To participate in the FCSS Teachers College Internship Program, eligible intern teachers must fulfill specific criteria established by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). These requirements ensure that candidates meet the necessary qualifications and standards for teaching in California.

1. Attend an FCSS Teachers College Internship Information Session: All Candidates must attend a information session to learn about the program, verify eligibility, and develop a personalized action plan.
2. Educational Requirement: All Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution (official transcripts required).
3. Basic Skills Requirement: As of July 1, 2024, new provisions in California state law allow for the candidate’s bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education to serve as demonstration of basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. Basic Skills requirement can also be met by passing the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST).
4. Pre-service Completion: All Candidates must successfully complete the FCSS Teacher’s College Pre-service program, consisting of at least 120 hours of coursework, to be eligible for a District Intern Credential.
5. Subject Matter Competency: All candidates must demonstrate subject matter competency as a condition of program eligibility. Multiple Subject and Education Specialist candidates may meet this requirement through any of the five Commission-approved options: (1) completion of a Commission-approved subject matter preparation program; (2) passage of a Commission-approved subject matter examination, such as the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET); (3) college coursework covering each required subject matter domain (community college coursework counts), verified through our Subject Matter Verification Template; (4) a qualifying degree major, such as Liberal Studies, Liberal Arts, or Elementary Education, or a major in or closely related to a credentialed subject area (closely related majors are pending final state regulations); or (5) a combination of coursework and examination subtests. We review your transcripts during the Pre-Service Application and send you a written determination of your subject matter standing. 
   1. Candidates interested in the PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Credential may meet subject matter competency by either holding a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution with a major in an approved field (e.g., Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Human Development), or by completing 24 semester units of non-remedial, degree-applicable coursework in early childhood education and/or child development.
6. U.S. Constitution Requirement: All Candidates must complete a course or pass an exam covering the U.S. Constitution. 
7. Certificate of Clearance: All Candidates must obtain a valid Certificate of Clearance from the CTC, including fingerprinting and professional fitness evaluation.
8. CPR Verification: All candidates must submit a current CPR certification covering infant, child, and adult with their Pre-Service Application.
9. Employment Verification: All Candidates must provide proof of an offer of employment as a "Teacher of Record" from a participating district, with a minimum of 0.5 FTE (full time equivalent) in the specified credential area.