Education Specialist Credential Program

Preliminary Credential

Successful completion of the Education Specialist Credential Program leads to the Preliminary Credential, which is valid for five years. Requirements for the Preliminary Credential are:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution within the U.S. or equivalent.
• Satisfy the U. S. Constitution requirement (POSC 100  or POSC 391  or equivalent course from another institution or exam).
• Complete the Basic Skills Requirement
• Hold a valid Certificate of Clearance (CTC fingerprint clearance).
• Demonstrate Level I computer technology competence.
• Demonstrate subject matter competence.
• Complete professional preparation courses (for the ESCP) with a grade point average of 3.0 in all subject specific pedagogy (methods) courses with no grade lower than “C.”
• Successfully complete student teaching (final fieldwork).
• Pass the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) exam.
• Hold valid CPR certification that covers infant, child and adult CPR skills.

Admission to the University

Admission to the university and admission to the Education Specialist Credential Program (ESCP) are two separate processes. Applications to the university are made online through Cal State Apply (www.calstate.edu/apply). Graduating seniors, transfer students, and returning students should apply for post-baccalaureate admission to the university with the objective of entering the credential program. Tips on how to apply to the university as a post-baccalaureate student to pursue the credential program can be found on the website at www.csulb.edu/escp. Admission to the university does not constitute admission to the program.

Admission to the Program

Matriculated students may be admitted to the program based on their current undergraduate or graduate status. Pre-program advisement is available in the Teacher Preparation Advising Center (EED-67). Prospective candidates are encouraged to attend a program information meeting (see schedule at www.csulb.edu/escp). The program application can be obtained from the website at www.csulb.edu/escp. Application for admission to the Education Specialist Credential Program (ESCP) must be made the semester before beginning the program core courses. Students may apply to the program while taking prerequisite courses. Application submission directions can be found on the website at https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-education/special-education-credential-program-escp/program-admission

Program Admission Requirements

• Successful completion of prerequisite courses with C or better. Conditional admission considered with three of the five prerequisite courses (one of which must be EDSP 454 ).
• Attain a grade point average of at least 2.67 in all baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate course work or a grade point average of at least 2.75 in the last 60-semester or 90-quarter units.
• Complete and pass a group interview with program faculty.
• Submit two recommendation forms from individuals who are well acquainted with your educational training, relevant teaching, and other related experiences. Recommendation forms are confidential and must be submitted following directions per the application. 
• Provide documentation of a structured field experience of at least 45 hours in a K-12 general education classroom setting.
• Submit a typed personal essay describing how your interest in special education began; your short term and long-term career goals; and how the programs goals fit your personal goals.
• Submit a negative tuberculosis skin test taken within the last four (4) years or chest x-ray taken within the last eight (8) years. Tuberculosis clearance must be valid through student teaching.
• Submit one copy of unofficial transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended.
• Submit proof of meeting the Basic Skills Requirement.
• Submit proof of having demonstrated subject matter competence by passing all three subtests of the California Subject Examinations for Teachers Multiple Subjects (CSET: Multiple Subject) or the appropriate single subject CSET exam in Math, Science, Social Science or English or through completion of a CTC approved subject matter waiver program for Elementary Subject Matter or secondary Math, Science, Social Science or English.”
• Submit proof of a valid Certificate of Clearance or a valid 30-Day Substitute permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate orally in English at the level required of public school teachers by demonstration of English production skills in the course EDSP 454  and through an oral interview with department faculty.
• Demonstrate professional educator dispositions that satisfy the standards of the teaching profession and suitable aptitude for teaching in public schools through the application documentation, the group interview, and performance in the EDSP 454  course. Candidates must continue to demonstrate appropriate dispositions through completion of the program.
• Submit a complete application packet by April 1st to begin core courses in summer, June 1st to begin core courses in fall, OR by November 1st to begin core courses in winter or spring. Applications will be accepted after the deadline on a space available basis.

Applicants will be informed by email of the decision of the program faculty regarding program admission. Upon acceptance, the candidate is required to attend a mandatory advisement meeting to create their Advisement Plan and receive permission to enroll in EDSP, EDEL and ED P program core courses.

Clinical Practice Fieldwork

Candidates are required to complete clinical fieldwork hours in public school classrooms for most of the prerequisite and core program courses. Prior to beginning fieldwork for prerequisite or core courses all students must have character clearance (Certificate of Clearance or 30 Day Sub Permit) from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and a valid TB Test. All fieldwork must be completed in a school in which CSULB has a current Affiliation Agreement on file. For more information on fieldwork requirements, and for a list of sites in which CSULB has an Affiliation Agreement with, visit the Office of Clinical Practice website at www.csulb.edu/ocp.

Application and Admission to the Intern Pathway

The Education Specialist Credential Program Internship Pathway (ESIP) is available for candidates that are admitted to the Education Specialist Credential Program, have completed the requirements to be eligible for an internship that are listed below and have been offered full time employment in a public-school district in which CSULB has an approved Internship Agreement on file. Positions must be approved by the Intern Program Coordinator. 

To be eligible for an internship, ESCP Candidates must have met ALL of the following requirement in addition to the program admission requirements:

• Bachelors degree from a US accredited institution or equivalent
• Have an offer of full time employment in a school district within the CSULB service area in which CSULB has a current agreement on file.
• Be fully admitted to the Education Specialist Credential Program and remain in good standing with the program. 
• Be a matriculated CSULB student and enroll in EDSP 586 each semester as an active intern with the exception of the semester/s enrolled in final fieldwork (student teaching).
• Have passed the CSET or have completed an approved Subject Matter Waiver Program
• Have completed the Basic Skills Requirement
• Have completed the US Constitution Requirement
• Have completed all five (5) pre-requisite courses

Intern Application Guidelines and application materials are available in the Teacher Preparation Advising Center (TPAC) EED-67. A list of districts with which the program has intern contractual agreements is available on the ESCP and the Office of Clinical Practices website.

Requirements for the ESCP and ESIP

To be considered for full admission in the ESCP and ESIP programs, candidates must complete all prerequisite courses (13 units):

Advanced Final Fieldwork (Student Teaching) Requirements for the ESCP and ESIP

The final phase of the ESCP and ESIP programs is advanced final fieldwork (student teaching). Candidates are required to student teach for 4 days a week for the length of the semesters that they are enrolled in advanced field work courses and use the 5^th day of each week for program/site directed clinical experiences. ESCP candidates’ student teach as a traditional student teacher under the direction of a master teacher. ESIP candidates use their own K-12 special education classroom setting in which they are the teacher of record as their advanced fieldwork placement. A separate application is required for advanced fieldwork (student teaching). Applications for advanced fieldwork must be submitted by the posted deadlines during the semester prior to which the candidate wishes to student teach. Applications are available on the program website. Upon notification of acceptance to advanced field work, candidates register for Advanced Field Work: EDSP 587A  & EDSP 587B  or EDSP 588A  & EDSP 588B .

To be eligible for advanced fieldwork (student teaching), candidates must:

• Pass all parts of the CSET exam, or have an approved subject matter waiver letter.
• Have completed the basic skills requirement.
• Complete all program prerequisite and core courses with a 3.0 grade point average.
• Have on file a negative tuberculosis skin test or chest X-ray valid through completion of student teaching.
• Submit proof of a valid Certificate of Clearance or a valid 30-Day Substitute permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
• Submit a complete student teaching application by the appropriate deadline: October 1 for spring student teaching; March 15 for fall student teaching.

Clear Credential

The Preliminary credential is valid for five years from the date of issuance and is not renewable. During the first five years of teaching, teachers earn the Clear Credential through their District-Sponsored Induction Program.

Petition Process

Appeals to program decisions or requests for policy waivers are made by filing a written appeal to the program appeals committee. The committee reviews the written statement and supporting evidence. After the review, the committee renders its final decision. Examples of petitionable policies are: the minimum grade point average required for program admission, waiving the deadline for submission of a test score, waiving an application deadline, completing all program courses prior to student teaching, readmission to student teaching, and course equivalencies. Consult the program website for a full list of program policies. Students follow university procedures (available elsewhere in this Catalog) to appeal a course final grade.