Educator Pathway Certification & Permitting

Interested in becoming a Transitional Kindergarten Teacher?

Need Early Childhood Education Units?

Early Childhood Education Units can be achieved by enrolling in early childhood and/or childhood development courses at our four partner institutes of higher education (IHEs): CSU East Bay, Chabot College, Las Positas College, or Merritt College, or other IHEs that offer these courses.

The California Community Colleges Curriculum Alignment Project (CAP) 8 Courses, which were developed by faculty from across the state as the foundational courses that will support early care and education teacher preparation, make up 24 units and consist of:

Child Growth and Development
Child, Family, & Community
Introduction to Curriculum
Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children
Observation and Assessment
Health, Safety and Nutrition
Teaching in a Diverse Society
Practicum

Comparable Experience

For TK Administrators needing recommendations on defining "comparable experience" to help TK teachers become fully qualified, one unit is equal to 120 hours in ECE/CD content. 24 semester units are equivalent to 2,880 hours.

Note:

"As determined by the local educational agency employing the teacher" means that it is within the LEA's discretion to determine comparability of experience to 24 units.
"Professional experience In a classroom setting with preschool age children" suggests the center-based preschool setting as a lead teacher.
"Comparable to...24 units of education" suggests 1.5 years of full-day experience as a lead teacher In a preschool classroom (8 hours per day x 246 days), or 4 years of part-day (4 hours per day x 180 days).
Comparable experience is determine and documented by the LEA.

Child Development Teacher Permit

Interested in becoming a CA State Preschool Teacher or Administrator?

A Child Development Permit can be obtained through coursework or obtaining a degree in an early childhood related field. Visit CTC's Child Development and School-Age Emphasis Matrix to learn more about the various permits available and the full list of ways you might be eligible.

For a quick reference of the Child Development Matrix, see the table below:

Are you a Multiple Subjects Credentialed Teacher interested in obtaining your Child Development Permit to be fully qualified to teach in TK?

According to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, you may apply for a site supervisor permit under the following conditions:

Option 4

Possess a valid Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential or a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Home Economics.
Complete 12 semester units of early childhood education or child development course work.
Complete three semester units or four quarter units of supervised field experience[1] in an early childhood education setting.

School-Age Emphasis under this option requires that six of the 12 semester units in early childhood education or child development be in school-age course work.

Note [1]: Individuals holding the Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential can use elementary student teaching for the supervised field experience to qualify for the permit issued with School-Age Emphasis.

Term and Renewal

The Child Development Site Supervisor Permit is issued for five years and is renewable for successive five-year periods upon completion of 105 hours of professional growth. This permit may be renewed online. Permit holders who complete the requirements for a higher level permit within three years of the date of initial issuance may submit verification of completion of requirements, an application (form 41-4) for the higher level permit, and half the application processing fee."

CA TK Workforce Requirements and Pathways FINAL 010824.pdf

Summary of Educator Worforce Requirements

For a complete guide of the requirements to become a TK teacher, check out this guide put together by the CTC. This summary also includes sample pathways you can reference to fulfill the TK qualifications and requirements.

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