Education Specialist Instruction Credential (CL-872)

Education Specialist Instruction Credential
Requirements for Individuals Prepared Outside of the United States

California has a two-tier credential structure. A five-year Preliminary credential is the first document issued after an individual meets basic credential requirements. The Level II or Clear credential is issued once all credential requirements have been completed.

The Education Specialist Instruction Credential authorizes the holder to teach in the area of specialization listed
on the credential in the following settings:

Areas of Specialization

• Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)
  Authorizes the holder to conduct Educational Assessments related to students’ access to the academic curriculum and progress towards meeting instructional goals, provide instruction, and Special Education Support to students with mild to moderate support needs related to one or more of the following disabilities: autism, emotional disturbance, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, and traumatic brain injury; in kindergarten, including transitional kindergarten, grades 1-12 through age 22, and classes organized primarily for adults in services across the continuum of program options available.
  
  
• Extensive Support Needs (ESN)
  Authorizes the holder to conduct Educational Assessments related to students’ access to the academic curriculum and progress towards meeting instructional goals, provide instruction, and Special Education Support to students with extensive support needs related to one or more of the following disabilities: autism, deafblind, emotional disturbance, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, and traumatic brain injury; in kindergarten, including transitional kindergarten, grades 1-12 through age 22, and classes organized primarily for adults in services across the continuum of program options available.
  
  
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH)
  Authorizes the holder to conduct Educational Assessments related to student's access to the academic core curriculum and progress towards meeting instructional academic goals, provide instruction, and Special Education Support to individuals with a disability of deaf or hard-of-hearing, or deafblind, including autism, and services to students with a hearing loss that manifests itself in conjunction with additional disabilities including unilateral or bilateral, whether fluctuating, conductive, sensorineural, and/or auditory neuropathy, to students from birth through age 22, and classes organized primarily for adults in services across the continuum of program options available.
  
  
• Visual Impairments (VI)
  Authorizes the holder to conduct Educational Assessments related to student's access to the academic core curriculum and progress towards meeting instructional academic goals, provide instruction, and Special Education Support to individuals with a primary disability of visual impairment including blind or deafblind and deaf-blind, including autism, to students from birth through age 22, and classes organized primarily for adults in services across the continuum of program options available.
  
  
• Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
  Authorizes the holder to conduct Educational Assessments related to student's access to the academic core curriculum and progress towards meeting instructional academic goals, and provide instructional and Special Education Support to students from birth through pre-kindergarten who are eligible for early intervention special education and related services, to individuals with a primary disability in specific learning disabilities, mild/moderate intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injury, other health impairment, autism, moderate/severe intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbance, and multiple disabilities including developmental delay and a disabling medical condition in services across the continuum of program options available.
  

An added authorization in Early Childhood Special Education is also available to individuals who hold a preliminary, Level I, professional clear, clear, Level II, or life special education teaching credential, and who complete a program though a Commission-approved program sponsor.

The ECSE Added Authorization authorizes the holder to conduct Educational Assessments related to student's access to the academic core curriculum and progress towards meeting instructional academic goals and provide instructional and special Education Support to students from birth through pre-kindergarten who are eligible for early intervention special education and support with a primary disability in specific learning disabilities, mild/moderate intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injury, other health impairment, autism, moderate/severe intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbance, and multiple disabilities including developmental delay and a disabling medical condition, in services across the continuum of program options available.

The credential process in California is made up of a sequence of requirements, which the teacher is given up to five years to complete. Teachers receiving the Preliminary credential are making a commitment to complete the process and obtain the Level II or Clear credential. The Preliminary credential is issued for a maximum of five years. If requirements for the Level II or Clear credential are not completed before the expiration of the credential, the holder will be unable to teach in California’s public schools with that credential until those requirements are met and the document renewed.

Individuals who have completed their teacher preparation program outside of the United States and have also earned a comparable teaching credential in special education issued by a US state other than California should refer to Commission leaflet CL-808, entitled Education Specialist Instruction Credential – Requirements for Individuals Prepared Out-of-State.

Your Application Packet

Individuals who have completed their professional preparation program outside of the United States may apply directly to the Commission for their initial credential by submitting an application packet by mail consisting of all of the following:

1. Completed application (form 41-4), and, if not previously submitted to the Commission, a completed Live Scan receipt (form 41-LS). Persons residing outside the United States must submit two fingerprint cards in lieu of a Live Scan receipt. If submitting fingerprint cards, current fingerprint processing fees must accompany the application packet in addition to the application processing fee. Educators residing outside California may order fingerprint cards from the Commission by submitting contact information through the CTC Fingerprint Card Request portal. See Credential Leaflet  CL-271 for more information on fingerprint cards and processing.
   
   
2. Application processing fee.
   
   
3. Foreign transcript evaluation (see Commission leaflet CL-635, entitled Foreign Transcript Evaluation for additional information).
   

Requirements for the Five-Year Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential

Individuals who have completed a teacher preparation program outside of the United States may apply directly to the Commission for their initial credential by submitting an application packet consisting of all of the following:

1. Foreign transcript evaluation showing completion of a baccalaureate or higher degree from a college or university that has been deemed to be equivalent to a regionally-accredited institution in the United States.
   
   
2. Foreign transcript evaluation showing completion of a professional preparation program in special education, consisting of a minimum of 24 semester units, including completion of a supervised field study, taken at a college or university that has been deemed to be equivalent to a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States.
   
   
3. Issued or eligible for a comparable teaching credential earned in a country other than the United States. The credential does not have to be valid at the time of application.
   

Requirements for the Level II or Clear Education Specialist Instruction Credential

Individuals must satisfy all of the following requirements:

1. Possess the California Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential.
   
   
2. Satisfy the basic skills requirement if not met prior to the issue date of the Preliminary credential or within the first year of the issue date of the Preliminary credential. See Commission leaflet CL-667, entitled Basic Skills Requirement for additional information.
   
   
3. Developing English Language Skills including Reading – individuals must satisfy one of the following requirements:
   1. Complete a course in Developing English Language Skills, including Reading, that is research-based and includes the study of phonemic awareness, spelling patterns, early intervention techniques, ongoing diagnostic techniques, and a strong literature, language, and comprehension component (Submit a copy of the course description for evaluation purposes.)
   2. Pass the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA). Visit the Commission’s website or the Evaluation Systems, Group of Pearson website for more information.
      
      
4. U.S. Constitution – individuals must satisfy one of the following requirements:
   1. Complete a course (at least two semester units or three quarter units) in the Provisions and Principles of the U. S. Constitution from a regionally accredited college or university. Submit a copy of the course description for evaluation purposes.
   2. Pass an examination in the Provisions and Principles of the U.S. Constitution given by a regionally accredited college or university.
      
      
5. Subject Matter Competence – individuals must satisfy one of the following requirements:
   1. Achieve a passing score on the appropriate subject matter examination(s). (Information regarding the appropriate subject matter examination[s], including passing scores and registration, can be found in Verifying Subject Matter Competence by Examination leaflets CL-674M [Multiple Subject] and CL-674S [Single Subject] which may be obtained by visiting the Commission’s website.
   2. Complete a Commission-approved subject-matter program or its equivalent and obtain verification of completion from the authorized person in the education department of a California college or university with an approved program.
   3. For specialized science subjects only, individuals may show passage the appropriate subject matter examinations or provide verification of completion of subject-matter course work from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.[1]
      Note [1]:The last administration of the examinations in the Specialized Sciences was July 11, 2015. Applicants will have five years during which to use passing examination scores toward obtaining California certification.
      The last date to verify subject-matter equivalency by coursework for any of the Specialized Sciences was July 11, 2015. See Coded Correspondence 14-09.
      Verification of Subject-Matter Competence is not required for the area of Early Childhood Special Education.
   4. Successful completion of applicable coursework verified by a Commission-approved program of professional preparation. Coursework must be completed at a regionally-accredited institution (or one that has been deemed to be equivalent to a regionally-accredited institution in the United States) and addresses each of the domains of the applicable subject matter requirements adopted by the Commission.
   5. Complete a degree major from a regionally-accredited institution (or one that has been deemed to be equivalent to a regionally-accredited institution in the United States) in one of the statutory subjects available for a Single Subject Credential or in liberal studies.
   6. Successful completion through a combination of coursework and examination options that meet or exceed the domains of the subject matter requirements adopted by the Commission. Such mixing of options may only be done by candidates enrolled in a Commission-approved preparation program.
      
      
6. Complete at least two semester units in non-special education pedagogy related to teaching basic academic skills and content areas.
   
   
7. Supervised field experience in non-special education. Individuals must satisfy one of the following requirements:
   1. Complete at least one semester unit of supervised field experience with non-special education students, verified by transcript.
   2. Complete 45 clock hours with non-special education students, verified by the employing agency.
      
      
8. Complete a course in Computer Education, including instruction in general and specialized skills, in the use of computers in educational settings.
   
   
9. Complete a course in Health Education, including, but not limited to, nutrition; the physiological and sociological effects of alcohol, narcotic and drug abuse, and the use of tobacco (This requirement must include verification of training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] that covers infant, child, and adult CPR skills. Submit a copy of the course description and CPR card for evaluation purposes.)
   
   
10. Complete a Clear Education Specialist Induction Program offered by a Commission-approved program sponsor, including a formal recommendation for the credential from the program sponsor.                                                                    
11. Completion of coursework equivalent to that of a Commission-approved Preliminary program in the specialty area (if necessary).