Nevada's training on the needs of pupils with disabilities and pupils with autism (NRS 388.1342 and NRS 388.134): what the law asks, and where outside training fits
The short answer
Nevada law requires each administrator of a public school, including a charter school, to complete the Department of Education's training on the needs of pupils with disabilities and pupils with autism spectrum disorder within 90 days after becoming an administrator, at least once every three years thereafter, and at least once during any school year when the program is revised or updated. Separately, each school district's board of trustees and each charter school's governing body must provide for appropriate training of their members and all administrators, teachers and other employees under the state's safe and respectful learning environment policy, including training on the needs of pupils with disabilities and pupils with autism spectrum disorder. Employees who have not previously worked for that district or school must receive this training within 180 days after starting employment; governing-body members who have not previously served on that body have the same deadline after beginning service.
What the law says
Nevada Revised Statutes § 388.1342(1) directs the Department of Education to establish several programs of training, including one:
"(f) For school district and school personnel concerning the needs of pupils with disabilities and pupils with autism spectrum disorder."
Subsection 4 sets the schedule for administrators:
"Each administrator of a school shall complete the program of training established pursuant to paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of subsection 1: (a) Within 90 days after becoming an administrator; (b) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c), at least once every 3 years thereafter; and (c) At least once during any school year within which the program of training is revised or updated."
Each program "must, to the extent money is available, be made available on the Internet website maintained by the Department or through another provider on the Internet" (§ 388.1342(5)). The governing body "may allow school personnel to attend" the program during regular school hours (§ 388.1342(6)).
For all staff, NRS § 388.133(2)(d) says the state policy for a safe and respectful learning environment must include a policy to train "all administrators, teachers and all other personnel employed by the governing body," including:
"(4) Training concerning the needs of pupils with disabilities and pupils with autism spectrum disorder;"
and "(7) Methods to teach skills to pupils so that the pupils are able to replace inappropriate behavior with positive behavior." NRS § 388.134(2) requires each governing body to:
"Provide for the appropriate training of members of the governing body and all administrators, teachers and all other personnel employed by the governing body in accordance with the policy prescribed pursuant to NRS 388.133. For members of the governing body who have not previously served on the governing body or for employees of the school district or school who have not previously been employed by the district or school, the training required by this subsection must be provided within 180 days after the member begins his or her service or after the employee begins his or her employment, as applicable."
Section 388.134 does not itself set a repeat schedule for teachers and other staff. Under Nevada Administrative Code § 388.875(1), each governing body must carry out a plan so that its staff receive this training, "including, without limitation, the training materials developed by the Department."
Related rules. NRS § 388.505(1) directs the Department to develop a model program, for use by school districts, to train staff identified in the IEPs of pupils with disabilities in positive behavioral interventions and supports. Section 388.505(2) requires each district to train staff who are authorized to carry out and monitor physical and mechanical restraint. Our course does not teach restraint or crisis intervention. "To the extent money is available from the Grant Fund," NRS §§ 391A.260 and 391A.270 require school districts and charter schools to ensure appropriate preparation and training for their licensed educational personnel who work with pupils with autism spectrum disorders and for the paraprofessionals they employ to assist those pupils.
Source: NRS chapter 388 (§§ 388.133, 388.134, 388.1342, 388.505), NAC chapter 388 (§ 388.875), NRS chapter 391A (§§ 391A.260, 391A.270).
Where outside training fits
The administrator requirement is to complete the Department's own program of training, so an outside course does not replace it. The all-staff training follows the Department's policy and, under the administrative code, includes the Department's training materials. The provisions reviewed here do not establish a process for approving an outside course toward either requirement. To the extent Grant Fund money is available, NRS §§ 391A.260 and 391A.270 permit school district boards and charter school governing bodies to enter into an agreement with a "local corporation, business, organization or other entity" for the training specified in those sections. We do not claim that our course satisfies NRS § 388.1342, § 388.134 or any other Nevada requirement, or that it counts toward any training hours. Before buying outside training for these purposes, ask your district or the Nevada Department of Education how it evaluates outside courses.
What our Intro to ABA Level 1 course covers
The Intro to ABA Level 1 course teaches methods and techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for parents and caregivers, teachers, paraprofessionals and behavior technicians who work with a child every day. Topics include what autism is, what ABA is, pairing, errorless teaching and prompting, and active student responding. Complete the course and pass its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80%. Completing this course earns a Special Learning certificate of completion. That certificate is not a continuing education (CE) certificate. It is basic training in ABA methods for daily practice, not a professional credential. We do not claim Nevada state approval or continuing education credit for this course.
A paraprofessional who took it wrote: "I want to learn everything I can to help my student succeed in the public school system. I found Special Learning's ABA level 1 course so fascinating and inspiring."
Two ways to start
- For one person: try the first two sessions free for 7 days; account creation is required, with no payment information requested. The full course costs $199, paid once, with no subscription or recurring charge. Activate your license code within 90 days of purchase; the published completion window is 10 weeks after activation. You may request a later start date, no later than three months after purchase. Start the free sessions
- For your district's staff: tell us how many people need training and when, and we will send a quote; each participant who completes the course and passes its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80% earns an individual certificate of completion. Ask for a school quote
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.