Please find guidance below for credential requirements due to the effects of COVID-19 and/or Governor Newson's Executive Order, N-66-20, on 5/29/2020.
This information is for all students who have completed student teaching or a teaching internship.
Many of you have been unable to complete your remaining credential requirements (CalTPA exams and/or RICA exam) due to the effects of COVID-19 and the impact on testing centers. As a result of California Governor Newson’s Executive Order, N-66-20, on 5/29/2020, the CalTPAs and RICA exam have been temporarily suspended as a Preliminary Credential requirement for those effected by COVID-19. This means that you can apply for your Preliminary Credential if you have not completed these exams and meet the criteria outlined below.
Please know that the CalTPAs and RICA exam will still be required to receive your Clear Credential.
The Preliminary Credential is valid for 5 years. During that 5 year period, it is your responsibility to be hired into a teaching position and complete an induction program in order to receive the Clear Credential (induction programs are typically completed in the first and second year of teaching). During that 5 year period, you will also need to complete the CalTPAs and/or RICA exam that you were unable to finish due to COVID-19. Be aware that the 5-year Preliminary Credential cannot be renewed or extended so it is vital that you keep track of the requirements you have left to complete and work with your hired school district to meet them all.
Please review all credential requirements to confirm which requirements you have or have not met.
CTC has provided the following flowchart to guide candidates on who is and is not eligible for the Preliminary Credential per EO-N-66-20.
We have determined that the majority of our candidates have been able to meet most credential requirements but have been highly impacted in completing the RICA exam and the TPA exams due to COVID-19. Please see the information below based on the specific credential requirement you have been unable to meet:
I have completed all credential requirements EXCEPT for the RICA exam. (Multiple Subject or Education Specialist candidates)
If between March 19, 2020 - August 31, 2020 you were unable to complete the RICA exam due to COVID-19 related testing center closures, you are eligible for the Preliminary Credential based on CTC action and EO N-66-20. Submit a credential application and proof that COVID-19 affected your ability to take the RICA exam* to your advisor.
I have completed all credential requirements EXCEPT for the TPA exam(s). (Multiple Subject or Single Subject candidates)
In order to be eligible for the Preliminary Credential based on CTC action and EO N-66-20, you must also satisfy all of the following conditions during the 2019-2020 academic year:
If you meet ALL of the conditions, submit a credential application to your advisor and fill out the TPA condition form.
If you do not meet ALL of the conditions, EO-N-66-20 does not apply to you.
I have completed all credential requirements EXCEPT for the RICA exam and the TPA exam(s). (Multiple Subject candidates)
In order to be eligible for the Preliminary Credential based on CTC action and EO N-66-20, you must also satisfy the following conditions during the 2019-2020 academic year:
If you meet ALL of the conditions, submit a credential application, proof that COVID-19 affected your ability to take the RICA exam between March 19, 2020 - August 31, 2020* to your advisor, and fill out the TPA condition form.
If you do not meet ALL of the conditions, EO-N-66-20 does not apply to you.
*RICA proof may include but is not limited to: confirmation of the RICA being scheduled/rescheduled/canceled between March 19, 2020 - August 31, 2020; documentation that there are no available testing centers within 1-hour drive of your home; a doctors note stating you inability to visiting testing centers; a brief statement of your inability to visit testing centers because you are a caretaker to or live with someone who is immunocompromised.
This information is for teacher candidates who are interested in completing a teaching internship in fall 2020.
As a result of California Governor Newson’s Executive Order, N-66-20, on 5/29/2020, Fall 2020 Teaching Intern Applicants can become intern eligible and recommended for an intern credential without meeting subject matter competency/pass all CSET exams.
Please note that this is applicable to Fall 2020 internships only. The School of Education Response Team approved a policy on 6/3/2020 to allow teacher candidates to become intern eligible for fall 2020 without all their CSET exams passed (if interested in reading this policy, you can request it from your advisor).
Please understand that the CSET exams are NOT being waived entirely. All teacher candidates must meet the subject matter competency requirement/pass CSETs in order to be recommended for their Preliminary Credential. CSETs must be passed before the internship credential expires (intern credentials are valid for 2 years and cannot be renewed or extended).
While the Executive Order provides an opportunity for teacher candidates to complete an internship without delay this fall due to COVID-19, it presents a unique challenge. Teaching Internships are immensely challenging and recommended only for teacher candidates with prior teaching experience. An internship is first-year teaching while balancing coursework and completing credential requirements. Those who still need to pass their CSET exams will be additionally challenged to pass these exams in addition to all other credential requirements (i.e. the CalTPAs or TPE Portfolio and the RICA exam) while maintaining full-time employment. Any student applying for fall 2020 internship without their CSET exams passed must recognize the additional challenge completing their CSET exams will create. Failure to complete the CSET exams and all other credential requirements may result in an inability to continue employment in their teaching position.
1. Apply to be an intern. Fall 2020 intern applications are currently being reviewed on a rolling basis and the deadline to submit an application is Sunday, July 26, 2020. Once an application has been submitted, it will be reviewed within 2 weeks.
2. Find a full-time teaching position in your credential field. Intern eligible students must be hired in a full-time, public school teaching position in their credential area and notify their advisor of their position by Friday, August 21, 2020. If a student is not hired by this deadline, they must reapply for spring 2021 internship. The spring 2021 intern application will require all CSETs passed/meeting subject matter competency.
This information is specifically for teacher candidates who are on track to apply for spring 2021 student teaching.
Due to the effects of COVID-19 and the impact on testing centers, CTC has provided flexibility for the requirements to advance to student teaching. CTC is allowing teacher candidates to advance to spring 2021 student teaching even if they have not passed all CSET exams/met the subject matter competency requirement. The School of Education Response Team approved a policy on 6/3/2020 to allow teacher candidates to student teach in spring 2021 without all their CSET exams passed (if interested in reading this policy, you can request it from your advisor).
Please understand that the CSET exams are NOT being waived entirely. All teacher candidates must pass all CSETs/meet the subject matter competency requirement in order to be recommended for the Preliminary Credential after student teaching. We strongly encourage you to make this a priority before/while student teaching, to the best of your ability and testing center availability, so that you can receive your Preliminary Credential in a timely manner. It is recommended that you complete your CSETs by the end of April 2021.
While this conditional waiver provides an opportunity for teacher candidates to move forward in their program without delay due to COVID-19, it presents a unique challenge. Student Teaching has always been a demanding experience. In addition to your daily responsibilities in the classroom and weekly coursework, there are additional credential exams to be completed (i.e. the CalTPAs or TPE Portfolio and the RICA exam). Those who still need to pass their CSET exams will be in the unique position of completing the CSETs in addition to these other exams. Again, we emphasize the importance of prioritizing your exams so that you can receive your Preliminary Credential at the conclusion of student teaching.
Apply for student teaching. The application for spring 2021 student teaching is due Tuesday, September 1, 2020.
Please refer to your program pathway and discuss your progress with your advisor if you are unsure what semester to apply for student teaching.
This information is for teacher candidates interested in applying to be intern eligible for Spring 2021.
California Governor Newson’s Executive Order, N-66-20, on 5/29/2020, addressed changes applicable to Fall 2020 internships only. For this reason, Spring 2021 internship requirements remain unchanged. This includes the subject matter competency requirement which requires that all CSET exams be passed in order to become intern eligible.
The University of Redlands is bound to the internship requirements per Educational Code and CTC policy. However, the School of Education does have the ability to make adjustments to our own application process and deadlines. In order to give teacher candidate more time to pass their CSET exams and apply to be an intern for Spring 2020, the following changes have been made to the application process:
1. Apply to be an intern. The Spring 2021 intern application will be available on Monday, July 27, 2020.
2. Find a full-time teaching position in your credential field. Intern eligible students must be hired in a full-time teaching position in their credential area and notify their advisor of their position by Friday, December 20, 2020. If a student is not hired by this deadline, they have the option to student teach (if they also apply for a student teaching placement by September 1, 2020) or continue seeking an internship for Fall 2021.
Please refer to your program pathway and discuss your progress with your advisor if you are unsure what semester you can apply to become intern eligible.
| Guidance Webinar for Teacher Candidates (6/12/2020) | Webinar Recording |
| PowerPoint Slides | |
| Questions |
Teacher candidates affected by school closures have the following options to completing the CalTPA requirement:
1) Complete cycles using evidence collected prior to COVID-19; Submit Spring/Summer 2020
2) Complete cycles using Synchronous Online Teaching; Submit Spring/Summer 2020
3) Program applies for PS-VTW Complete next academic year while enrolled in approved Induction Program
4) Stay affiliated or enrolled in Teacher Preparation Program; Submit Summer, Fall Winter
