PK-3 ECE Credential Program �
Department of Elementary Education
Graduate College of Education
San Francisco State University
Mina Kim, Ph.D.
minakim@sfsu.edu
Professor
Department of Elementary Education
Traditional Post-baccalaureate Program
Summer Start One Year Program
The Intern Credential Pathway
In order to be eligible for the Intern Credential Pathway,
Admission Requirements:
1. Having a teaching position in a school district with SF State has an internship partnership (MOU). Interns do not displace certified employees in school districts.
2. A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
3. Subject Matter Competence Requirement:
● Possession of a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a degree major in 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
● 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.
NOTE: Candidate must meet the subject matter competence requirement prior to being given daily whole class instructional responsibilities in a preschool through third-grade setting.
Pre-service hours: Complete 120 clock hours of preservice and related coursework in PK-3 Early Childhood Education before applying for the Intern Credential.
● Enrollment in Credential content area classes at SFSU (minimum 6 units per semester). See PK-3 ECE Handbook p.10 for related coursework information.
● The successful completion of courses in summer and fall is required to meet the pre-service preparation requirement, prior to applying for the intern credential.
● Coursework in EED 719, 768, 738, & 734 covers the following areas:
a) State adopted student content standards and frameworks for early childhood education grades PK-3 (i.e., with California’s K-3 Student Content Standards and Frameworks and the Preschool Learning Foundations and Curriculum Framework in the core curriculum areas for grades PK-3).
b) General pedagogical strategies for PK-3 children, including classroom management and planning.
c) Subject specific pedagogy, as appropriate to content areas for children in PK-3 settings.
d) Effective developmentally appropriate strategies in literacy and mathematics development for children in grades PK-3.
e) Instruction in English Language Development for multilingual and English learner students
Please note that the PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Intern Certificate will be valid for two years.
Additional Requirements:
1. MOU or IA: The Department of Elementary Education (EED) needs to have an interagency agreement (IA) or a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the employing district or county office of education. The Intern Program Coordinator can reach out and establish one on the intern's behalf.
2. Identify from the district a qualified mentor/coach in the program area with a minimum of 3 years of successful teaching experience. The mentor/coach should be immediately available to assist the intern teacher with planning lessons that are
appropriately designed and differentiated for English learners, for assessing children’s language needs and documenting progress, and support the intern with language- accessible instruction through in-classroom modeling and coaching as needed.
Bilingual Authorization
== CSU Asian Language Bilingual Teacher Education Program Consortium (click the flyer link here)
Why pursue your PK-3 ECE Credential at SF State?
At the Graduate College of Education, we will promote preparing skilled, transformative educators deeply committed to social justice and equity for all students, particularly those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Deadline for Summer/Fall 2026
April 1, 2026
Student Teaching
| Early Field Experience Hours | Fall Semester Student Teaching | Spring Semester Student Teaching |
Field Work Hours |
Required 20 hours of EFE at PK/TK and/or K-3 experience when applying |
6 hours/day, 2-3 days/week for 16 weeks of PK/TK and/or K-3
|
6 hours/day, 3-4 days/week for 16 weeks of PK/TK and/or K-3
|
Reducing Student Teaching HOURS
THIS IS NOT AN ADMISSION REQUIREMENT.
We will provide a separate orientation on it AFTER the admission to the program.
�Information Regarding the Student Teacher Stipend Program (STSP)�Assembly Bill 121 establishes the Student Teacher Stipend Program (STSP), which—commencing in the 2026-27 academic year—would provide funding to local educational agencies to provide stipends of $10,000 to be paid to student teachers completing of 500 hours of their clinical practice.
The bill also establishes a collaboration between the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Kern County Superintendent of Schools to conduct a multi-media campaign and outreach, and to develop a grants management system that will streamline the application and administration process for Commission-administered grant programs, including the Student Teacher Stipend Program, for use no later than April 1, 2026. As the collaboration progresses, the Commission shall update the field regarding the STSP.
a specific email box for future questions: STSP@ctc.ca.gov.
CSU SM— $10,000 Stipend available for Student Teachers in CA:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mtpjfbUEta0c4kgxgbju5TrFzQd_5fkM/view?usp=drive_link
More Info on the CTC website
https://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/grant-funded-programs/student-teacher-stipend-program
OPTION 1:
Clinical Practice Equivalency Reducing Your PK/TK Student Teaching Hours
Equivalency Option 1: Qualifying Work Experience.
Admitted candidates who meet A and B can apply for 200 hours of PK/TK clinical practice equivalence.
(A) Either hold a valid Child Development Permit (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
(B) Verify six (6) years or more of full-time* satisfactory** 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.
*Full-time experience is defined as classroom-based teaching for at least 3 hours per day, for at least 75% of the school year. Part time experience, or experience serving as anything other than a lead teacher, is not acceptable.
**Satisfactory teaching experience will be verified by the public or private center-based childcare and development center, by completing the SFSU PK-3 Equivalency Form.
To Apply:
OPTION 2:
Clinical Practice Equivalency Reducing Your PK/TK Student Teaching Hours
Equivalency Option 2: Qualifying Practicum/Supervised Clinical Practice Courses: Admitted candidates who have completed a practicum course at a regionally accredited institution of higher education can apply for clinical practice equivalency equal to the number of hours served in the practicum course, up to 200 hours, provided all conditions are met:
A. 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.
B. 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.
C. The candidate earned a C or better on the practicum course (or “Pass” if deemed by the institution to be equivalent to a grade of “C” or higher).
D. 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.
To Apply:
Tuition
PK3 ECE Credential Only
Summer - $2,805.00 (6 units)
Fall- $4,203.00 (15 units)
Spring - $4,203.00 (12 units)
-------------------------------- total $11,211.00 (33 units)
Adding MA in ECE (30 units program)
12 units from the Credential
+ 18 more units for MA
2-3 more semesters to complete the MA
$5,610.00 (2 semesters) or $8,415 (3 semesters)
Resources PK-3 ECE Credential Program
Q&A
Applying to a Credential Program
For Summer/Fall 2026
1. Attend an Information Session
2. HOW TO APPLY
3. PK-3 ECE Application Requirements
Subject Matter Competency (SMC)
No CSET, but either bachelor’s degree or 24 units
Note: Applicants who have completed 18 - 23 ECE/CD units but meet all other application requirements may be considered for conditional admission. These candidates will need to complete the 24 units prior to entering Spring semester fieldwork.
Two Letters of Recommendation
● Must be from persons in a supervisory role: People who have seen you work with children or can attest to your professional attributes
○ Letters written by friends or relatives are not accepted
● In CalState Apply, you provide contact information for your recommenders; they will receive an email with submission instructions.
● Request your letters early:
○ Applying for the PK-3 ECE Credential Program at San Francisco State University
○ Letters can be addressed to the “PK-3 ECE Credential Admission Committee”
○ Letters may speak to your ability to work with children, work with colleagues, your work ethic, your intellectual capabilities, or other characteristics pertinent to teaching.
○ Letterhead is highly recommended
Certificate of Clearance (COC)
Q&A? — about the PK-3 Program