The Idiots Guide to Obtaining an Adult Teaching Credential

1
The Idiots Guide to Obtaining an Adult Teaching
Credential

• Presenter
• Vanan Yahnian

2
What are we talking about

• Informally called an Adult Teaching Credential
• Actual name Designated Subjects Adult Education
  Teaching Credential
• Government issued certificate
• Required for all teachers working in public
  institutions

3
Common Misconceptions

• I dont need a credential to teach once I have my
  MATESOL degree
• I cant start the credentialing process until
  Ive graduated

4
Roadblocks to Success
5
Red Tape
6
Forms
7
Misleading Information
8
Government Requirements
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Level I Requirements(Preliminary Credential)

• Verify 5 years of experience and/or education
  related to each subject to be named on the
  credential
• High School Diploma, GED, or Foreign equivalent
• Pass the CBEST (California Basic Educational
  Skills Test)

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Level I (cont.)

• U.S. Constitution
• Complete a course (at least 2 semester/3 quarter
  units)
• Pass an examination given by a regionally-accredit
  ed junior/community college or university
• Note This may be waived.
• Obtain verification that the applicant has been
  fully apprised of the requirements (including
  Level I II)

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Level II Requirements(Professional Clear
Credential)

• Possess a valid preliminary full-time adult
  education teaching credential
• Obtain verification by the Employing School
  District of the successful teaching of a minimum
  of 1 course in each of four terms within the
  5-year period of validity of the Preliminary
  Adult Education Teaching Credential

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Level II (cont.)

• Obtain verification that the applicant has
  completed all of Level I and Level II
• Complete a unit requirement in health education,
  including, but not limited to, nutrition the
  physiological and sociological effects of
  alcohol, narcotic, and drug abuse and the use of
  tobacco (this requirement must also include
  training in CPR that covers infant, child, and
  adult CPR skills)

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How-To Options

• _at_ SFSU
• Department of Administration Interdisciplinary
  Studies (DAIS)
• a. Level I ISED 706 Principles and Methods of
  Adult Vocational Education
• ISED 783 Introduction to Technologies for
  Adult Learning
• b. Level II ISED 781 Teaching Improvement
  Process in Adult Workforce Education
• ISED 782 Practicum in Adult Learning
• HED 635 Secondary School Health
• c. U.S. Constitution Course
• d. Live Scan Fingerprinting (www.ag.ca.gov)
• (ISEDInterdisciplinary Studies in Education)

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Alternative Options

• LEAs (Local Educational Agency)
• e.g. Lee Clark (www.leeclark.org)
• San Mateo Adult School (www.smace.org)
• Toni Martinez

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The Cost

• CBEST 41.00
• Live Scan 103.00
• Application Fee 55.00
• Constitution Exam 35.00-60.00
• Subtotal 259.00
• Plus any tuition fees (SFSU/LEA)

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Odds and Ends

• 46 Business Days approximate processing time for
  a credential application
• Anyone (international students included) can
  obtain a credential
• An adult credential cannot be used to teach in
  elementary schools (this requires a separate
  credential)
• Renewal fee 55.00

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Survey of Expectations
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• I expected the program to be rigorous and I
  expected to receive a great deal of feedback
  regarding my teaching (I thought I would have
  more classroom experience and/or opportunities to
  try out lessons with my peers).
• I definitely thought Id get more teaching
  experience from the get go, but I wasnt
  surprised to see an emphasis on theory.
• I wasnt sure all I know was that I was
  terrified of getting up I front of a class
• I had no expectationsexcept homework. Im glad
  I didnt know how much reading thered be!

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• I didnt really have expectations. In hindsight,
  I wish I had gotten more hands-on teaching
  experience.
• I feel totally unprepared to teach!!!
• YIKES (
• Im really glad I interned and worked at the ALI
  otherwise I would feel like I didnt get enough
  teaching experience.
• I still feel there should have been a larger
  hands on component to the program. I wonder if
  ALI could be incorporated into the MATESOL
  program.

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Useful Websites

• California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
  (2006). Credential Information.
  http//www.ctc.ca.gov/
• (This State of California website lists and
  explains the numerous steps to acquiring an adult
  teaching credential. Also has links to almost all
  forms and paperwork that you might need.)
• Credential Services Teacher Preparation Center
  SFSU (2006). Designated Subjects Adult Education
  Credential. http//www.sfsu.edu/cstpc/index.html
• Department of Administration Interdisciplinary
  Studies SFSU (2006). DAIS credential Programs.
  http//www.sfsu.edu/coe/dais/daiscred.html
• California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)
  http//www.cbest.nesinc.com
• San Mateo Adult School http//www.smace.org
• Lee Clark http//www.leeclark.org