Provisional Internship Permit (CL-856)

The Provisional Internship Permit (PIP) was created in response to the phasing out of emergency permits and became effective on July 1, 2005. It allows an employing agency to fill an immediate staffing need by hiring an individual who has not yet met the subject matter competence requirement needed to enter an intern program. Prior to requesting a PIP, the employing agency must verify that a diligent search has been made, and a fully-credentialed teacher cannot be found.

The PIP is only available at the request of an employing agency. Individuals may not apply directly to the Commission for this document. Holders of the PIP are restricted to service with the employing agency requesting the permit. An employing agency is defined as a California public school district, county office of education, nonpublic, nonsectarian school and agency as defined in Education Code sections 56365 and 56366, charter school, or statewide agency.

Requirements for Issuance

1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally-accredited college or university. Subject Matter Competence cannot be met by degree major.
2. Satisfy the basic skills requirement. See Commission leaflet CL-667, entitled Basic Skills Requirement for additional information.
3. Successful completion of course work for the permit type requested, as specified below:

Single Subject: 

At least 18 semester units, or 9 upper division semester units, of course work in the subject to be listed on the permit [1].

For a permit in one of the science subjects, at least nine semester units must be in the specific science area.
For a permit in Foundational-Level General Science, an individual has to verify 18 semester units (or nine upper division semester units) across the four science areas of biological science, chemistry, geosciences, and physics. A minimum of one course in each of the four areas is required.

Note[1]: Individuals who were previously issued an emergency permit in the same subject area of the requested PIP will not be required to submit verification of this requirement. If the subject matter requirement for the emergency permit was met by passage of all appropriate subject matter examinations or degree major, the individual will not qualify for the PIP.

The statutory subjects available for Single Subject Provisional Internship Permit are as follows:

Multiple Subject:

At least 40 semester units including 10 semester units of course work in each of at least four of the following subject areas or at least 10 semester units of course work in each of three of the subject areas and an additional 10 semester units in a combination of two of the remaining subject areas [2]. Subject areas include language studies, history, literature, humanities, mathematics, the arts, science, physical education, social science, and human development. If the subject matter requirement for the emergency permit was met by passage of all appropriate subject matter examinations or degree major, the individual will not qualify for the PIP.

Education Specialist:

Complete the requirements for the Single Subject or Multiple Subject as listed above, or verify a minimum of three years of successful full-time classroom experience, or the equivalent in part-time experience, working with special education students (experience as an aide is acceptable) or verify a minimum of nine semester units of course work in special education or in a combination of special education and general education [2].

Note[2]: Individuals who were previously issued an emergency permit in the same subject area of the requested PIP will not be required to submit verification of this requirement. If the subject matter requirement for the emergency permit was met by passage of all appropriate subject matter examinations or degree major, the individual will not qualify for the PIP.

Areas of specialization for the Education Specialist PIP include:

The PIP may not be issued in the specialty area of Early Childhood Special Education alone as subject
matter competence is not required for the issuance of a credential.

All course work must meet the following criteria:

• Must be completed at a regionally-accredited college or university.
• Must be baccalaureate degree-applicable (non-remedial).
• Must be earned with a “C” grade or higher (“Pass” and “Credit” grades meet this requirement).

* Note: Individuals who were previously issued an emergency permit in the same subject area of the requested PIP will not be required to submit verification of this requirement. If the subject matter requirement for the emergency permit was met by passage of all appropriate subject matter examinations or degree major, the individual will not qualify for the PIP.

4. The employing agency must verify all of the following on the form entitled Verification of Requirements for the Provisional Internship Permit (form CL-857) with each request for the Provisional Internship Permit:
   • A diligent search has been conducted for a suitable credentialed teacher or suitable qualified intern teacher. Diligent search must include, but is not limited to, distributing job announcements, contacting college and university placement centers, and advertising in print or electronic media. Copies of all recruitment efforts must be retained by employing agency, but do not need to be submitted to the Commission.
   • The employer has provided orientation, guidance and assistance to the permit holder.
   • The employing agency will assist the permit holder in developing a personalized plan through an agency-defined assessment that would lead to meeting subject matter competence related to the permit.
   • The employing agency will assist the permit holder to seek and enroll in subject matter training, such as workshops or seminars and site-based courses along with training in test-taking strategies and will assist the permit holder in meeting subject matter competence related to the permit.
   • The candidate has been apprised of steps to earn a credential and enroll in an intern program.
   • The employing agency will ensure a notice of intent to employ the applicant in the identified position has been made.

Public school districts must present this notice to the governing board in a public meeting with a signed statement from the superintendent, or his or her designee, and verification that the item was acted upon favorably. A copy of the agenda item must be submitted with the application packet.

County offices of education, nonpublic, nonsectarian schools and agencies as defined in Education Code sections 56365 and 56366, statewide agencies, and charter schools must submit a copy of the dated public notice that was posted 72 hours prior to the position being filled.

5. Completed application (form 41-4), processing fee, CL-857, a copy of the agenda item or a copy of the public notice and if not previously submitted, a completed Live Scan receipt (form 41-LS).

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One-Time Renewal:

For a PIP initially issued before October 1, 2013, the employing agency may request a one-time only renewal if the holder has taken but not passed all the subject matter examinations or earned a degree major appropriate to the credential that authorizes the service listed on the permit [3]. The holder of an Education Specialist PIP must take all appropriate subject matter examinations or earned a degree major as determined appropriate by the recommending college or university. The renewal packet should include an application (form 41-4), a new Verification of Requirements for the Provisional Internship Permit (form CL-857) including all appropriate documentation, and current processing fee.

If the holder has met subject matter competence, they should contact a California college or university or school district with a Commission-approved intern program regarding enrollment.

Note [3]: The last date to submit an application for the Provisional Internship Permit in one of the Specialized Science content areas was January 1, 2015. The Provisional Internship Permit (only those initially issued prior to October 1, 2013) can no longer be reissued in one of these content areas.

Authorization:

The Multiple Subject PIP authorizes the holder to teach in a self-contained classroom such as the classrooms in most elementary schools. However, a teacher authorized for multiple subject instruction may be assigned to teach in any self-contained classroom (preschool, K-12, or in classes organized primarily for adults). In addition, the holder of a Multiple Subject PIP may serve in a core or team teaching setting.[4]

The Single Subject PIP authorizes the holder to teach the specific subject(s) named on the credential in departmentalized classes such as those in most middle schools and high schools. However, a teacher authorized for single subject instruction may be assigned to teach any subject in his or her authorized fields at any grade level (preschool, grades K-12, or in classes organized primarily for adults).[4]

The Education Specialist PIP authorizes the holder to teach in the area of specialization listed on the credential in the following settings: special day classes, special schools, home/hospital settings, correctional facilities, nonpublic, nonsectarian schools and agencies as defined in Education Code sections 56365 and 56366, and resource rooms.[4]

Bilingual Authorizations:

Bilingual Authorizations may be requested by the employing agency and added directly to a PIP document if target-language proficiency has been verified. Additional information may be found in Coded Correspondence 10-07.

Individuals may verify target-language proficiency by one of the following methods:

• Pass Test II or III (depending on the specific language) of the CSET: World Languages Examinations in the target language. Passing exam scores are valid for five years from the individual test date.
• If Test II or III of the CSET: World Languages Examination is not available, pass an assessment performed by an approved organization covering the integrated communication skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in the target language.
• Pass an assessment covering the integrated communication skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing administered by a California college or university as a part of its Commission-approved bilingual authorization program in the target language.
• Possess a valid, non-emergency California Single Subject or Standard Secondary Teaching Credential with a major in the target language.
• Possess a three-year or higher degree from a foreign institution in which all instruction was delivered in the target language. The foreign institution must be equivalent in status to a regionally-accredited institution of higher education in the United States.

Period of Validity:

The PIP will be issued for one year.

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Reference:

Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Section 80021.1

CL-856  July 2022