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The PK-3 Early Childhood Education Credential Program recognizes and grants equivalency for prior experience and/ or practicum coursework. Candidates may receive hours towards clinical practice by completing one or both of the following options:

Equivalency Option 1: Professional Equivalency Verification  

PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential candidates who meet both the requirements outlined in subsections (A) and (B) below shall be granted equivalence for at least 200 hours of the required clinical practice experience. 

(A) Either 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. (Note: For the purpose of Equivalency Option 1, lead teacher means an adult who has direct responsibility for the care and development of children from birth to 5 years of age in a center-based early childhood care setting and serves in a teaching capacity with 3- and/or 4-yearolds. Title 5 Code of Regulations 80067(d)(1)(B)(iii)

(B) 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 ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñHealth 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. (Note: For Equivalency Option 1, full-time teaching is defined as classroom-based teaching for at least 3 hours per day, for at least 75% of the school year. Title 5 Code of Regulations 80067(d)(1)(B)(ii)).Verification of candidates with satisfactory full-time teaching experience shall include a statement by the employer confirming that the teacher’s performance was rated satisfactory or better. 

The candidate must provide a of prior experience and a copy of their Child Development Permit. 

Equivalency Option 2: Practicum Coursework  

Candidates who have completed a practicum course at a regionally accredited institution of higher education 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: 

(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- to 4-year-old children. 

(C) The practicum was supervised at minimum by a trained faculty member/instructor with expertise in Early Childhood and Child Development pedagogy who provided observation and feedback to the candidate. 

(D) The candidate earned a C or better on the practicum course. 

The candidate must provide verification of the hours served through transcripts and course syllabi. The course syllabi should include the number of practicum hours completed and age group of children observed.  

Candidates who have completed both a verified work experience as outlined in Equivalency Option 1 above and a qualified practicum experience as outlined in Equivalency Option 2 above may be granted a maximum of 400 hours total toward the clinical practice requirement, all candidates shall complete all clinical practice coursework in the program and the remaining 200 hours of clinical practice in grades K-3 classroom settings.