The Preliminary Education Specialist Credential for mild to moderate is appropriate for special education settings in grades TK-12 and ages TK-22. Commonly referred to as the special education credential. Students can earn their Preliminary Education Specialist Credential concurrently with an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction. Students in the program graduate prepared to take the California teaching tests and with work experience to flourish in their new career.
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Credential Requirements
Preliminary Education Specialist
- Certificate of Clearance before field placement
- Basic Skills Requirement (CBEST or equivalent) passing score required before student teaching
- Subject Matter Competence (CSET or approved program) passing score required before student teaching
- Copy of current infant, child and adult CPR certification
- Copy of RICA passing verification – not required for early childhood specialization
- Official transcript or original exam results for U.S. Constitution
- Transcript showing Bachelor's degree
- Official transcript for linguistics course – if required for EL
- Completion of all credential course work with a grade of B- or better
- Completion of student teaching
Education Specialist Intern
- Copy of admission letter to USD
- Transcripts of all college coursework including Bachelor's degree, "Introductory Special Education" course, and "Classroom Management" course
- Verification of prerequisite experience
- Certificate of Clearance before field placement
- Basic Skills Requirement (CBEST or equivalent)
- Subject Matter Competence (CSET or approved program)
- Verification of Employment as an Intern form (filled out completely by your supervisor/employer for the internship)
- Completion of all credential course work with a grade of B- or better
- Completion of student teaching
Basic Skills Requirements (BSR)
Meeting the requirements
Candidates for the California teaching credential may satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) through a variety of options.
Candidates can demonstrate basic skills by:
- passing the CBEST exam
- submitting proof of qualifying alternative basic skills exam scores (e.g. SAT, ACT, AP, etc.)
- qualifying college-level coursework
- a combination of qualifying college-level coursework and qualifying basic skills exams including the CBEST
Please see the tables under Reading, Writing, and Mathematics for details about qualifying college-level coursework and qualifying basic skills exams that may be combined to satisfy each subject of the Basic Skills Requirement.
If using coursework to meet one or more components of the Basic Skills Requirement, the following rules apply:
The candidate must have earned a grade of "B" or better ("B-" is acceptable) in the qualifying coursework. The coursework must:
- have been taken at a regionally accredited college or university
- provide 3-semester units (or 4.5 quarter units) of college credit
- have been taken for academic credit (earned units)
- be AA or BA degree applicable
If taken at a college or university outside the United States, the courses must be English-based courses and must be deemed as equivalent to coursework taken at a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States. Foreign-prepared educators must obtain an evaluation of their transcripts through a Commission-approved Foreign Transcript Evaluating Agency. See leaflet CL-635 for more information.
The following coursework is NOT acceptable:
- professional development or continuing education units
- inservice training or workshops
- non-credit bearing courses
- courses where credits do not apply toward the requirements for an Associate degree, Baccalaureate degree, or higher degree
Note: Out-of-State basic skills examination subtests cannot be used as a mix-and-match option.
If you do not take the CBEST or have not passed all sections of the CBEST, you may request an evaluation of Basic Skills Requirements through alternative options. To determine if you qualify for satisfying the BSR through alternative options, please review the tables provided for meeting the Reading, Writing and Mathematics BSR.
To request an evaluation of Basic Skills Requirements, please complete Form 41-BSR. (Note: if you select a test or exam to meet a BSR, you must upload a copy of your test/exam score with your request for an evaluation. Please contact the test provider to obtain a copy of the scores.).
For additional information, please consult the CTC correspondence.
To determine if you qualify for satisfying the BSR through alternative options, please review the tables provided for meeting the Reading, Writing and Mathematics BSR.
If students select a test or exam to meet a BSR, students must upload a copy of their test/exam score with your request for an evaluation. Please contact the test provider to obtain a copy of the scores). Students who do not take the CBEST or have not passed all sections of the CBEST may request an evaluation of Basic Skills Requirements through alternative options.
Test/Exam
You must upload a copy of your test/exam score with your request for an evaluation.
B-
3-semester course with grade of B- or better
If using the same course to satisfy a course, see notes in the tables below.
Test Scores
Tests, exams and qualifying college-level courses that meet the Writing Basic Skills Requirement Candidates may satisfy the BSR with test/exam OR qualifying coursework.
| Reading Test/Exam | Minimum Score Required | Course Type |
| CBEST: Reading | 41 | Critical Thinking |
| SAT: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (taken after March 2016) | 560 | Literature |
| SAT: Critical Reading (taken before March 2016) | 500 | Philosophy |
| SAT: Verbal (taken before March 2016) | 500 | Reading |
| ACT: English | 22 | Rhetoric |
| CSET: Multiple Subjects Examination Subtests 101 | 220 | Textual Analysis 1 |
| CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP): English | "College Ready" or "Exempt" | *If a student wishes to use the same course to satisfy both Reading and Writing, the student must obtain from the registrar or relevant academic department chair, where the course was taken, written documentation stating that the course includes the study of reading and writing as outlined by the CTC. |
| CSU English Placement Test (EPT) | 151 | |
| Advance Placement (AP) English Examination | 220 |
| Writing Test/Exam | Minimum Score Required | Course Type |
| CBEST: Writing | 41 | Composition |
| SAT: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing(taken after March 2016) | 560 | English |
| SAT: Critical Reading(taken before March 2016) | 500 | Rhetoric |
| SAT: Verbal(taken before March 2016) | 500 | Written Communication |
| ACT: English | 22 | Writing 1 |
| CSET: Writing Skills Examination Subtest 142 | 220 | *If a student wishes to use the same course to satisfy both Reading and Writing, the student must obtain from the registrar or relevant academic department chair, where the course was taken, written documentation stating that the course includes the study of reading and writing as outlined by the CTC. |
| CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP): English | "College Ready" or "Exempt" | |
| CSU English Placement Test (EPT) | 151 | |
| Advance Placement (AP) English Examination | 3 |
| Math Test/Exam | Minimum Score Required | Course Type |
| CBEST: Mathematics | 41 | Algebra |
| SAT: Math(taken after March 2016) | 570 | Geometry |
| SAT: Math(taken before March 2016) | 550 | Mathematics |
| ACT: Math | 23 | Quantitative Reasoning |
| CSET: Multiple Subjects Examination Subtests 214 & 103 | 220 in both subtest 214 and 103 | Statistics 1 |
| CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) Mathematics | "College Ready" or "Exempt" | |
| CSU Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Assessment | 50 | |
| Advance Placement (AP) Calculus Examination | 3 | |
| Advance Placement (AP) Statistics Examination | 3 |
Meet with our Credential Analyst
Contact the Credential Analyst at credential@sandiego.edu to learn more about the specific credential requirements and to build a personalized plan to make a difference in California schools.
credential@sandiego.edu
Credential Analyst