Preliminary PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist Instruction, Credential

Department of Literacy, Early, Bilingual, and Special Education  (LEBSE)

Program Description
The Kremen School of Education and Human Development offers the Preliminary PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist Instruction Credential Program. Holders of PK-3 are authorized to teach all subjects in a self-contained general education classroom setting and to team teach or to regroup students across classrooms, in preschool through grade three.

Career Opportunities
A Preliminary PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist Instruction Credential provides authorization to teach in a self-contained classroom for a maximum time period of five years. Preliminary credentials are cleared through a district led induction process.

Requirements for Initial Admission

1. Provide a complete verification of a cumulative GPA of 2.67 or 2.75 on the last 60 units.
2. Two required Applications:
   • Cal State Apply Application to Fresno State unless:
     • You are a current Fresno State Master’s degree or post bacc student
     • You will still be a Fresno State Undergraduate student when starting the credential program
     • Complete the application here: https://www.calstate.edu/apply
     • Must apply for the same semester that you intend to start the credential program (i.e Apply for Summer 2024 if you plan to start that semester)
   • Cal State Apply Application to Fresno State unless:
     • You are a current Fresno State Master’s degree or post bacc student
     • You will still be a Fresno State Undergraduate student when starting the credential program
     • Complete the application here: https://www.calstate.edu/apply
     • Must apply for the same semester that you intend to start the credential program (i.e Apply for Summer 2024 if you plan to start that semester)
3. Required Credential Program Application Attachments:
   • Subject Matter Competency:
     • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education in one of these majors: 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.
       OR
     • Completion of 24 semester units or 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.
   • Pre-program field experience: Students should complete at least one course that provides observation and/or practicum experience as part of their undergraduate work.
   • Two Recommendations: Two current (within 1 year) recommendations are required
   • Admission Interview and personal narrative
   • Obtain a TB Risk Assessment form signed and stamped by the Fresno State Student Health Center, a private physician, or an appropriate State of CA health agency.
   • Obtain Certificates of Clearance, click on the Livescan/Certificates of Clearance Instructions.
   • Complete Mandated Reporters Training for “School Personnel” and “Child Care Providers” by completing the General Training, School Personnel Training, and Child Care Provider Training.
   • Provide unofficial transcript to verify undergraduate degree, GPA, and completion or verification of the completion of a US Constitution course (Constitution Courses) passed with a “C” or better, or verification that you have passed a U.S.Constitution exam.

Program Completion Requirements (University and State Credentialing)
Successful completion of a core of profession education courses, dispositional assessments, and all performance assessment tasks associated with the Fresno Assessment of Student Teachers (FAST).