The State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing offers alternative pathways to teacher certification for those who already have specific skills and knowledge or for those who were in the Peace Corps. These are known respectively as the Early Completion Internship Option and the Peace Corps Teaching Experience.
Interested in learning about the traditional approach? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in California.
The Early Completion Internship Option is designed for those who already have experience teaching students. To be eligible to participate in the Early Completion Internship Option, you must be accepted into a Commission-approved internship program and have an offer of employment from a school district.
If you have Peace Corps teaching experience, the credentialing process is streamlined to reflect your experience.
USC Rossier offers emerging and experienced education leaders multiple online graduate degree programs.*
Early Completion Internship Option:
In order to be eligible for the Early Completion Internship Option, you must be accepted into a Commission-approved internship program and have an offer of employment from a school district. Information on district or university internship programs may be found here. A listing of school districts throughout California may be found in the California Department of Education’s California School Directory. To find a position in a California school district, visit EDJOIN.org.
Peace Corps Teaching Experience Option:
You must have Peace Corps teaching experience at the level of the credential you request, verified by letter from the Director of the Peace Corps of the United States or the Peace Corps County Director. You must have been in a Peace Corps assignment in a foreign country for at least 18 months and have spent at least 50 percent of your time teaching in a classroom at the level of the credential you seek.
Regardless of the pathway you take to teacher credentialing, you must pass a criminal history background check, which includes fingerprinting. To begin the process, print three copies of the Request for LiveScan Service. Submit these copies to the LiveScan operator who takes your fingerprints (locations may be found here). If you complete the credentialing application online, you will be given instructions on how to verify the fingerprinting process has begun. If you submit the application via postal mail, you must attach a copy of the Request for LiveScan Service to verify that your fingerprints were taken.
The fingerprint and character identification process will take one to three days to complete. When you have met the requirements for the Certificate of Clearance, you will receive an email from the Commission notifying you of this.
For more information on the Early Completion Internship Option, visit this section of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing website or call (888) 921-4213.
For more information on the Peace Corps Teaching Experience option, visit this section of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing website or call (888) 921-4213.
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