Preconditions for PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist Instruction 2026

No college or university shall require candidates to complete more than the equivalent of nine semester units of credential preparation courses prior to allowing candidates to enroll in student teaching in a preschool or elementary classroom. This restriction may be increased to the equivalent of twelve semester units if the student teaching prerequisites include study of alternative methods of English Language Skills as required by Program Precondition 2.

The program includes the study of effective means of teaching literacy, in accordance with 44259 (b)(4)(A) and (B)

Professional preparation, including student teaching, shall be made available in the upper division course offerings at all California public institutions of higher education.

The program sponsor has a timely and systematic process for evaluating and notifying candidates of their standing in relation to the subject matter competence requirement. This process includes:

• Providing candidates with clear and accurate information in all advising and application materials about all options available to demonstrate subject matter competence, for the PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction credential.
• Within the first 60 days of the candidate’s admission, the institution must complete an assessment of each candidate’s standing in relation to demonstration of the subject matter competence requirement and notify the candidate of that standing.

The approved PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction credential preparation program sponsor determines that each candidate meets the subject matter requirement prior to being given daily whole class instructional responsibilities in a preschool through third grade setting. Candidates may meet the subject matter competence requirement through one of the following two options:

1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a degree major in elementary education, Child Development, Child and Adolescent Development, Human Development, Early Childhood Education, Child and Family Studies, Early Childhood Studies, Human Development and Family Science, Family Science, or Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies, or a degree major in a subject area closely related to the credential area. Closely related means a baccalaureate degree or higher degree whose required coursework for the degree major includes not fewer than three courses, totaling at least 12 semester units or the equivalent quarter units, in child development, human development, or early childhood education.
2. Completion of 24 semester units or the equivalent quarter units of non-remedial, degree-applicable coursework at a regionally accredited institution of higher education in early childhood education and/or child development.

Prior to recommending a candidate for the PK-3 Early Childhood Specialist Instruction credential, the program verifies the candidate meets all of the following:

1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
2. Completion of the subject matter requirement.
3. Passage of a Commission approved literacy performance assessment for early childhood education through third grade (PK-3), the Foundations of Reading Examination, or other examination approved by the Commission to meet the literacy instruction competence requirement. Note: This may include a passing score on the RICA examination earned before the retirement of the RICA examination on or before October 31, 2026. RICA scores are valid for 10 years.
4. Completion of a Commission approved preparation program.
5. Passage of a Commission approved teaching performance assessment for early childhood education through third grade (PK-3).
6. Demonstration of knowledge of the principles and provisions of the Constitution of the United States.

Commission approved professional preparation programs for the PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction credential shall recognize and grant equivalency for prior experience, as follows, and shall develop a clearly articulated process for granting such equivalency.

Equivalency Option 1

PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential candidates who meet both the requirements outlined in subsections (A) and (B) below shall be granted equivalence for at least 200 hours of the required clinical practice experience in a preschool (PK) or transitional kindergarten (TK) setting and may be granted equivalence for an additional 200 total hours of the required clinical practice experience in a PK or TK setting within the program of professional preparation. Such candidates must complete all other program requirements, including a clinical practice experience of at least 200 hours in a K-3 setting.

1. Either hold a valid Child Development Permit at the Teacher level or higher or verify employment as a lead teacher in a Head Start program or a childcare and development center serving preschool-aged children. [Note: For the purpose of Equivalency Option 1, lead teacher means an adult who has direct responsibility for the care and development of children from birth to 5 years of age in a center-based early childhood care setting and serves in a teaching capacity with 3- and/or 4-yearolds. Title 5 Code of Regulations 80067(d)(1)(B)(iii).]
2. Verify six (6) years or more of satisfactory, full-time teaching experience as a lead teacher in a public or private center-based childcare and development program serving preschool-aged children that is either a license-exempt childcare and development center pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section 1596.792(o) or holds a license as defined in section 101152(l)(1), Article 1, Chapter 1, Division 12, of Title 22. (Note: For the purposes of Equivalency Option 1, full time teaching is defined as classroom-based teaching for at least 3 hours per day, for at least 75% of the school year. Title 5 Code of Regulations 80067(d)(1)(B)(ii)).

Satisfactory teaching experience shall be verified by the public or private center-based childcare and development center. Verification shall include a statement by the employer confirming that the teacher’s performance was rated satisfactory or better in the following areas (must include all):

• The use of developmentally appropriate teaching strategies for preschool-aged children.
• The ability to establish and maintain developmentally appropriate standards and expectations for student behavior.
• A demonstration of deep knowledge of early literacy, early mathematics, and other preschool subjects, and the use of developmentally appropriate teaching and learning approaches that engage students and promote student understanding.
• An ability to plan and implement a sequence of appropriate learning activities, both teacher and child initiated.
• An ability to evaluate and assess student learning outcomes.
• An ability to communicate effectively with young children and their families/guardians.

Equivalency Option 2

Candidates for the PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Credential who have completed a practicum course at a regionally accredited institution of higher education, including a community college, shall be granted clinical practice equivalency for these hours commensurate with the number of hours served in the practicum course, up to a maximum of 200 hours, provided that all of the following conditions are met:

1. The practicum course is credit bearing and degree applicable towards a Teacher Level or higher-level Child-Development Permit or a degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Child and Adolescent Development, Early Childhood Studies, or Human Development.
2. The practicum hours completed were in a preschool or early childhood setting serving 3- to 4-year-old children and included clinical practice experience that was supervised at minimum by a trained faculty member/instructor who provided observation and feedback to the candidate.
3. The candidate earned a C or better on the practicum course. Courses earned with a “Pass,” or another designation deemed by the institution of higher education to be equivalent to a grade of “C” or higher are also acceptable.
4. The candidate provides to the Commission-approved ECE Specialist Instruction program verification of the hours served through transcripts and other documentation as determined by the Commission-approved program.

Candidates who have completed both a verified work experience as outlined in Equivalency Option 1 above and a qualified practicum experience as outlined in Equivalency Option 2 above may be granted a maximum of 400 hours total toward the clinical practice requirement and shall complete the remaining 200 hours of clinical practice in grades K-3 in the Commission approved teacher preparation program.