District Interns in the Education Specialist for Mild / Moderate Disabilities Program enroll in the Professional Development Plan leading to the Preliminary California Credential and a Professional Clear California Credential.

District Interns begin the Professional Development Plan with the pre-requisite 240 clock hours of pre-service training provided before entering the classroom. CENTSE Education Specialists who are credentialed in a general education subject attend the pre-requisite 160 clock hours of pre-service training. Classes are held on Thursday evenings and selected Saturdays.

Teachers with a General Education credential, who wish to become Special Education teachers through the CENTSE program, can now teach in a Resource Specialist Program (RSP) assignment. This opportunity applies only to CENTSE District Interns. New District Interns or current teachers working under an Emergency or Waiver certificate may not convert to a District Intern RSP assignment.

District Interns in the regular Education Specialist Program must attend an additional 120 clock hours of practicum focusing on general education fieldwork conducted during the second summer.

Completion requirements include passage of the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) by the end of Level I program (two years or CENTSE – one year) in order to be recommended for the Preliminary California Credential. Completion of the Level II program (one year) leads to the recommendation of the Professional Clear California Credential.

The District Intern Program is tuition-free for those who culminate, are recomended for a credential, and serve within the District for one additional year.