Our single-subject preliminary teaching credential program is a partnership between Bay Area Teachers Center and San Francisco State University.  The preliminary credential is granted by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Before you apply to the Bay Area Teachers Center you must have the following:

• Bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or better
• Completed the Early Field Experience requirement (see below)
• Passed the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)
• Fulfilled the Second Language Requirement (see below)

For your application:

• Complete the Program Application
• Submit official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutes
• Statement of Purpose – should be typed, double spaced, and no longer than three pages.  Describe succinctly your reasons for applying for the program, your preparation for this field of study and why our program is a good fit for you.  In addition, please consider the following questions:  Why do you want to be a teacher?  What personal qualities do you possess and what experiences have prepared you to work in a collaborative environment?
• Documentation of Early Field Experience
• Documentation of Second Language Requirement
• Documentation of passing CBEST scores
• 3 letters of recommendation on letterhead
• Proof of Subject Matter Competency
• Certificate of Clearance – In accordance with California law and education code, all teaching credential candidates must go through a background check.  Once you have passed this requirement, send in your printed documentation.

Once we have received your application you will:

• Complete admissions interview with BATC Director
• Complete online application for SFSU Graduate College of Education
• Pay $55 application fee to SFSU Graduate College of Education
• Be notified of your acceptance to our program within three weeks

If you are interested in applying for an Intern Credential to work in a public or public charter school in San Francisco or Oakland Unified School Districts, click here to learn about your eligibility and the application requirements.  Contact Bay Area Teachers Center for more information.

Mail your application materials to:

Lucinda Otto, Director
Bay Area Teachers Center
Lick Wilmerding High School
755 Ocean Avenue
San Francisco, CA  94112

Early Field Experience

Title 5 Regulations from the California State University Chancellor's Office requires each credential candidate to have participated in a supervised Early Field Experience in a school setting prior to application to a credential program. The Early Field Experience is designed to simulate the credential you are seeking so we may gain a preliminary assessment of your potential as a classroom teacher. Thus, the classroom must be in any single subject in single subject, general education classroom setting. However, the subject area need not be the same as your subject area. Completion of your field experience must be documented by submitting this signed form. In addition, the quality of your work must be evaluated in letter of recommendation from a teacher or administrator.

DOCUMENTATION OF EARLY FIELD EXPERIENCE: SFSU permits a variety of options in meeting this requirement. Below, please indicate which option you have met. The bottom of this page must be signed and submitted with your application to verify completion of the Early Field Experience.

1. Completion of 45 hours paid experience as a teacher aide or teacher assistant the majority of which time has been direct or indirect contact with students. The classroom teacher or a site administrator or a district administrator may verify this.

2. Completion of 45 clock hours as a classroom teacher either in a public school with an emergency permit, as a substitute teacher, or in a private school as verified by an administrator.

3. Completion of 45 clock hours working with students as a volunteer in a regular education classroom with a credentialed teacher. The classroom teacher would verify this experience.

4. Successful completion of any course or courses which have a field experience in which you worked with children or young adults. Please note course(s) and include a copy of transcript and/or course description for verification, as well as a letter from a teacher or site administrator.

Applicant Name____________________________________           

SSN______________________________________________

School Name_______________________________________    

City_______________________________________________

Grade Level(s)______________________________________    

Inclusive dates:_____________________________________

Environment:

_____All fluent English speakers   

_____Bilingual                             

_____Limited English Proficient (at least 35% of the class)

 _____Urban                                                    

_____Suburban                           

 _____Rural

            
Teacher or Administrator signature                       

__________________________________________________

Print name and position

____________________________________________

SECOND LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

Candidates must show verification of experience learning a single second language obtained through one of the options described below:

A. Completion of 1-6 semester units (or 1-9 quarter units) in course work that emphasizes the learning of a language other than English (including American Sign Language). A grade of "C" or better, "Pass," or "Credit," must be earned in each course, verified by an official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university, or comparable institution outside the United States. Professional development and continuing education units from such institutions are acceptable.

B. Successful completion of two years of course work in a language other than English in grades seven (7) through twelve (12) in a public or private secondary school with an average grade of C or better, verified by an official transcript or a letter from the school.

C. Successful completion of the training in a language other than English given by the Peace Corps to volunteers preparing to serve in a non-English speaking country, verified by official Peace Corps documentation.

D. Immigrating to the United States from a non-English speaking country at any age, verified by a birth certificate, passport, entry visas, or other documents.

E. Passage of any nationally administered, standardized examination in a language other than English, verified by an official score report.

F. A proficiency level of "novice-high" or above on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Inc. (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines or "0+" (zero plus) or above on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) Proficiency Descriptions, verified by an official score report.

G. A score on a College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) examination in a language other than English administered by the College Board equal to or higher than the minimum score recommended by the American Council on Education for awarding credit for two semesters, verified by an official score report.

H. Residence in a non-English speaking country or countries for twelve consecutive months at age 18 or older, verified by passports, work visas, letters from employers, or other documents.

I. Successful completion of one academic year (over a single period) at age 14 or above at a school in which all instruction, except in the subject area of English, was delivered in a language other than English, verified by an official transcript or a letter from the school.)

J. Successful completion of two academic years in a non-English language development school program.  Must be verified by letter or transcript. (e.g. Chinese language after-school or Saturday language program)

K. Achievement of a score on the Advanced Placement Examination in a language other than English offered by Educational Testing Service for which college credit or advanced standing is awarded, verified by either an official transcript or a letter from the registrar's or admission's office from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

L. Completion of 90 hours of language training, with a grade of "C" or better or the equivalent, in a language other than English offered under the auspices of the California Department of Education's Bilingual Teacher Training Program (BTTP) or by a county office or school district whose program, prior to its implementation, has been deemed equivalent to the BTTP by the California Department of Education. This training is to be verified by a letter signed by an authorized representative of the BTTP or county or district program.

Fees and Financial Aid

Students in the BATC Single-Subject Preliminary Credential Program are eligible for financial aid through the San Francisco State Financial Aid office.  Financial Aid generally is granted in the form of Federal Pell Grants, Federal TEACH Grants, and Stafford Direct Loans.  For more information see the SFSU Office of Student Financial Aid. 

If you are a teacher willing to meet certain requirements for your first five years of teaching there are several loan forgiveness programs.  Depending on a variety of factors, you can receive up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness.  See the Department of Education Federal Student Aid website for details.