Index

PK-3 credential candidates can apply for a clinical practice equivalency for up to 200 hours of their practicum hours in a PK or TK setting. There are two equivalency options listed below.

Equivalency Option 1 – Professional Work Experience

PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Credential candidates who meet both the requirements outlined in subsections (A) and (B) below shall be granted equivalence for 200 hours of the required clinical practice experience in a PK or TK setting within the program of professional preparation. Candidates who are eligible for this clinical practice equivalence must meet both of the following criteria:

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, and
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. (Programs and candidates can confirm whether or not a center is so-licensed by visiting the Community Care Licensing website: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing)

Candidates holding the Assistant and Associate level permits do not qualify for the clinical practice equivalency under this part of the standard.

For the purposes of this provision of the PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Credential, full-time experience is defined as classroom-based teaching for at least three hours per day, for at least 75% of the school year. Part time experience, or experience serving as anything other than a lead teacher, shall not be acceptable.

Documentation and record keeping on each candidate is critical. The setting may be in a public or private center-based childcare and development program serving preschool children ages 3-4. These may be the California State Preschool program, Head Start programs, 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. Programs and candidates can confirm whether or not a center is so-licensed by visiting the Community Care Licensing website: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing. It is necessary to verify that the experience was with children ages 3-5 since many of these settings also serve younger children.

Satisfactory Teaching Experience: Satisfactory teaching experience addresses the scope of the teaching experience that the candidate had to qualify for this clinical practice equivalency. Satisfactory teaching experience shall be verified by the public or private center-based childcare and development center. Verification shall include a statement from 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 the 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.
Determining whether to grant between 200-400 clinical practice hours for candidates who meet this requirement.

Equivalency Option 2 – Completion of Practicum(s) in Early Childhood Education

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:

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.
The practicum hours completed were in a preschool or early childhood setting serving 3–4-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.
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.
The candidate provides to the Commission-approved PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction program verification of the hours served through transcripts and other documentation as determined by the Commission-approved program.

Clinical Practice Equivalency - Draft