Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Course (QQI Level 5)

A Special Needs Assistant (SNA) provides support to children or adults with additional needs, particularly in educational environments.

This Special Needs Assistant course prepares learners with the practical and professional skills required to assist individuals in inclusive learning and care settings.

It depends on where you are starting and how far you want to go.

Level 5 Special Needs Assisting (5N1786) is the usual starting point and the qualification most schools look for when recruiting SNAs. It takes 12 weeks, costs €335 and includes a 20 hour supervised work
placement.

Level 6 Special Needs Assistant (6N1957) builds on Level 5 and suits learners already working as an SNA, or those who want to stand out in a competitive recruitment process. It takes 12 weeks and costs
€335.

The Combined Level 5 and 6 course covers three modules – Special Needs Assisting (5N1786), Children with Additional Needs (5N2396) and Special Needs Assistant (6N1957) – for 45 NFQ credits over 36 weeks at €805. Taken separately these three modules would cost €1,005, so the combined route saves €200 and gives you a single certificate listing all three.

If you are new to the role and want the quickest route to applying for SNA positions, start with Level 5. If you intend to complete Level 6 eventually, the Combined course is better value than enrolling twice.

Yes. This Special Needs Assistant course is designed to suit adult learners, including those balancing work, family, or other commitments.

This course is delivered on demand and can be accessed at any time.

No previous experience is required. This Special Needs Assistant course is suitable for beginners as well as learners currently working in care or education who wish to gain a recognised QQI Level 5 qualification.

Graduates of this Special Needs Assistant course may pursue roles such as:

• Special Needs Assistant (SNA) in primary or secondary schools
• Support worker in educational or community settings
• Care assistant roles with a focus on additional needs

Career opportunities may vary depending on experience and further training.

Yes. This Special Needs Assistant component award leads to a QQI Level 5 qualification, which is nationally recognised on Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

It is widely accepted for support roles in education and care settings across Ireland.

This module is a strong fit if you:

• Want a quick, focused way into a meaningful school-based role
• Are weighing up career options with a school-term schedule
• Plan to add further SNA modules or progress to Level 6 over time.

You are required to obtain a minimum of 20 hours work experience per module with students or children with special education needs in either an Early Years settings, Afterschool or Primary or Secondary school.

Yes. Garda vetting is a statutory requirement for anyone working with children in a school setting, and you will need it before you can begin your 20-hour work placement.

The Open College is a registered organisation with the National Vetting Bureau and processes vetting for enrolled students at no extra cost. You will receive the vetting documentation after you enrol, as part of your Enrolment Pack.

Processing usually takes two to four weeks once the documentation is submitted correctly, so it is worth returning it as early as possible rather than waiting until you have found a placement.

Your placement provider may also request that they complete the Garda vetting and if so, you do not need to complete it through us also.

If you have lived outside the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland for six months or more, you may also need to obtain an overseas police clearance certificate. Any cost for that is the applicant’s own.

There is no written examination on this module. Assessment is in two parts, both completed during the course.

Skills Demonstration (60%) is divided into two sections. The first asks you to demonstrate your knowledge of working with people who have a special need. The second assesses the practical elements of that work, drawn from your placement.

Learner Record (40%) is a written record compiled from your own experience. It must include reflections on what you encountered and found challenging, an examination of the values involved in working in a special needs environment, and an account of your own learning and development.

Results are graded Pass (50–64%), Merit (65–79%) or Distinction (80–100%). All work is marked by an internal assessor, checked through internal verification, and authenticated by an independent QQI External Authenticator before certification.

No. Enrolment on this course requires learners to be based in Ireland and to hold an Irish or UK PPS number. Enrolments without both are not accepted.

This is because the module requires a 20 hour supervised work placement in a recognised Irish educational setting, such as a primary school, and because Garda vetting is required before any placement involving children can begin.

Learners who have lived outside the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland for six months or more will also need overseas police clearance before starting a placement.

Special Needs Assistants are paid on a national scale set by the Department of Education, so the same point on the scale pays the same in every primary, post-primary and ETB school in the country. Under Circular 0057/2026, effective 1 June 2026, a newly appointed SNA starts on €31,664 a year.

The scale rises to €47,343 at the maximum, with a Long Service Increment of €50,161 paid after three years at the top point. All new SNAs start on point 1. Part-time SNAs are paid pro rata for each hour worked. Pay in private and non-school settings is set by the individual employer, does not follow this scale, and does not carry automatic annual increments.

View the current Department of Education salary scales
See Fórsa’s published education pay scales
Browse current SNA vacancies on EducationPosts.ie

Depending on what SNA course you choose, programmes will range from 12 weeks to 36 weeks for our SNA Combined Award (3 x QQI Modules).

While you complete your course, you will be required to complete 20 hours of work placement per module.

The full course fee is €335 and includes all documentation, lecturing, assessments, learner registration and QQI certification fees. No other hidden accreditation or certification fees to pay!

You can also avail of our Easy Payment Plans where unlike other colleges that require you to navigate the complexities of loan companies, our industry leading easy payment plan of €170 per month over 2 months allows you to enrol today using your Debit / Credit Card without any additional hassle or signups.

Yes. On successful completion of this Special Needs Assistant course, learners may progress to higher-level QQI awards in education, care, or related support fields, subject to entry requirements.

We also have a Level 6 Special Needs Assistant course, and a combined Level 5 and Level 6 Special Needs Assistant course.