Early Field Experience
Supplemental Program Materials, General Education Credential
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.
Options for Completing EFE Requirement
The following courses may be used to fulfill this requirement:
- Multiple Subjects Credential Candidates: ED 200, LS 300, or TE 362 (3-unit section)
- Single Subject Credential Candidates: TE 362 (3-unit section)
The following majors have specialized Early Fieldwork Experiences built into the course of study.
- Creative and Performing Arts Majors TE 362- (3-unit section)
- Music Education majors automatically meet the requirement. All other music majors should take TE 362 (3-unit section)
If you already hold a Bachelor's degree, you can use substitute teaching to meet this requirement (instead of the EFE Verification Form, you would upload copies of your pay stubs showing 45 hours completed).
Upload a completed “Early Field Experience” verification page documenting 45 hours of classroom observation and/or participation to your application.
Early Field Experience Verification Form (PDF)
Note: If you have any teaching experience outside the classroom within the past 7 years (such as tutoring, coaching, international teaching experience, CTE teaching, or private teaching experience), these hours can count for up to 15 of the 45 required hours. Please include a letter or note in your application to document the completion of these hours, in addition to the EFE Verification Form for the other 30 hours that are required.