Early Field Experience

About Early Field Experience

Early Field Experience Clearance Process

• STEP 1: Students must be enrolled in an Early Field Experience course

  These courses have an in-classroom service requirement built into the coursework. Please see the Early Field Experience Class List (PDF) for a full list of courses supported by Early Field Experience for the current semester. 

  Please note, only Sophomore through Post-Baccalaureate students enrolled in one or more of our serviced courses are eligible for placement through Early Field Experience. First-time Freshmen are not eligible to volunteer during their first year at Chico State. 

• STEP 2: Complete a TB Assessment or Test

  TB assessments and tests must be dated within four years of your application and must clearly indicate a negative result. Unless specified by the volunteer school site or district, TB assessments will be accepted in place of a skin prick TB test. 

  The Student Health Center offers TB testing services. Please visit their website for more information. 

• OPTIONAL STEP 3: Begin the Certificate of Clearance (COC)

  Please Note: a completed Certificate of Clearance is not required to receive an Early Field Experience placement. A COC is required when students apply for a California teaching credential program. As this certificate is good for 5 years, obtaining a COC now will be extremely helpful for students as they continue down the path towards a credential. Do you have questions as to whether or not completing the COC now is a good choice for you? Please contact your course instructor for more information. 

  Please refer to the Certificate of Clearance Instructions & Live Scan Form (PDF) for a complete guide to the Certificate of Clearance. 

• STEP 4: Begin Collecting Your Supplemental Documents

  The following supplemental documents are required as part of your Early Field Experience Student Application (PDF) and should be submitted to the EFE Document Submissions Box folder(opens in new window) alongside it:

  • Letter of Recommendation(s)
  • TB Assessment or Test

  If you are completing the OPTIONAL Certificate of Clearance, please also provide proof of starting the process or of submission when you submit your application. 

  Letters of Recommendation must include the following:

  • Dated within four (4) years of your application
  • Written by a professional contact, i.e., an employer, faculty member (not the course instructor), or a coach. 
  • Written on official letterhead with appropriate contact information. 
  • A statement of how and for how long the recommender has known you and your suitability for a classroom setting. 

  Letters of Recommendation that do not meet the above requirements will not be accepted and you will be asked to resubmit a new letter. 

  Student Applications will not be processed without the accompanying, required supplemental documents.

• STEP 5: Submit Your Early Field Experience Student Application

  The Early Field Experience Student Application (PDF) will be distributed via email at the beginning of the semester to all students enrolled in an Early Field Experience-supported course participating in in-person volunteering. This application must be completed in its entirety and be submitted with your supplemental documents in order for you to be cleared for and/or receive a placement.

  If you are a distance learner (meaning that you require a volunteer placement outside of Chico), you are required to find your own placement at a K-12 school site within your local community. Please indicate that you are a distance learner or if you have found your own placement on the Early Field Experience Student Application (PDF). 

  Students who have found their own placements must include their placement information (days and time ranges) and their Mentor Teacher's contact information on their applications in the "Placement Information" section. Failure to do so will result in students being required to submit a new application. 

  Once you have completed your Early Field Experience Student Application (PDF) in full, submit it to the EFE Document Submissions Box folder(opens in new window) using the link provided. This link can also be found in the sidebar of our website.  

  Have questions about the application? Please contact Megan Mann by emailing efe@csuchico.edu(opens in new window) or by calling 530-898-6293. 

• STEP 6: Wait for Your Placement Form

  Once you have submitted your Early Field Experience Student Application (PDF), TB test or assessment results, and letter of recommendation to the EFE Document Submissions Box folder(opens in new window), please allow for one to two weeks for review. Volunteers are typically cleared for service and assigned placements (if required) by Week 4 of the Chico State semester. The School of Education will contact you should our office require any edits to your application or additional paperwork from you. The cut-off date for volunteer clearance and placement assignment is the end of Week 6 of the Chico State semester. 

  Students are not permitted to begin volunteering in any capacity until after they have received their Early Field Experience Placement Form.This includes in the classroom, at the school site, or at school site-related events. 

  Once your Early Field Experience Student Application has been processed and approved, you will receive an email containing your Early Field Experience Placement Form. This is your "golden ticket" to begin volunteering; for volunteers who are being assigned a placement by the School of Education, your placement information and volunteer schedule will be listed on this form. Your Mentor Teacher, Course Instructor, and Site Liaison (when applicable) will also receive a copy of your Placement Form signaling that you have completed the clearance process and may begin volunteering immediately. 

  Don't forget to log the hours you spend volunteering on your Early Field Experience Timelog (PDF)! 

Forms & Guides

• Student Forms
  • Early Field Experience Student Application (PDF) 
  • Early Field Experience Timelog (PDF)
  • Add/Update Volunteer Placement(s) Survey(opens in new window)
• Early Field Experience Guides
  • Early Field Experience Student Introduction & Guide (PDF)
  • Early Field Experience Class List (PDF)
  • EFE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (PDF)
  • Certificate of Clearance Instructions & Live Scan Form (PDF)
• Mentor Teacher Information & Forms
  • Early Field Experience Mentor Information (PDF)
  • EFE Elementary Teacher Request Form (PDF) 
  • EFE Secondary Teacher Request Form (PDF) 
  • SOE Disposition Rubric (PDF)

Questions?