of the school system. Aurora University’s flexible and affordable Illinois LBS 1 Endorsement program is designed for working professionals, meaning you don’t have to put your career or personal life on hold to achieve your academic goals.
AU’s program leads to opportunity, advancement, and a lasting legacy in special education. Explore more program details, learn about AU’s history, mission, and values, and apply today to AU’s online Special Education Endorsement (LBS 1) program to start your journey.
