Navigating the Path to Education Specialist Certification: A Comprehensive Guide

The field of education specialist is broad and encompasses professionals dedicated to helping individuals maximize their potential. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the requirements for education specialist certification, drawing upon insights into health education and special education, and providing a framework for aspiring professionals.

Defining the Role of an Education Specialist

The Department of Labor defines health educators as professionals who provide and manage health education programs designed to help individuals, families, and communities achieve and maintain healthy lifestyles. This definition highlights the proactive and management-oriented nature of the role.

Certification as a Health Education Specialist (CHES®)

Becoming a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) demonstrates your knowledge and skills in health education. It establishes you as a professional and distinguishes you from others in the health education and promotion field. Increasingly, employers prefer or require CHES® certification, making it advantageous to obtain certification early in your career. A student option exists, allowing you to take the exam before graduation if you've completed your coursework within 90 days of the exam date.

Academic Foundations for Health Education

A bachelor's degree in health education, public health, or a related field is typically required. Focus on coursework with 25 or more credits specifically dedicated to health education and promotion. Consult with your department chair to ensure your coursework aligns with certification requirements.

Gaining Practical Experience

Direct experience is invaluable. Seek opportunities to shadow professionals or gain hands-on practice to complement your classroom learning. Keeping meticulous records of your experiences and professional contacts will be beneficial for future letters of recommendation.

Exploring the Field

Use your undergraduate studies to explore the various facets of health education and promotion. Identifying areas of interest will help you focus your career path.

California's Education Specialist Instruction Credentials

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing issues education specialist teaching credentials. The state has transitioned to a system of preliminary and clear Education Specialist Instruction Credentials, replacing the previous Level I and Level II credentials.

Historical Context: Level I and Level II Credentials

The Commission previously issued a two-level special education teaching credential. The five-year Level I Education Specialist Instruction Credential was issued initially after basic requirements were met. The last date to finish the Level I program was January 31, 2013. Level I credential holders in Level II programs were allowed to finish their programs. The Level II credential was issued upon completion of all requirements. The last date to enroll in a Level II program was December 31, 2014, and the last date to complete a Level II program was January 31, 2019.

Certificates of Eligibility

Certificates of Eligibility may have been issued to California-prepared individuals meeting Level I requirements but not yet employed in a specialist position. This certificate allowed individuals to seek employment in specialist positions listed on the certificate.

Transitioning to the Clear Credential

California-prepared holders of the Level I Education Specialist Instruction Credential can obtain the Clear Education Specialist Instruction Credential by completing a Commission-approved Teacher Induction Program and Level II content embedded in the preliminary credential program.

Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential

The Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential is valid for five years from the date of issuance.

Requirements for the Preliminary Credential

To obtain a Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential, candidates must fulfill several requirements, including:

Subject-Matter Competence: Candidates must demonstrate subject-matter competence through one of the following options:
- Passage of the appropriate examination(s)
- Completion of a Commission-approved subject matter program
- Completion of applicable coursework verified by a Commission-approved program of professional preparation
- Completion of a degree major in one of the acceptable majors for the Multiple or Single Subject Credential
- Completion of a combination of coursework and examination options that meet or exceed the domains of the subject matter requirements.
This requirement applies only to candidates earning the preliminary Education Specialist Teaching Credential and not to those who obtained the Level I Education Specialist Teaching Credential.
Subject-Matter Program: Successful completion of a Commission-approved subject-matter program.

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Coursework: Successful completion of applicable coursework verified by a Commission-approved program of professional preparation.
Degree Major: Complete a degree major from a regionally-accredited college or university in one of the statutory subjects available for a Single Subject Credential or in liberal studies.
Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA): Pass the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA). Prior to 7/1/2022, Education Code 44283.2 exempted all Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) candidates from the RICA requirement. However, Senate Bill 488 now requires that candidates who enroll in an ECSE preparation program on or after 7/1/2022 to pass RICA.
U.S. Constitution: Complete a course or examination on the U.S. Constitution.
Education Specialist Credential Program: Complete a Commission-approved Education Specialist Credential program in an education specialist specialty area.
CPR Certification: Possess certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that covers infant, child, and adult CPR skills and meets the standards established by the American Heart Association or Red Cross.
Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA): Complete the Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA) for Mild to Moderate and Extensive Support Needs candidates.
Recommendation: Obtain a formal recommendation for the credential by the program sponsor.

Clear Education Specialist Instruction Credential

The Clear Education Specialist Instruction Credential represents the completion of advanced preparation and signifies a higher level of expertise.

Transitioning to the Clear Credential for Holders of Level I Credentials

California-prepared holders of the Level I Education Specialist Instruction Credential can obtain the Clear Education Specialist Instruction Credential through completion of a Commission-approved Teacher Induction Program.

Individual Learning Plan (ILP)

Based on the Preliminary Program Transition Plan, the ILP is a comprehensive document that must address the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP). The ILP provides the ‘road map’ for the streamlined induction experience for clear credential candidates, and completion of the ILP-based activities provides evidence in determining candidate competency for the clear credential recommendation.

The ILP must be completed by the special education teacher, the employing agency, and the program sponsor within the first 60 days of the teacher’s enrollment in the program to allow the teacher the maximum time to complete the clear credential requirements. If a preliminary program sponsor is no longer available or if the special education teacher transitions to a new program sponsor, the new partnering program sponsor must review and make appropriate changes to the ILP.

If an individual holds more than one general or special education credential that requires the completion of an induction program for renewal, the ILP that guides the teacher's advanced preparation shall be written to clear all general and special education preliminary credentials held as is applicable to the candidate’s assignment and induction participation.

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification

Individuals who earn National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification in the area of Exceptional Needs/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood after the issuance of their California Preliminary Education Specialist Instruction Credential will be issued a Clear Credential. Individuals meeting this criteria must submit an application (form 41-4), full application processing fee and a photocopy of their National Board Certification directly to the Commission office.

Transition Plan

The preliminary education specialist preparation program will develop a Transition Plan for each candidate prior to the completion of the preliminary program that will assist the developers of the ILP. The Plan includes the individual's strengths and areas of need that can be addressed in the clear credential preparation program. The Plan facilitates the individual's transition from initial teacher preparation to a clear education specialist credential preparation program by building upon and providing opportunities for demonstration and application of the pedagogical knowledge and skills acquired in the preliminary credential preparation program.

Definitions of Key Terms

Understanding the specific definitions used in the context of education specialist certification is crucial. Here are some key terms:

Full-Time Teaching Experience: Teaching a minimum of 4 hours a day, unless the minimum statutory attendance requirement for the students served is less. Experience must be on a daily basis and for at least 75% of the school year. Experience may be accrued in increments of a minimum of one semester. No part-time or combination of teaching with other school employment will be accepted. All experience must be gained in public schools in California.
Individual Learning Plan (ILP): Based on the Transition Plan, the ILP includes appropriate professional development and/or course work designed to expand and apply the candidate’s skills and knowledge. The scope of the ILP is determined by the teacher’s educational setting and/or areas identified in the Transition Plan as areas of need. The ILP identifies the coursework, experiences, and/or tasks that must be completed while guiding the activities to support growth and improvement of professional practice.
Transition Plan: The preliminary education specialist preparation program will develop a Transition Plan for each candidate prior to the completion of the preliminary program that will assist the developers of the Individual Learning Plan (ILP). The Plan includes the individual’s strengths and areas of need that can be addressed in the clear credential preparation program. The Plan facilitates the individual’s transition from initial teacher preparation to a clear education specialist credential preparation program by building upon and providing opportunities for demonstration and application of the pedagogical knowledge and skills acquired in the preliminary credential preparation program.
Developmental Delay: Student who needs special education and related services by experiencing a delay in one or more of the following areas: physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development or adaptive development.
Hard-of-Hearing or Hearing Loss: Hearing impairment or hearing loss, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a child's educational performance but that is not included under the definition of deafness but may include problems involving the cochlea, the sensory organ of hearing. Includes Unilateral or Bilateral, Whether Fluctuating, Conductive, Sensorineural, and/or Auditory Neuropathy.
Educational Assessment: Assessment of students in a comprehensive manner within the authorization of the teaching credential or added authorization using multiple sources of information and a variety of strategies that directly measure a student’s performance to meet goals in areas of grade-level academic curriculum and/or functional goals designed to meet the Individualized Education Program (IEP), Individualized Family Service Program (IFSP), and/or Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) goals and objectives regarding eligibility and services that directly result from the student’s disability according to state and federal accountability systems.
Special Education Support: Support includes participation in the Individualized Education Program (IEP), Individualized Family Service Program (IFSP), and/or Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) process including planning and implementation of the student’s IEP, IFSP, and/or ITP; providing consultative, collaborative, and coordinating instruction with students, parents, teachers, and other community and school personnel; planning, developing, and implementing instructional program plans relative and within the authorization of the credential or added authorization.

San Diego State University's Education Specialist Programs

San Diego State University offers programs leading to Education Specialist Credentials in Special Education authorized by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. These include:

Mild to Moderate Support Needs
Extensive Support Needs
Early Childhood Special Education

These credentials authorize holders to teach students with designated disabilities in various settings. They require completion of Preliminary Education Specialist requirements followed by completion of the Clear Professional Induction Specialist requirements within five years of employment in an authorized setting.

Early Childhood Special Education Added Authorization

The department also offers the Early Childhood Special Education Added Authorization, which authorizes holders of other specialist credentials to work with children and their families from birth through pre-kindergarten.

Common Requirements

There are some common requirements between the Education Specialist credential programs and the Master of Arts degree. Once admitted, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 and must successfully complete all practicum experiences.

Standards for Admission to Preliminary Credentials

Candidates for any of the Education Specialist Credentials in Special Education must satisfy specific standards and qualifications.

Admission Requirements

Completed applications will include items verifying satisfaction of the following:

CBEST Examination: Students must pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) prior to admission.
Subject Matter Competence: Students must verify completion of subject matter competence with a passing score on the CSET: Multiple Subjects. For students applying for the Specialist Credential in Early Childhood Special Education, an appropriate major such as Child Development, Developmental Psychology, or Liberal Studies is required.
United States Constitution: Demonstrated knowledge of the principles and provisions of the United States Constitution through successful completion of a three-unit collegiate- level course or examination.
Prerequisite Courses:
- SPED 450 - Classroom Adaptations for Special Populations
- SPED 501 - Typical and Atypical Learning Processes
- SPED 502 - Field Experiences in General and Special Education
- SPED 527 - Special Education in a Pluralistic Society (or CLAD/BCLAD credential)
Grade Point Average: Candidates must have a minimum 2.67 overall or 2.75 in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units attempted.
Tuberculin Clearance: Evidence of a negative tuberculosis test.
California Certificate of Clearance: This certificate represents a background clearance and check conducted by the State Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Possessors of K-12 California credentials may satisfy this requirement by submitting copies of those certificates.

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