Professional Level II Education Specialist
Credentials

Preconditions for Level II
Candidates enter the Professional Level II Education Specialist Credential program at the completion of their Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Credential, and upon employment as a special education teacher in their credential emphasis area.

>> General Level II information
>> English Language Learner Information(pdf format)

The preconditions, listed below, are necessary prior to commencing
Level II activities:

• Copy of the Level I Preliminary Induction Plan (At SFSU, preliminary induction plans are developed during the Level I student teaching experience and seminar. Other Level II campus programs may develop the individual induction plans at a different program stage.)
• Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Credential, or Letter of Completion from the Credentials office.
• Verification of Employment completed by the district in which the teacher (Level II candidate) is employed.

Click here to read the SPED 740 Dateline (PDF Format)

Level II Credentials consist of specializations in the following areas:

• Early Childhood Special Education: (birth to pre-K only): childreneligible
  for early intervention, special education, and/or related services under federal law.
• Mild/Moderate Disabilities: (K-12, including adults): learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, other health impaired, and emotional disturbance.
• Moderate/Severe Disabilities: (K-12, including adults): autism, cognitive impairment, deaf-blindness, emotional disturbance, and multiple disabilities.
• Physical & Health Impairments: (0-22): orthopedically impaired, other health impaired, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities.
• Visual Impairments: (0-22): blind, visually impaired, deaf-blind.

A major purpose of the Professional Level II Education Specialist Program is to enable new teachers to apply their Preliminary Level I preparation to the demands of professional positions while also fostering advanced skills and knowledge. Level II includes academic requirements, an individualized induction plan with a support component, and an option to allow some requirements to be met with non-university activities.

The Level II at SFSU includes four components:
(1) an Induction Plan,
(2) a Level II portfolio,
(3) Professional Level II Coursework,
(4) Non-University activities (not to exceed 25% of Level II program)

Candidates are supported by their university advisor, a district support provider and a district evaluator during their Level II experience. The program begins with the development of an induction plan and concludes with a review of that plan as approved by a district representative and university advisor. A candidate has 5 years in which to complete the program. During those five years, candidates must complete a minimum of 2 years of full-time teaching employment, or equivalent, in their emphasis area, in addition to all program and department accredeited requirements.