As the largest professional organization of special educators, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) has taken seriously its professional responsibility for defining the criteria for a competent beginning special educator. As part of this responsibility, CEC has developed and continues to update and maintain professional standards for entry-level special education teachers. CEC has also developed standards for advanced roles in special education and standards for special education paraprofessionals.) These standards delineate what beginning special education teachers need to know and be able to do to practice safely and effectively. The CEC Standards for Beginning Special Education Teachers are research-based, pedagogically grounded, and have been rigorously validated using a process that ensures that practitioners in the field have a primary voice in their development. Over the past twelve years, CEC has validated the knowledge and skills that educators. (Contains 2 figures and 3 footnotes.)