What Is a Reading Specialist?

A reading specialist is a licensed educator with advanced training in literacy who helps students overcome reading challenges, including learning disorders like dyslexia. This role may be ideal for those who are passionate about fostering a love of reading and making a meaningful impact in children's lives through specialized instruction and support.

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Read time 4 minutes

GCE Editorial Team

Published on Jun 10, 2025

Reading specialists are teachers who specialize in working with students who are struggling with literacy. They work with students who have learning disorders, such as dyslexia, as well as students who are simply struggling to read.

Becoming a reading specialist can be a particularly good fit for those who are passionate about books and the transformative power of reading. As you further explore the question, What is a reading specialist? you may find yourself drawn to a specialized teaching role that can fulfill your dreams of teaching, making a difference and sharing a love of reading with children all at the same time.

What Does a Reading Specialist Do?

A reading specialist identifies various literacy challenges, develops literacy curricula and helps students overcome them to improve their reading skills. They are licensed teachers who have a specialized reading education degree allowing them to work with students, primarily at the elementary level, to improve literacy skills.¹ A reading specialist may also work with other teachers in a professional development capacity.

These teachers take on many responsibilities that support students who need help improving their reading. They might:

Work one-on-one with students to practice reading comprehension and word skills
Conduct small group lessons with students who have similar needs
Support Response to Intervention (RTI) needs by conducting individual or small group intervention lessons
Administer specific research-based literacy programs to students with dyslexia
Review literacy curricula with teachers to ensure proper support
Co-teach and lead small group lessons in the classroom
Attend Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 meetings for students needing literacy support

Is There a Difference Between a Reading and a Literacy Specialist?

There is a distinction between the two roles. A literacy specialist has a broader focus, supporting all areas of literacy — reading, writing, listening and speaking — while a reading specialist traditionally focuses on reading instruction.¹ Though often used interchangeably or combined (e.g., reading and literacy specialist), the term literacy specialist is becoming more common as it better reflects the full scope of the role.²

Trying to explain What is a literacy specialist vs. a reading specialist? may depend on your specific role and even the state in which you plan to teach. Typically, a literacy specialist may cover all literacy areas, while a reading specialist typically concentrates on reading instruction.

What Skills Do I Need To Become a Reading Specialist?

There are a number of essential hard and soft skills for aspiring reading specialists. Since reading specialists are teachers, they need a strong knowledge of teaching strategies, both in theory and in practice. They also need specialized knowledge in teaching literacy skills.³

Additional skills include:³

Strong rapport with children
Empathy and patience
Communication skills
Creativity
Adaptability
Collaboration

Why Become a Reading Specialist?

Becoming a reading specialist allows you to make a direct impact on students by helping them become confident, capable readers and writers. Reading specialists are experts in adapting literacy curricula, conducting assessments and using data to tailor instruction to individual student needs. Educators drawn to the vital link between reading and academic success may decide to pursue a reading specialist certificate or a degree with a reading focus. These professionals are often passionate about reading and eager to inspire that same love in their students while helping schools boost overall achievement.

Reading specialists may work in a variety of settings, including:⁴

Private and public K-12 schools, especially elementary schools
Private and public academic centers (e.g., tutoring centers)
Adult education centers
Continuing education centers
Community colleges

Teachers who wish to improve their own pedagogy may also consider becoming reading specialists. These programs may cover literacy skills that support student growth beyond basic language knowledge, including:

Phonemes
Phonics
Comprehension
Instructional strategies
Assessment
Educating diverse students and nonstandard English speakers
Creating a supportive literacy environment
School leadership skills

Are Reading Specialists in Need?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t track employment data for reading specialists specifically. However, based on illiteracy statistics in the U.S., reading specialists are an important aspect of improving skills in reading.⁵

According to the National Literacy Institute:

As of 2022, 21% of U.S. adults were illiterate.⁵
Approximately 40% of students across the nation cannot read at a basic level, as of 2023.⁶
As of 2023, 54% of adults have a literacy level below a sixth-grade level.⁵
46% to 51% of U.S. adults are below the poverty level at least in part because of their illiteracy, as of 2023.⁶

According to the National Literacy Institute, when children struggle to read in school and don’t receive the help they need, they will likely continue to struggle throughout their adult lives.⁵ Illiteracy not only inhibits overall academic progress but can also create problems in everyday life — from employment to health issues.⁵ Reading specialists can play an important role in helping children overcome barriers to their growth as readers.

How To Become a Reading Specialist

To become a reading specialist, all education teachers typically need a bachelor’s degree and a state-issued certification or license (including any state-specific requirements) to teach in a public or private school.⁷ A bachelor’s in education usually covers reading assessments, remediation strategies and literacy interventions for learning disorders like dyslexia.

Some states require teachers to earn a master’s degree after receiving their teaching certification and obtaining a job.⁷ Graduate-level education can help you dive deeper into teaching methodologies in general and reading interventions in particular.

GCU offers two graduate programs for licensed teachers: the Master of Arts in Reading Education K–12, aligned with ILA standards and the MA in Reading with an Emphasis in Elementary Education, focused on literacy strategies for younger students.

Additionally, practicum/field experience or student teaching hours may also be required (depending on your program) to gain hands-on experience working with students in real classroom settings.

Pursue a Reading Education Program at GCU

GCU aims to help prepare you to make a positive impact on the lives of others in their communities, whether through teaching or in other professions. If you would like more information about GCU’s education programs, visit our College of Education or fill out the form on this page to connect with a university counselor.

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If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the Accreditation and Compliance/State disclosures link for the specific program of interest’s website for your location and/or employment state licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c)

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¹ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). What Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers Do. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved March 27, 2025.

² Morphis, E. (2022, Nov. 17). Episode 3: What Is a Literacy Specialist? The Literacy Teacher’s Life. Retrieved March 27, 2025.

³ Indeed Editorial Team. (2025, Jan. 28). What Does a Reading Specialist Do? A Complete Career Guide. Indeed. Retrieved March 27, 2025.

⁴ Learn.org. (n.d.). Jobs for Reading Specialists: Career and Salary Facts. Retrieved March 27, 2025.

⁵ National Literacy Institute. (2022-2023). Literacy Statistics 2022-2023. Retrieved March 27, 2025.

⁶ National Literacy Institute. (2024-2025). Literacy Statistics 2024-2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.

⁷ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). How to Become a Kindergarten or Elementary School Teacher. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved March 27, 2025.

Approved and verified accurate by the Dean of the College of Education on May 27, 2025.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.