Early Field Experience for the Bilingual Credential Program

Credential Program Materials

Learn about the Early Field Experience (EFE) for the Bilingual Preliminary Credential Admissions Requirement.

What is Early Field Experience (EFE)?

All candidates must successfully complete a volunteer or paid observation and participation in a classroom setting. The classroom may be in a public or private school within the past 7 years. The classroom may be TK-12, general education, general education bilingual, or special education. The purpose is to get you into a classroom to see what a “day in the life of a teacher” is really about.

This requirement must be COMPLETE before the start of the credential program. You may apply for a credential program if the observations are in progress or scheduled to comple

Options for Completing This Requirement

There are several ways to complete this experience:

You must successfully complete 30 hours of volunteer or paid observation and participation in a classroom setting. The classroom my be in a public or private school within the past 7 years. The classroom may be TK-12, general education, general education bilingual, or special education. You must upload a completed "Early Field Experience" Bilingual Program Verification Form to your application (select the link below to access). 

Bilingual credential applicants can complete DLE 416L, "Biliteracy Foundations for Teaching and Learning in Diverse Communities Field Experience" (1 unit) with a C or better to meet this requirement.  While enrolled in this class you will complete the required observation hours.  When applying to the credential program, this class can be in progress or planned to take the summer prior to starting the credential program.

If you already hold a Bachelor's degree, you can use substitute teaching to meet this requirement (instead of the EFE Bilingual Program Verification Form, you would upload copies of your pay stubs showing 30 hours completed).  

Resources

Bilingual Program Verification Form (PDF)

Dual Immersion Schools in San Diego County

Questions?

Contact our advisors at [email protected] if you have specific questions about your past early field experience.
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