Candidates must meet the following admission criteria to be eligible for admission to the PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential Program:

1. Possession of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally-accredited institution of higher education. 

2. Demonstrate Subject Matter competency.

Candidates may meet the subject matter competence requirement through one of the following two options: 

   (A) Possession of a BA degree or higher from a regionally-accredited institution of higher education with a degree major in Child Development, Child and Adolescent Development, Human Development, Early  Childhood Education, Child and Family Studies, Early Childhood Studies, Human Development and Family Science, Family Science, or Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies. 

  (B) Completion of 24-semester units or the equivalent quarter units of non-remedial, degree-applicable coursework in child development or early childhood education. 

3. Must be fingerprinted and hold a valid CTC Certificate of Clearance, Emergency Permit, or other CTC Valid Credential. 

4. Submit a negative tuberculosis skin test taken within the last four (4) years or chest X-ray taken within the last eight (8) years. Tuberculosis clearance must be valid through student teaching.

5. Submit a completed application packet. 

The proposed PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction credential preparation program determines that each candidate meets the subject matter requirement prior to being given daily whole class instructional responsibilities in a preschool through third grade setting.

Subject matter competency may be demonstrated through one of the following options:   

1) Possession of a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally-accredited institution of higher education with a degree major in any of the following: 

• Child Development 
• Child and Adolescent Development 
• Human Development 
• Early Childhood Education 
• Child and Family Studies 
• Early Childhood Studies 
• Human Development and Family Science 
• Family Science 
• Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies 

2) Completion of 24 semester units or the equivalent quarter units of non-remedial, degree-applicable coursework at a regionally-accredited institution of higher education in early childhood education and/or child development.

A complete credential program application must be submitted online at MyCED.  The PK-3CP application and instructions for submitting are available below under Program Application Requirements. To access MyCED, you must be a current CSULB student or have already submitted your application on calstate.edu/apply and received a Campus ID#. 

Use the checklist below to organize your application documents prior to uploading all required documents to MyCED. 

• Unofficial Transcripts – Candidates will need Unofficial Transcripts from each institution you have attended, including CSULB.
• Valid Negative TB Test – Skin Tests, Risk Assessments and Blood Tests are valid for 4 years and Chest x-rays are valid for 8 years. Verification must show the date read and results (negative).
• Subject Matter Competence – Proof of BA degree or higher in any of the required degree majors or completion of 24-semester units or the equivalent quarter units of non-remedial, degree-applicable coursework in child development or early childhood education. Click on Subject Matter Competency in the navigation menu for more information.
• CTC Clearance - A copy of your Certificate of Clearance, Emergency Permit, or other CTC Valid Credential.
• Professional Equivalency for Clinical Practice - Candidates who choose to receive equivalency for clinical practice hours, may submit a professional verification form of prior experience and a copy of their Child Development Permit. 

*The Proposed PK-3CP Application is not available until the program is approved

For assistance in submitting your MyCED application documents click here.

Please keep copies of all the above documents for your own records. 

If you have any questions, contact the TPAC office at ced-tpac@csulb.edu or contact the PK-3 ECE advisor at Georgina.Ogaz@csulb.edu. The office is open Monday -Friday from 9am-12pm and 1pm-5pm.