Credentials Office

Welcome to the Credentials Office at Pacific Oaks College. We are committed to supporting you in your journey to obtain your California Preliminary Teaching Credential. We encourage you to use this website as a resource and invite you to contact us to discuss your credential objectives in more detail.

Our services include:

processing student teaching applications and verifying eligibility;
obtaining student teaching placements for credential candidates;
evaluating credential progress and recommending candidates for preliminary teaching and intern credentials;
providing prospective and current credential candidates with advisement relating to credential requirements;
planning information sessions for prospective credential candidates and orientations for newly admitted credential candidates;
organizing events and activities for credential candidate outreach and recruitment;
administering and managing Teaching Performance Assessments (CalTPA) for the College;
organizing credential test preparation workshops;
providing mentor teachers with initial orientation to the program curriculum; and
coordinating student teaching and intern orientations.

Please note: AB2086 requires access to public information on the measures of the quality of California teacher preparation programs as it relates to license examination pass rates of completers in the most recent year and linked to the CCTC website. To comply with this requirement, Pacific Oaks College pass rate data can be viewed via the CTC dashboard. The most current Annual Report for the state can be found here.

Contact

Pacific Oaks College
45 Eureka Street
Pasadena, CA 91103

Ashley Gossett, M.A.Ed.
Professional Faculty, Credential Analyst

Please email for an appointment
[email protected]

Teacher Credentialing Programs

The School of Education offers preliminary multiple subject and education specialist teaching credentials. To review the curriculum and credential requirements for each of our teacher credentialing programs, please click on the links below. For information on how to apply, please contact the Admissions Team.

Join the Teacher Residency Program!

Pacific Oaks College, in partnership with AchieveKids, are offering a Teacher Residency Program with a grant to help students earn a Master’s in Education AND a Preliminary Education Specialist Teaching Credential!

Through the Teacher Residency Program, students earn a Master’s degree while continuing to work as a para educator at a partner organization or school. The Residency Program includes a mentored clinical experience with increasing levels of responsibility throughout the program. This grant includes direct tuition support along with a special grantee tuition rate at Pacific Oaks College.

Review the information below to learn more or please contact [email protected].

Current Advising Guides

B.A. Early Childhood Education: Elementary Education

(Includes preparation for the Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential)

B.A. Early Childhood Education: Elementary Education and Special Education

(Includes preparation for the Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and Education Specialist Instruction Credential: Mild/Moderate Disabilities)

M.A. Education: Special Education

(Includes preparation for the Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential: Mild/Moderate Disabilities)

M.A. Education: Elementary Education

(Includes preparation for the Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential)

Preliminary Education Specialist Credential

(Non-degree seeking option includes preparation for the Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential: Mild/Moderate Disabilities)

Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential

(Non-degree seeking option includes preparation for the Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential)

California Teaching Performance Assessment

As of July 2008, California statute (Chap. 517, Stats. 2006) requires all teacher candidates for a preliminary Multiple and Single Subject Teaching Credential to pass an assessment of their teaching performance with K-12 public school students as part of the requirements for earning a teaching credential. This assessment of teaching performance is designed to measure the candidate’s knowledge, skills, and ability with relation to California's Teaching Performance Expectations (TPEs), including demonstrating his or her ability to appropriately instruct all K-12 students in the Student Academic Content Standards. All candidates who start a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC)approved multiple and single subject teacher preparation program as of July 1, 2008, must meet the teaching performance assessment requirement.

Since Fall 2018, the state has used a revised Teaching Performance Assessment (CalTPA) model that aligns with the TPEs adopted in June 2016. Per the CCTC, any candidate starting a program after July 1, 2018, will be required to take the revised CalTPA. The revised CalTPA is structured around two instructional cycles based on the pedagogical sequence of plan, teach and assess, reflect, and apply. Candidates are expected to respond to the instructional cycles within the context of their teaching assignments; therefore, both CalTPA Cycles should be completed during student teaching or an intern placement.

Teacher candidates must register for each CalTPA Cycle during their student teaching or intern seminar courses:

CalTPA Cycle	Course
CalTPA Instructional Cycle 1: Learning About Students and Planning Instruction	ED 700, SPED 391, ED 393, SPED 591, ED 593
CalTPA Instructional Cycle 2: Assessment-Driven Instruction	ED 701, SPED 392, ED 394, SPED 592, ED 594

CalTPA General Information
There are two CalTPA Cycles: Cycle 1 focuses on planning that is grounded in the assets and learning needs of K-12 students, state content standards, and English Language Development (ELD) standards. Cycle 2 focuses on a learning segment where informal assessments, a student self-assessment, and a formal assessment must be integrated.
No CalTPA Cycles are required prior to student teaching or intern credential.
Both CalTPA Cycles must be completed during student teaching or intern placement.
CalTPA enrollment and scoring is managed by Pearson, the same company that administers the CBEST, CSET, and RICA. You can register for the CalTPA by navigating to this hyperlink and scrolling to the bottom.
After registering for the CalTPA, you will obtain access to all CalTPA templates and can start taking the assessment. The assessment requires that candidates complete a series of narrative templates and upload lesson resources, student work samples, and video clips that include the candidate teaching in his or her student teaching or intern assignment.
The fee for the CalTPA is $300 ($150 per cycle).
If candidates do not pass Cycle 1 or Cycle 2 of the CalTPA, they must first go through remediation and then retake the cycle. To learn more about remediation, please contact the Credentials Office. There is no limit to the number of times that a candidate can register for the CalTPA; however, please note that each time it is taken there is a $150 fee.

CalTPA Candidate Support
General overview and templates (unannotated)	Candidates have access to the CalTPA overview and all templates; however, you must register for the CalTPA online in order to review the actual materials that will be submitted to Pearson.
Sample parental consent form	If your assigned student teaching or intern school site requires parental consent forms for filming your CalTPA lessons, you may adapt or use this form.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)	If you have questions, please review the FAQ. If you do not see your question in the FAQ, please contact Dr. Soodjinda at [email protected].

Updated February 2021

New CTC guidelines re: CBEST and CSET

A new Assembly Bill (AB 130) was passed on July 9, 2021 allowing for credential candidates to meet the Subject Matter and Basic Skills Requirements via new options. Please read more information below. If you would like to read the most recent language from the CTC regarding the Bill, please see the webpage HERE.

New Basic Skills Requirement Options

There are several ways to meet the basic skills requirement (you can read about those HERE), but the newest potential way to meet this requirement is via collegiate-level coursework.

The coursework must meet the following requirements:

Earn a grade of “B” or better (B- is acceptable) in the following subject areas:
- Reading
  - Including courses in critical thinking, literature, philosophy, reading, rhetoric, or textual analysis
- Writing
  - Including courses in composition, English, rhetoric, written communications, or writing
- Mathematics
  - Including courses in geometry, mathematics, quantitative reasoning, or statistics

*Preparation programs can accept other courses if the registrar or relevant academic department chair where the course was completed provides written communication stating the course content satisfies the basic skills content of reading, writing, and/or mathematics. It is the responsibility of the student to request this letter from the institution.

**A course may satisfy more than one of area of the basic skills requirement so long as the registrar or relevant academic department chair provides written documentation that the course includes more than one subject area outlined in the criteria above.

Have been taken at a regionally accredited college or university
Must be 3 semester units (or equivalent quarter units)
Must be taken for academic credit (earned units)
Must be degree applicable (AA degree applicable is okay)

The following coursework is NOT acceptable:

Professional development or continuing education units
In-service training or workshops
Courses where credits do not apply toward the requirements of an Associate degree, Baccalaureate degree, or higher degree

All transcript evaluations are done by the Registrar Department in conjunction with the School of Education. Please note, once requested, the evaluations can take 2-4 weeks to complete. If you are a prospective student, please reach out to your Admissions Counselor for more information. If you are a current student inquiring about your transcript review, please email [email protected].

New Subject Matter Requirement Options

Usually students take and pass the CSET examination to fulfill the subject matter requirement. However, the new Bill allows for subject-relevant coursework that meets or exceeds the CTC’s subject matter requirements to work in lieu of the CSET requirements (see PSA 21-10 HERE).

The degree options for satisfying the CSET must meet the following requirements (degree must exactly match one of the identified majors below):

For Multiple Subject candidates: Liberal Studies degrees as well as Liberal Studies degrees that include any focus or concentration in the title. Examples include, but are not limited to, Liberal Studies: Urban Education and Liberal Studies: Elementary Education.
For Education Specialist credentials, the major must meet the Multiple Subject requirements or be in a subject aligned to authorized CSET examination content areas used for a Single Subject credential (see below)
- Single Subject candidates: The major must be an exact degree/credential subject match in one of the subjects named in Education Code section 44257(a). These subjects are:
  - Agriculture
  - Art
  - Business
  - Dance
  - English
  - World Language (in any of the languages for which there is a credential)
  - Health Science
  - Home Economics
  - Industrial and Technology Education
  - Mathematics
  - Music
  - Physical Education
  - Science (including Biology, Chemistry, Geoscience or Earth and Space Science, and Physics)
  - Social Science
  - Theater
  - At this time, the Commission will also accept applied majors in the single subject credential areas (e.g., Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics) and exact majors in one of the single subject areas that may have additional modifiers (e.g., Biology: Environmental Biology; Art: Art History; and Physical Education: Kinesiology).

Student Teaching (Traditional Pathway)

Student teaching is the culminating field experience in Pacific Oaks’ preliminary credential programs. It is performed during the final semester once all other coursework has been scheduled for completion. Student teaching is full-time and typically unpaid. Thanks to a grant from the Fletcher Jones Foundation, credential students at Pacific Oaks College are eligible to receive a stipend of $1200 during their student teaching semester. Students must be in student teaching in order to qualify.

Credential candidates must have met all of the following pre-requisites in order to advance to student teaching:

receive faculty advisor approval to student teach
satisfy the basic skills requirement
obtain a valid Certificate of Clearance or any other California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)-issued permit
obtain a valid negative TB Test
demonstrate subject matter competence with passing CSET scores (#101, #102/214, 103)
maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above
show proof of at least one RICA attempt (does not need to be a passing score, but needs to be attempted at least once)
verify completion of infant, child, adult CPR certification
verify completion of the US Constitution requirement (see more details)
submit a Student Teaching Application by the appropriate deadline
complete an interview with the fieldwork team.

Student Teaching Application Deadlines for Pacific Oaks Students

To Student Teach During	Apply By	Testing Requirements
Fall Semester	March 1 (Please do not submit your application prior to February 15th)	Teacher candidates must have official passing CSET scores in hand by March 1. Please plan your test dates accordingly.
Spring Semester	October 1 (Please do not submit your application prior to September 15th)	Teacher candidates must have official passing CSET scores in hand by October 1. Please plan your test dates accordingly.

The student teaching application can be found HERE and should be filled out no later than the above deadlines. Only complete applications will be accepted. A complete application is one in which all prerequisite examinations and credential items have been turned in to the credential analyst. Applications that are missing credential items or exam scores will not be considered. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Student Teaching Applications

2021-2022 Student Teaching Application for all Credential Programs

Student Teaching Handbook

Multiple Subject and Education Specialist Credential Student Teaching Handbook

Student Teaching (Traditional Pathway) FAQs

What is the traditional pathway?

A traditional preliminary credential program consists of three parts: 1) Program and credential coursework 2) Credential items (i.e. California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) requirements) and 3) Student teaching. The student teaching portion includes a full-time placement, which is typically unpaid. Faculty advisors serve as the primary resource for part one, whereas the credential analyst should be contacted for questions pertaining to parts two and three.

When can I student teach?

Student teaching is the culminating field experience in the credential program. Candidates will be ready to student teach once all other coursework is scheduled for completion and the credential prerequisites have been met.

How long is student teaching?

All credential candidates must student teach for a minimum of 600 hours, with a recommended 150 additional hours for candidates seeking a preliminary dual (multiple subject and mild/moderate education specialist) credential. Candidates are expected to maintain the same hours as the teacher of record (i.e., the mentor teacher). Student teaching placements will begin on the first day of the district’s instructional calendar.

Do I need to find my own student teaching placement?

No, Pacific Oaks College’s credential analyst works directly with school districts and/or sites to secure student teaching placements for candidates. Self-placement is not allowed.

Can I student teach at the private school in which I currently work?

Yes, if you are currently the teacher of record in a self-contained classroom (grades K-12, but generally grades K-6), then you may be able to complete your student teaching hours in that classroom. Prior to approving private school placements, the teacher credentialing program must review the demographics of the school to ensure that it is a "diverse school setting" that reflects California’s public schools. All candidates, including those placed in private schools, must complete 600 hours of supervised student teaching. If the private school does not meet the diversity requirements, then 150 hours of the required 600 hours must be completed in a diverse school setting (i.e. public or charter school). In addition, the private school must be accredited.

Intern Credential (Alternative Pathway)

The Intern Credential is an alternative route for candidates in graduate-level programs to obtain a Preliminary Teaching Credential. The Intern Credential allows candidates to complete their teacher preparation coursework concurrent with their first year or two in a paid teaching position. If the district has a teaching vacancy they cannot fill with a credentialed teacher, then a qualified preliminary credential candidate may be hired as an intern teacher. Intern teachers receive a full salary and benefits. In order to become eligible for an intern credential, candidates must meet the following pre-requisites and have a pending job offer at a public, charter, or nonpublic school. Nonpublic schools are private, nonsectarian and certified by the state of California to provide special education services to students based on their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Intern credentials are site-specific and cannot be issued for intern placements at private schools, unless they fall in the nonpublic category. The Credentials Office recommends candidates for intern credentials on a rolling basis throughout the academic year.

Candidates must have met all of the following pre-requisites in order to become intern eligible:

hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution with official transcript on file
satisfy the basic skills requirement
submit a valid Certificate of Clearance or any other valid California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)‐issued permit
verify completion of U.S. Constitution requirement
fulfill 120-hour pre‐service requirement through the following coursework:
- ED 530 – Methods of Teaching Language and Literacy in a Diverse Classroom
- ED 531 - Teaching and Learning Methodologies for English Language Development
- SPED 563 – Teaching Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities: Creating Inclusive Learning Environments
demonstrate subject matter competence with passing CSET scores (#101, #102/214, 103)
maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (grades of “D” and “X” are not accepted)
submit a valid TB Test (skin tests are valid for 4 years, chest x-rays are valid for 8 years)
show proof of at least one RICA attempt (does not need to be a passing score, but needs to be attempted at least once)

For questions, please contact [email protected].

Intern Application Request Form

Intern Handbook

Intern Credential Handbook

Intern Credential (Alternative Pathway) FAQs

When can I become eligible for an internship?

Candidates can become intern eligible as early as the start of their second semester at Pacific Oaks, but this is entirely dependent on how quickly they can complete their pre-requisites and obtain an intern position. Candidates should connect with the credential analyst as soon as possible to express their intent to become intern eligible. The credential analyst will work closely with the candidate to ensure they are meeting their intern pre-requisites.

How do I find an internship?

School districts, charter schools and county offices of education often post positions on job boards or EdJoin; private schools are not state-eligible to host intern teachers. Pacific Oaks does not facilitate intern placements.

Do I have to student teach if I am an intern?

The internship counts toward student teaching hours. During the internship, candidates will need to maintain a time log. When it comes time to recommend candidates for their preliminary credential, the time log serves as evidence that the candidate has completed the required student teaching hours.

I’ve met all of the intern pre-requisites and I have an intern job offer. Now what?

Pacific Oaks will conduct a short interview and schedule an orientation session with the candidate and their employer. The credential analyst will then recommend the candidate to the CTC for an intern credential. If the intern credential is approved, the candidate will be assigned two support providers— one from the district (i.e., mentor teacher) and the other from Pacific Oaks (i.e., fieldwork supervisor). An intern credential is valid for two years, during which time the candidate must complete all of his/her coursework and credential items in order to be recommended for his/her preliminary teaching credential.

Credential Recommendation Process for Pacific Oaks College Students

The following credential items must be completed and on file with the Pacific Oaks College Credentials Office in order to be recommended to the state of California for a Preliminary Teaching Credential:

bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution with official transcript on file;
completion of basic skills requirement;
Certificate of Clearance or any other valid California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)‐issued permit;
valid negative TB test;
completion of U.S. Constitution requirement;
passing CSET: Multiple Subjects scores (#101, #102/214, 103); ;
certification of infant/child/adult CPR training; and
passing RICA scores.

In addition to the above, Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential candidates must complete two California Teaching Performance Assessments (CalTPAs).

Instructional Cycle 1: Learning About Students and Planning Instruction
Instructional Cycle 2: Assessment-Driven Instruction

All credential items must be valid at the time of credential recommendation.

Click HERE to complete a Credential Recommendation Application. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

At the end of the student teaching semester, the teacher candidate’s faculty advisor and the credential analyst will evaluate the candidate’s degree and credential requirements. If all requirements have been met, the credential analyst will recommend the candidate to the CTC for his/her credential. If there are outstanding credential requirements that have not been met, the credential analyst will notify the teacher candidate. Upon credential recommendation, the CTC will send the teacher candidate an email prompting payment. Payments are made directly to the CTC. Teacher candidates cannot receive their credential until they have paid for it on the CTC website. Once completed, candidates will be in the CTC database and listed publicly as a preliminary credential holder. All initial California teaching credentials are known as "preliminary." Candidates have five years to “clear” their credential. Some school districts will provide support but it is the candidate’s responsibility to fulfill the requirements to clear his/her credential within the allotted timeframe.

Support for Credential Students

Pacific Oaks College’s School of Education provides faculty advisors to prospective and current credential students. Please contact the appropriate faculty advisor based on your credential program.

Faculty Advisor	Assigned Credentials
Dr. Jerell Hill	Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
Dr. Marsha Swindler	Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential Preliminary Dual (Education Specialist and Multiple Subject) Credential
Dr. Catherine Walter (All Northern California credential candidates)	Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential Preliminary Dual (Education Specialist and Multiple Subject)

A faculty advisor provides a proactive review of a student’s progress and addresses specific academic questions and/or concerns.

Please contact your faculty advisor if you require support with any of the following:

faculty and classroom concerns within the program;
matriculation plans and/or course mapping;
reviewing student grades and past academic performance;
discussing personal concerns that affect academic and professional progress;
skills assessment (if applicable);
course substitutions;
transcript evaluations to determine credential course equivalencies;
questions related to California teaching standards;
career planning in relation to past experiences, present needs, and future professional goals;
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) linked to job/career path; and
petition approval (as needed).

Please contact the Pacific Oaks credential analyst for any questions related to:

CBEST, CSET, RICA test preparation workshops and resources;
CalTPA workshops, enrollment, and scoring;
Student teaching applications and placement;
Credential requirements and California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) policies;
Intern credential eligibility and pre-requisites; and
Intern and preliminary credential recommendation.

Resources

Through Pacific Oaks College:

Certificate of Clearance:

Certificate of Clearance Informational Flier

Government Resources:

External Resources:

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to take the CBEST?

The CBEST exam is the most common way to meet the Basic Skills Requirement; however, there are others ways to satisfy this requirement. See Commission leaflet CL-667, entitled Basic Skills Requirement, for additional information.

Do I need to have a bachelor’s degree to earn a Preliminary Teaching Credential?

All California public school teachers must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in order to earn a teaching credential. Pacific Oaks College has several “blended” programs that allow candidates to complete an undergraduate degree and credential simultaneously – saving Pacific Oaks students time and money over students who pursue a bachelor’s degree followed by a credentialing program. For additional information regarding these programs please contact the Pacific Oaks Admissions department.

What is a TPA?

Effective July 1, 2008, state law (SB 2042; SB 1209) and Education Code (44320.2) mandate that teacher preparation programs implement a teaching performance assessment in addition to all other program and state requirements. The Preliminary Multiple Subject credential program has adopted the California Teaching Performance Assessment (CalTPA), administered through Taskstream, as its assessment. Similar to the CBEST, CSET or RICA, the CalTPA is a state-mandated exam. For more information on how Pacific Oaks College administers and evaluates the CalTPA Task model, please click here. Starting July 1, 2018, candidates enrolling in Pacific Oaks College’s Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential program will take the revised CalTPA Cycle model.

Does Pacific Oaks provide exam support?

The Pacific Oaks School of Education provides CBEST, CSET, RICA, and TPA workshops throughout the academic year. All credential exam preparation workshops, with the exception of TPA workshops, are advertised on Pacific Oaks College’s Events page and in the Resources tab of the Credentials Office site. Unlike other assessments, which require self-enrollment, TPA enrollment is managed by the Credentials Office. Credential students will be enrolled in each of the four TPA tasks at specific points in the program, and receive an email from the Credentials Office notifying them of their enrollment as well as the deadline for completion. TPA workshop information will also be provided in that email. Students must honor the TPA deadlines that are set.

How do I clear my credential?

Individuals holding a Preliminary Teaching Credential are required to clear their credential within five years of the issuance date on the credential. The most common way to clear a credential is to enroll in a Commission-approved induction program that is sponsored by, or that is in partnership with, the employing school district or county office of education. speak with a district representative for additional information. Unfortunately, at this time, Pacific Oaks College does not offer an induction program.

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) provides comprehensive information on how preliminary credential holders can upgrade their credential to clear status. We encourage students to review the information contained in the links below.

Options for Earning a Multiple Subject Clear Teaching Credential

Options for Earning an Education Specialist Clear Teaching Credential

What grade levels can I teach with a Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential versus a Preliminary Education Specialist Credential?

The Multiple Subject Teaching Credential authorizes the holder to teach all subjects in a self-contained classroom, such as classrooms in most elementary schools, in grades preschool, TK-12, or in classes organized primarily for adults. Most typically, however, multiple subject teachers work in elementary classrooms (K-6).

The Preliminary Education Specialist Credential (Mild/Moderate Disabilities) authorizes the holder to teach in grades K-12 and up to the age of 22.

What does “self-contained” mean?

Per the CTC, a self-contained classroom is one in which all, or most, subjects are taught to a group of children by the same teacher. Most elementary schools organize their classrooms in such a manner.

What does “Mild/Moderate” mean?

The Preliminary Education Specialist Credential with a specialization in Mild/Moderate disabilities authorizes the holder to teach students with autism, emotional disturbance, specific learning, mild to moderate intellectual, and other health impairments in grades K-12 and through age 22.

Student Teaching (Traditional Pathway) FAQs

What is the traditional pathway?

When can I student teach?

How long is student teaching?

Do I need to find my own student teaching placement?

No, Pacific Oaks College’s credential analyst works directly with school districts and/or sites to secure student teaching placements for candidates. Self-placement is not allowed.

Can I get paid to student teach?

To accommodate candidates for whom the traditional student teaching route would impose an undue hardship, the School of Education will consider long term substitute assignments in lieu of unpaid student teaching. Only Short-Term Staff Permits (STSP) or long term substitute permits are acceptable, and the assignment must span the entire student teaching semester. Furthermore, the assignment must be in a classroom that is appropriate for the credential being sought.

A substitute position in which the candidate is employed on a 30-day sub permit does not qualify.

In order for a long term substitute assignment to potentially meet the student teaching requirement, a candidate a) must be eligible to enter the student teaching portion of the program, b) complete an interview with the School of Education, and c) obtain permission from the associate dean.

intern credential program is also an option for eligible candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

Can I student teach at the private school in which I currently work?

Candidates who are currently the teacher of record in self-contained classrooms (grades K-12, but generally grades K-6), may be able to complete their student teaching hours in their current assignment. Prior to approving private school placements, the teacher credentialing program must review the demographics of the school to ensure that it is a “diverse school setting” that reflects California’s public schools. All candidates, including those placed in private schools, must complete 600 hours of supervised student teaching. If the private school does not meet the diversity requirements, then 150 hours of the required 600 hours must be completed in diverse school setting (i.e. public or charter school). In addition, the private school must be accredited.

Intern Credential (Alternative Pathway) FAQs

When can I become eligible for an internship?

How do I find an internship?

Do I have to student teach if I am an intern?

The internship counts towards student teaching hours. During the internship, candidates will need to maintain a time log. When it comes time to recommend candidates for their preliminary credential, the time log serves as evidence that the candidate has completed the required student teaching hours.

I’ve met all of the intern pre-requisites and I have an intern job offer. Now what?

Pacific Oaks will conduct a short interview and schedule an orientation session with candidates and their employer. The credential analyst will then recommend candidates to the CTC for an intern credential. If the intern credential is approved, candidates will be assigned two support providers— one from the district (i.e., mentor teacher) and the other from Pacific Oaks College (i.e., fieldwork supervisor). An intern credential is valid for two years, during which time candidates must complete all of their coursework and credential items in order to be recommended for their preliminary teaching credential.