Credential Programs
Special Education Credential Program
Program Description
The Project Pipeline Special Education Credential Program is a three-year program for those individuals who want to earn a California Professional Clear Education Specialist Teaching Credential to teach students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Level I and Level II. Program participants will teach full time as the teacher of record, earning a salary, while taking courses every other weekend to earn their credential. Interns will take their courses in a cohort, where a group of fellow interns will take all their courses together, from Pre-service to the end of the program, to encourage peer relationships and support. Each intern will have a mentor teacher called a Support Provider, assigned and hired by the district, whose role is to develop a sustained mentoring relationship with the intern. In addition, Project Pipeline assigns each intern a Supervisor who will visit the interns' classrooms eight times a year to assess and constructively evaluate teaching performance.

When an intern has completed all credential program requirements, a California Professional Clear Education Specialist Teaching Credential for Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Level I and Level II will be issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. This credential is valid in all California school districts, as well as other U.S. states that accept California teaching credentials.

Program Locations
Project Pipeline offers the Special Education Credential Program at our Contra Costa and Sacramento centers. This program is not offered at our Alameda center.

Program Schedule
  • 160 clock hours or more of Pre-service training is provided before entering the classroom as a teacher intern. Those classes are held during the first summer in the program, prior to starting the Professional Development Plan.


  • Three years of Professional Development Plan coursework (your credential courses) will be held primarily every other weekend, from September through June of each year.


  • Three years of teaching on the Education Specialist Intern Credential (while simultaneously taking the Professional Development Plan coursework). The Education Specialist Intern Credential is not a substitute teaching credential. It is a credential established by the State of California that allows you to perform your student teaching component as the paid, official teacher of record, while you simultaneously attend a California approved alternative certification program to earn your Professional Clear teaching credential within three years. You must have subject matter competency requirements met to qualify to teach on the intern teaching credential. Teaching performed prior to receiving the intern credential will not count towards your three year student teaching requirement.


  • Submission of a working portfolio and an exit presentation at the end of the three years of teaching on the Education Specialist Intern Credential.
The Education Specialist Professional Clear Teaching Credential is earned upon completing Pre-service, the Professional Development Plan coursework, three years of teaching on the Education Specialist Intern Credential, submission of a working portfolio and an exit presentation.

Admission Requirements
  1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university.


  2. Passing score on the California Basic Skills Test (CBEST).


  3. Passing score on the appropriate CSET, SSAT and/or PRAXIS II exams, OR a Subject Matter Competency Verification Letter from the School of Education of an accredited California university. The Subject Matter Competency Verification Letter is issued by a certified credential analyst at a California State University or a University of California's School of Education, and states that you have met subject matter competency by majoring and taking the appropriate course work in the subject that you want earn your credential.


  4. Official transcripts showing EITHER proof of completion of a course in U.S. Constitution (two semester units or three quarter units), OR proof of passing score of an equivalency examination given by a regionally-accredited college or university.


  5. Certificate of Clearance (fingerprints) filed with and approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.


  6. Full-time teaching contract with a participating district, teaching at least 70% of the time in a special education classroom.
Teacher Contract and Job Placement
To participate in the Project Pipeline Special Education Credential Program, interns are required to have a full-time teaching contract in a special education classroom, teaching at least 70% of the class time in a special education setting.

Project Pipeline offers a free Teacher Recruitment Fair for applicants who have been pre-screened and approved to enter our credential program contingent upon receiving a full-time teacher contract (teaching 70% of the class time in a special education classroom, with a participating school district). Most of the interns participating in Project Pipeline receive their teacher contracts as a result of attending the Recruitment Fair for job interviews, and following up with interested school districts after the event. Please note that job placement is not guaranteed as hiring decisions are made solely by the participating school districts. Attending the Teacher Recruitment Fair is not mandatory. Approved applicants who have already secured a full-time teaching contract on their own with a participating school district do not need to attend the fair.
Average Intern Salary
(Over Three Years)
Alameda County: $34,000 - $45,000**
Contra Costa County: $31,000 - $39,000**
Sacramento Area: $28,500 - $34,000**

** Average Intern Salary based on first-year intern annual salaries, before tax and other payroll deductions. These figures do not include salary increases earned for additional years of employment or salary increases for course credit earned beyond a bachelor's degree. Project Pipeline semester credits qualify for salary increases.
Tuition and Fees 2008-2009 Academic Year
Application Fee: $50
 
Enrollment Fee: $500
Due upon enrollment into the program, after you have received an application approval by Project Pipeline AND a full time contract from a consortium school district.
Program Tuition: $4,510, 1st year cost only for a 3 year program.
10 monthly installments of $451.00 to Project Pipeline (September through June). Most school districts offer an automatic payroll deduction plan for your convenience.

Total Tuition/Fees for the 2007-2008 academic year: $5,060
CCTC fees are not included in the total cost. CCTC Livescan fingerprint clearance fee is $66* CCTC Application for District Intern Certificate is $55*
* Commission on Teacher Credentialing fees as of 9/00.
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