To meet the need for trained teachers for rural special education, especially for teaching the severely/profoundly handicapped, the Severe/Profound Handicaps Training Program was established by West Virginia University. The program consists of 20 hours of coursework and 9 hours of practicum experience, leading to a Master's degree and/or teaching certification. In each course, competencies in specific skill areas are covered to enable the teacher to meet individual educational and related service needs. The program serves trainees in cohort groups at multiple sites in various geographic locations in West Virginia. The program permits delivery of coursework instruction and supervision of practicum experiences by field-based personnel in cooperation with university faculty. Practicum experiences are conducted on-the-job in the trainees' own rural work settings. Recruitment efforts are aimed at locating individuals currently living in and committed to rural areas. The program attempts to address retention concerns by developing local support groups at each rural site. Program evaluation data indicate that this on-the-job training program is successful in preparing rural teachers of students with severe/profound handicaps and reducing the critical teacher shortage in West Virginia. (JDD)