Skip to Main Content
California State University, Chico

Internships

The Internship Pathway is an alternative pathway to earning a California Teaching Credential.  The internship program allows a candidate to be the teacher of record in an approved K-12 classroom while earning their preliminary teaching credential. Through a partnership between the school district and the School of Education, Interns complete a state-approved, CSU, Chico credential program. Internships must be within the Chico State Service Area. Internships are only offered in the Multiple Subject, Single Subject, and Education Specialist programs.

Candidates without TK-12 prior teaching experience will not be eligible for an internship in their first semester in the credential program. Internships will be approved on a case by case basis in consultation with School of Education faculty and staff. 

  • Teaching experience must have been in-person.
  • Teaching experience refers to direct classroom instruction with students, where the individual has actively taken responsibility for delievering curriculum and has either assisted in or independently managed the learning environment. 
  • Note: Watching online observation videos (e.g. Atlas) does not qualify as teaching experience. 

Note: Internships must be pre-approved and Paid Interns must seek employment and complete the hiring process themselves – the School of Education does not find intern positions. To qualify for a teaching practicum, the student must be hired by the school district as a Paid Intern, not as a long-term substitute or on any other authorization.

Internship Process

  1. Review the admission requirements on the Teaching Credential Checklist. These must be met to be considered for an internship, including passage of a U.S. Constitution course (POLS 155 or equivalent) or exam. The requirements are determined by the CA Education Code, Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and CSU, Chico. There are no exceptions. If you have already applied to the credential program and completed the Teaching Credential Checklist, please review the Intern Eligibility Checklist. 
  2. Set up an appointment with a Credential Advisor
  3. After receiving acceptance into a CSU, Chico Teaching Credential Program, and if you are interested in pursuing an internship, email credentials@csuchico.edu to start the approval process. 
  4. Credential Services completes a review for Intern Eligibility. 
  5. After Intern Eligibility review is complete, the prospective intern will be notified by the credentials office to set up an Internship Approval Interview with the Program Coordinator. 
  6. Next steps provided by Credential Services Office via credentials@csuchico.edu if the Program Coordinator approves the internship. 

Internship Deadline Policy

All requirements to be an intern must be completed by August 1st for the fall semester and January 1 for the spring semester. This includes CalState Apply, prerequisite course(s) and the US Constitution requirement, Subject Matter Requirement (CSET), Bachelor’s Degree*, COC, and TB.

*Chico State graduates may be eligible for a later conferral deadline of January 15 for spring starts if they meet the eligibility requirements for the deadline extension. For more information on this exception and to review eligibility, contact credentials@csuchico.edu.

School of Education Service Area

 School of Education Service Area

Service Area Counties:

  • Siskiyou
  • Modoc
  • Trinity
  • Shasta
  • Lassen
  • Tehama
  • Plumas
  • Glenn
  • Butte
  • Sierra
  • Sutter
  • Yuba
  • Nevada
  • Colusa

Coordinates:
39.7317° N, 121.8494° W

*Note: Single Subject Agriculture's Service Area includes the full state of California. 

The Early Completion Intern Option (ECO)

The ECO is intended to provide approved interns an opportunity to challenge the coursework portion of a Multiple or Single Subject Intern Program (this is not available to Education Specialist Interns at this time).

Obtain Internship approval by meeting all of the requirements.

Meet with the Pathway Coordinator to discuss the option and receive approval. Once approval is received from the Program Coordinator, the Credential Analyst will draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and all parties will sign the agreement.

Pass the Assessment of Professional Knowledge (APK) in the first semester of the program, declaring the option. To complete the ECO option, you must meet the deadline for obtaining passing results on the APK. 

Fall semester deadline: September 15

Spring semester deadline: February 15 

This requirement is specified in Education Code section 44468. The National Evaluation Series (NES) is the agency that provides the APK Assessments.

You will choose the appropriate assessment under the “Find Your Test” tab:

  • Multiple Subject Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Elementary (051)
  • Single Subject Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Secondary (052)

Complete a foundational computer technology course. At Chico State, the courses are EDCI 675 (offered in fall only) OR SPED 664 (offered in spring only). The candidate is responsible for signing up for this course, and it must be completed within the academic year to be eligible for the ECO.

Enroll in coursework during your enrollment appointment or during open enrollment.

Multiple Subject Intern Course Sequence*

Single Subject Intern Course Sequence*

*The Internship Course Sequences are block courses and no changes to class schedules can be made if opting for the ECO.

All additional courses must be completed within the first academic year of enrolling in the Intern ECO route. If you need to verify you meet these requirements, email credentials@csuchico.edu.

Pass the Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA) necessary to satisfy the fieldwork component required for the teacher intern program. Candidates must remain enrolled in program coursework, participate in the supervised clinical practice placement, and pass the TPA. The TPA must be completed within the first academic year of enrolling in the intern ECO route. If a candidate does not pass any section of the TPA on the first attempt, they are no longer eligible to participate in the ECO program and must complete the full teacher preparation program.

Successful completion of the above requirements for the ECO allows a candidate to waive the remaining program coursework and program fieldwork. This allows the candidates to complete the internship credential program in two semesters.

Email credentials@csuchico.edu if you are interested in pursuing the ECO.