Preliminary Education Specialist, Mild/Moderate and/or Moderate/Severe Disabilities, Credential Program
Prerequisites
Course Work
Application (pdf)

Preliminary Education Specialist, Mild/Moderate and/or Moderate/Severe Disabilities, Credential Program

Education Specialists function in public schools, or private settings, as instructors and as consultants to teachers and to families. As a student teacher, you may choose to pursue either the Mild/Moderate and/or the Moderate/Severe Disabilities authorizations for the Education Specialist Credential.

Types of Credentials

Mild/Moderate

The Preliminary Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Credential authorizes teachers to instruct individuals in grades K-12 and adults who have:

• specific learning disabilities
• mild/moderate intellectual disabilities
• other health impairments
• emotional disturbance
• other health impairments

Moderate/Severe

The Preliminary Education Specialist Moderate/Severe Credential authorizes teachers to instruct individuals in grades K-12 and adults who have:

• autism
• moderate/severe intellectual disabilities
• deaf-blindness
• emotional disturbance
• multiple disabilities

Special Features

The Education Specialists Credential Program addresses the California Teaching Performance Expectations (TPEs) and Education Specialist Competencies. In addition, the Preliminary Education Specialist Credential Program offers the following courses and supervised teaching experiences:

• Relevant general and special education field/supervised teaching experiences
• Coursework with experienced and engaging faculty
• Teaching of reading and content literacy
• Teaching of evidence-based interventions
• Special Education laws and regulations
• Service learning methods
• Strategies for teaching English Learners
• Strategies for teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Program Features

• Fall semester entry only
• Introductory prerequisite core classes offered without formal program admission
• Teacher candidates attend program course work as a supportive cadre throughout the year
• Assistance with preparation for employment

Other Special Education Programs Available 

• Undergraduate Minor in Special Education
• Concurrent Credential Program
  • Concurrent Preliminary Education Specialist Multiple Subject Credential Program
  • Concurrent Preliminary Education Specialist Single Subject Credential Program
• Preliminary Education Specialist, Mild/Moderate or Moderate/Severe Disabilities, Credential Program Through Internships
• Rural Teacher Residency Program (MA in Education and Preliminary Education Specialist (Mild/moderate Disabilities) Credential.)

After Employment

Preliminary Education Specialist Credential holders have five years in which to complete the professional clear Education Specialist Credential through a regional Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) program or any other accredited induction program. An optional program extension you may pursue is a Master's Degree in Education (Special Education Advising Pattern available)