Intern Teaching - Early Completion Option (ECO) | Preliminary Teaching Credential
AN ACCELERATED TEACHING CREDENTIAL WHILE YOU EARN A SALARY
Alliant's Intern Teaching - Early Completion Option (ECO) allows you to earn your K-12 California Preliminary Teaching Credential in as few as nine months. The ECO program is an abbreviated version of the Intern Teaching - Standard path that requires students to secure a salaried teacher-of-record position at an Alliant-approved K-12 school during the program.
To earn an accelerated preliminary teaching credential, ECO students must successfully complete the Teaching Foundations Exam accepted by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC). Passing the exam allows ECO students to waive 12 units of required coursework. Because the exam assumes prior teaching experience, the ECO program is ideally designed for experienced classroom teachers who have not yet earned a preliminary teaching credential.
In addition to your teacher-of-record position and applied experience, you will attend weekly evening and occasional weekend seminars to complete required coursework. You will also receive professional guidance and coaching from regular classroom observations, site visits and mentoring sessions from an experienced Alliant field supervisor.
We've prepared hundreds of California educators for an effective, rewarding and enduring career as a teacher serving California's diverse student population and communities. Let us help you to become the next.
INTERN TEACHING: EARLY COMPLETION OPTION AT-A-GLANCE
- Program can be completed in as few as nine months (two semesters)
- Requires successful completion of the Teaching Foundations Exam accepted by the CCTC
- Available only for candidates pursuing a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Science, Math and English, or a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
- Intensive classroom observations, site visits and mentoring
- Weekly evening seminars
- Two Saturday seminars each semester
- Online Masters in Teaching optional (requires additional coursework and possible additional completion time)
Note: Students are responsible for finding and securing an approved Intern Teaching position.
INTERN TEACHING (ECO) REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the Hufstedler School of Education's general admission requirements, intern/ECO teaching credential candidates must comply with several additional requirements mandated by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) before beginning any intern teaching assignment. These requirements are meant to both guarantee your own success in the classroom and students' safety.
Please note that these are not requirements for entry into the preliminary teaching credential program - only to participate in the intern teaching portion of the program. Alliant staff will help guide you through meeting these requirements, which include:
- CCTC credential application (41-4 form)
- Receipt of Livescan Fingerprinting and Background Clearance
- US Constitution competency
- Offer of Employment letter
- Signed Statement of Release form
- 120 hours of pre-service fulfilled through passing scores on the Teaching Foundations Exam (TFE)
- Verification of passing the CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test)
- For Multiple Subject candidates only: Verification of passing the CSET (California Subject Examination for Teachers) for Multiple Subjects (all sub-tests) prior to beginning intern teaching placement, and/or obtain a subject matter equivalency letter from a CCTC-approved California University
- For Single Subject candidates only: Verification of passing the subject-matter-approprate California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) or obtain a Single Subject matter equivalency letter from a CCTC-approved California University in their appropriate subject area (for the Preliminary Single Subject Credential only) prior to beginning intern teaching placement
EARN YOUR MASTER’S IN TEACHING WITH ONLY FIVE ADDITIONAL ONLINE COURSES
Unlike the Student Teaching or Intern Teaching - Standard options, the ECO program does not require dual enrollment in the online Master's in Teaching. However, ECO candidates have the option to dually enroll in our online Master of Arts in Education in Teaching program, providing you with enhanced instruction and expertise in teaching pedagogy and theory to help shape your applied experience. Obtaining your master's also opens up possibilities for increased financial rewards and employment possibilities, including teaching at community colleges or universities. The master’s can be completed with only five additional online courses beyond the credential.
CHOOSE AN ACCREDITED UNIVERSITY AND A CTC-APPROVED PROGRAM
The Hufstedler School of Education’s program is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC). Alliant International University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
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