Clinical Practice

Traditional Pathway

This is the traditional approach to clinical practice in which a candidate is placed in a credentialed expert teacher’s classroom to complete student teaching requirements. Clinical Practice is ten weeks long. If this is your first teaching credential, you will complete two semesters of clinical practice. If you already have an existing credential, you may be eligible to complete just one semester. In this pathway, teacher candidates have a rich opportunity to observe an expert teacher firsthand, follow their lead, get helpful feedback, and practice the teaching skills gained during coursework without the full responsibility that comes with a credentialed teaching position. This pathway requires that you be available for 10 weeks during school operating hours, and it is unpaid. 

Para-Ed Pathway

Teacher candidates who are employed at a public school as a special education instructional aide may be eligible to complete clinical practice in their current positions. This pathway allows you to continue earning an income as a paraeductor while completing clinical practice requirements in the same setting. Be advised that this option must be approved by your employing district, and one-on-one paraeducators are not eligible.

Intern Pathway

Teacher candidates who have extensive classroom experience, either through an existing credential or as a substitute teacher or paraeducator, might wish to consider starting their career as a teacher while earning their credential. Clinical practice requirements are completed in your own classroom.  It’s important that you feel ready to take on this high level responsibility, as it requires a great deal of time and effort to complete the credential program and work as a full-time teacher at the same time. Intern teachers in special education have all the same responsibilities as any Education Specialist, including IEPs, assessments, behavior supports, interventions, overseeing paraeducators, family communication, and more. Teaching should never be your first job, so be sure you have additional work experience, including paid classroom experience, before considering. This option allows you to earn a full teacher’s salary rather than taking time off for clinical practice.