PK-3 Preliminary Credential Application Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

Upload copy of unofficial transcript from the institution where you earned your degree, combined into one file (PDF, etc).

Any candidate who's bachelor's degree has not been conferred can be conditionally admitted pending degree confirmation.

Certificate of Clearance, Child Development Permit, Emergency, substitute permit, or pre-intern credential. Please note, the application for a Certificate of Clearance includes

1. Completing the fingerprint process
2. Applying for the Certificate of Clearance
3. Submitting your certificate with your online application.

For instructions on how to apply, please visit the State of California, Commission on Teacher Credentialing webpage (allow 10 days for processing). 

Applicants must provide proof of valid CPR certification, which satisfies criteria established by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. These areas include infant, child and adult CPR. Online certification is acceptable.

1. Submit a copy of your signed CPR card (front and back) or PDF certification, with your online program application. Your CPR certification must be valid for the duration of the program.

Applicants must provide verification of freedom from active tuberculosis. The TB test report or a letter from a physician regarding a chest x-ray, must have been administered within the last year and clearly indicate a negative result, as well as applicant name, DOB, and clinic information or stamp. This test may be completed at any health facility. If the applicant is a current CSUDH student, they may contact the CSUDH Student Health Center for a tuberculosis test. The telephone number is (310)-243-3629.

Essay up to 300 words: Discuss your interest in teaching preschool through 3rd grade students in racially and culturally diverse classroom at under-resourced schools in the Los Angeles area.

Progress toward Subject Matter is required at acceptance. Once you are accepted, you will complete a Qualtrics survey regarding Subject Matter. We will include a link to the survey in your acceptance letter. Candidates must meet subject matter prior to starting clinical practice. For more information, and for the Qualtrics survey link, please visit the Ways to Meet Subject Matter for the PK-3 credential website. 

For additional information regarding the Subject Matter Requirement please see the Commission on Teacher Credentialing PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential Requirements webpage

Applicants must provide two professional recommendations. Recommendations must be completed by a faculty member, employer, or someone that is knowledgeable regarding the applicant’s personal qualities and ability to work with children. Recommendations from family members and friends are not acceptable.

Please be advised that your application will be considered incomplete until a minimum of 2 letters of recommendation are submitted by the application deadline. To ensure your application is complete, confirm that your recommenders have successfully completed their Likert scale evaluation and uploaded their letter of recommendation. Your application may not be reviewed and may be withdrawn if these requirements are not met by the deadline.

Once you have saved an electronic recommendation, an email request will automatically be sent to the recommender on your behalf. Please advise your recommender to look for this email in their inbox, as well as their spam or junk-mail folder, as emails do occasionally get filtered out.

Verification of meeting subject matter competence must be submitted with your clinical practice application. For additional information regarding the Subject Matter Requirement please see the Commission on Teacher Credentialing PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential Requirements webpage.