Internship Partnership with Service Area School Districts for Preliminary Mild to Moderate Support Needs and/or Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Program

Program of Study

This Intern Partnership Option prepares teachers in advanced skills to instruct students in grades K through 12 and adults with identified disabilities while working as a special educator. Admission requirements for the program are the same as those described for the Preliminary Mild to Moderate Support Needs and Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Program.

Intern Eligibility

Eligibility for intern teaching in this program includes the following:

• Valid California basic (Multiple or Single Subject) teaching credential
• Bachelor’s degree as evidenced by official transcripts verifying awarding of bachelor’s degree
• Completed U.S. Constitution requirement
• Basic Skills Examination
• Subject Matter Competency
• Tuberculin Risk Assessment
• California Authorization to Instruct English Learners
• Continuous enrollment and successful progress in program coursework and Education Specialist Teaching Performance Expectations. Failure to enroll in coursework without prior consultation and approval from the College of Education, Health and Human Services Student Services and program coordinator may lead to cancellation of the internship credential.

Candidates in this internship option must also apply with and be selected for employment as an intern with a partnering school or school district. Subject matter competency and individual requirements for out-of-state trained teachers may be required. Contact the College of Education, Health, and Human Services (CEHHS) Student Services Office for details (760) 750-4277.

The Preliminary Mild to Moderate Support Needs Education Specialist Instruction Credential authorizes instruction of students with mild to moderate support needs with a primary disability of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emotional Disturbance, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment (e.g. Attention Deficit Disorder), Specific Learning Disability, or Traumatic Brain Injury. The Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Credential authorizes instruction of students with extensive support needs with a primary disability of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Deaf-Blindness, Emotional Disturbance, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment (e.g. Attention Deficit Disorder), Specific Learning Disability, or Traumatic Brain Injury. All credentials authorize instruction of English learners.

The program provides the option to obtain a Master of Arts in Special Education degree. See the Master of Arts in Special Education  program description for application information, and courses and clinical practice that may be applied toward the master’s degree.

TPA and TPE Assessment

All candidates entering programs that result in the issuance of a Multiple or Single-Subject, and/or Education Specialist Credential must pass all Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA) assessments before an online recommendation for the credential can be submitted to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) by the College of Education, Health and Human Services (CEHHS) Student Services Office.

All candidates entering programs that result in the issuance of a Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential must demonstrate satisfactory performance through coursework and verified clinical practice on the full range of Preliminary Education Specialist Teaching Performance Expectations and develop a written Individualized Induction Plan (IIP) for use in the candidate’s Clear Credential Program.

Clear Credential Requirements

All teachers holding a Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential must clear the credential within five years of credential issuance by obtaining a Clear Education Specialist Instruction Credential. An essential clearing requirement is the development of a written Individualized Induction Plan (IIP) of supported induction and job-related advanced professional preparation approved and signed by the clear credential candidate, an employer designee, and a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) approved clear credential program sponsor (e.g., district, university, County Office of Education induction program). See the CCTC website for currently approved clear credential sponsors.

Program Coursework

Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Internship Total (15-22 Units)