Enrollment for the 24-25 school year is closed.
​Letters of Intent to Hire received by August 30, 2025 will be enrolled for the 25-26 school year.

​The first step for anyone looking at a career in education is attending  a LACOE District Intern Information meeting. The information in these meetings will inform you on the process, timelines, and eligibility requirements needed to earn a  Preliminary Teaching Credential.
​Register for an Information Meeting to learn about how to enroll in the Fall 2025 Program.

Upon completion of Pre-service coursework, verification of passage of CBEST, CSET and US Constitution requirement, prospective candidates are given a Letter of Intern Eligibility  into the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) District Intern Program. The purpose of this letter is to confirm the status of the candidate's application to the LACOE District Intern Program. Candidates also use this letter to search for employment in a teaching position.

*Application Fee:
A non-refundable application fee of $300 is required with submission of the application packet.  Application review includes, transcript evaluation, test score verification, and verification of Certificate of Clearance.
*If not already paid through Pre-Service
​
Advisement/Enrollment Appointment:
Once a candidate has met the requirements for intern eligibility, the program coordinator will schedule an individual advisement meeting.   Advisement includes payment of fee ($250), orientation to the program requirements, verification of employment, and creation of the Individual Advisement Plan. 

*Must have Preliminary or Clear Multiple Subject, Single Subject, or Education Specialist Credential to apply.

Thank you for your interest in our District Intern Accelerated Program. We would like to inform you that the application process for the current program year is now closed, and we are no longer accepting new applicants at this time. For those interested in the 2025-2026 enrollment opportunity, please register to attend one of our scheduled monthly information meetings via Zoom. 

25-26 Acc. Intern Program Info Meeting- Registration

WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE ACCELERATED PROGRAM?

Participants who hold an existing general education credential and are looking to become an education specialist in either mild/moderate, moderate/severe, or early childhood special education, may qualify to become an Accelerated District Intern. Candidates must be employed by a school district or charter as "Teacher of Record" for their classroom. They will work closely with a LACOE Practicum Supervisor. Additionally, they attend evening credential classes twice per week.

ACCELERATED DISTRICT INTERN PROGRAM TUITION

(Based Credential in which NEW Education Specialist Credential is being added to.)

The Early Completion Option (ECO) is intended to provide  intern candidates who have met the requirements listed below the opportunity to earn equivalency for a portion of the course work and Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA) requirements in a  Multiple or Single Subject Intern Program. The ECO candidate must complete the remaining course work and TPA requirements in the Commission-approved Intern program.

Description

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education posted on official transcript.
• Employment verification: A current contract or letter indicating an offer of full time employment in a public school district or public charter. Applicants must be the teacher of record, not a substitute.

Application Process

All candidates will be informed of the ECO criteria at the information and advisement meetings. Candidates who believe they are eligible for the ECO will complete and submit the application by the annual fall enrollment deadline.

ECO Application Materials

The application includes the following:

• Current Transcript: 
  • Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
  • Foundational computer technology course that includes general and specialized skills in the use of computers in educational settings.
• ​Completion of the PreService program.​
• Employment verification: A current contract or letter indicating an offer of full time employment in a public school district or public charter. Applicants must be the teacher of record, not a substitute.
• $300 Application fee (non-refundable)
• Copy of report showing passing scores of the following exams:
  • California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) or Basic Skills Requirement.
  • Subject Matter competency for Multiple Subjects OR Single Subject: CSET exam results, or approved subject matter equivalency waiver.
  • The National Evaluation Series (NES) Assessment of Professional Knowledge (APK): Elementary (Test code 051) for Multiple Subjects candidates or Secondary (Test code 052) for Single Subject candidates.
  • Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA): Necessary to satisfy the fieldwork component required for the Intern program. Candidates must pass the TPA on the first attempt within the first four months of the program in order to be eligible for the ECO. If the candidate does not pass on the first attempt, he/she/they is no longer eligible to participate in the ECO program and must complete the full 2-year teacher preparation program. Candidates must demonstrate competence of the field experience required by the Commission-approved Intern program in which the candidate is enrolled.
  • Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) – for Multiple Subjects candidates only.
  • U.S. Constitution requirement: Coordinator will review transcript for course equivalency, or a CTC approved exam. 
  • Complete a foundational computer educational technology course that includes general and specialized skills in the use of technology in the education setting. 
• Professional Fitness through:
  • Verification of a current TB test showing negative results; must be within the past 2 years.
  • Certificate of Clearance or emergency substitute permit from the CTC website.

For more detailed information, click HERE

The application is due August 30th. The ECO Review Committee will review the ECO application and determine acceptance into the ECO program and inform the candidate of the ECO status.

If a candidate is not successfully progressing on pace for early completion of the program or if the candidate fails to demonstrate skills and abilities on a level expected of and consistent with an early completion candidate, adjustments will be made as deemed necessary and appropriate by Program Coordinators.  ECO status is provisional and can be revoked at any time.

For more information, attend an information meeting or contact:
​Toni Perdomo
District Intern Candidate Coordinator
(562) 803-8473
perdomo_toni@lacoe.edu

Beginning Teacher Programs District Intern Program is competitively priced. We deliver a quality program for the fraction of the price of universities. Also, candidates are able to work and earn a pay check while they are completing the credential requirements & coursework. Candidates in the program are not eligible for financial aid.

Textbooks & Materials

Candidates are required to either rent or purchase course textbooks (if required by the course). It is recommended that they rent course textbooks. They are also responsible to purchase and materials required in a course

How to Make a Payment

All payments are to be made payable to LACOE - Beginning Teacher Programs (BTP) via credit/debit card only. BTP uses a third party -"allpaid" platform - to make online credit/debit card payments. BTP currently incurs the "transaction fee" for candidate payments. **Therefore, the transaction is a free service to all BTP candidate payments. 

**Please keep in mind that the "transaction fee," although presently a free service provided by BTP to candidates, may be subject to change as BTP finds it necessary. 

There is a non-refundable transaction fee of 2.5%, even if the payment to which it relates is canceled, refunded, credited, or charged back.  **The only exception to this policy is if BTP receives written notification immediately after the transaction is initiated and within a two (2) hour period after the payment is made.

Once all required and applicable submissions are complete above and submitted, you will be automatically enrolled in the credit card payment system.

Within 24-48 hours you will receive an email with directions on how to enroll into the credit card payment system and pay the fee. Please use https://btp.lacoe.edu/ to login once you are enrolled.

Program Costs

Application Fee: $300 (Non-refundable)

• Any candidate coming into the program wanting to be a District Intern must pay the fee as part of their application packet.

District Intern Advisement: $250 (Non-refundable)

• Once candidates are Intern-Eligible, they will be advised by a coordinator. At this meeting, they need to pay the fee for advisement/enrollment.

Preliminary District Intern: $6000 Per Year

• Two-year program

Accelerated District Intern: $9000 Total

• Multiple Subject to Education Specialist
• 18-month program

$6000 Total Per Year

• Single Subject to Education Specialist
• Two-year program

How much does the District Intern Program cost?
The cost for the District Intern Program is $250 for the non-refundable advisement fee and $6,000 per year (for 2-years) for tuition. 
​
Do I have to pay the total up front?​
​The $250 non-refundable advisement fee is due up front, but the tuition payments are made in monthly installments.

Can I get my District Intern Credential online?​
​LACOE BTP does not offer an exclusively online District Intern Program. Our program utilizes a hybrid design. Courses are taken in person and online and includes supervised fieldwork.

Can I change from a traditional credential program at a University to the LACOE District Intern Program?​
No. The LACOE BTP District Intern Program has a unique design and any candidate that would like to transfer to our program would need to start from the beginning. ​

​How do I make a payment?
Click here for tuition payment information for the District Intern Program. ​

​How do I obtain my transcripts from my work in the District Intern Program?
Click here to find information about requesting your transcripts for the District Intern Program. ​

​How long does it take to complete the District Intern Program?
The standard District Intern Program takes two years to complete. ​
​
​How do I enroll in the District Intern Program?
Click here to find more information about enrolling in the District Intern Program. ​

​How often do I have to attend classes for the District Intern Program?
Courses for the District Intern Program are attended twice per week from 5-8 PM. ​

​​I completed (or am currently completing) courses with another District Intern Program. Can I transfer from that program to the LACOE BTP District Intern Program?
No. Our program is unique and candidates do need to start from the beginning unless enrolling in the Accelerated District Intern Program. ​

Does the District Intern Program run all year long?
Yes. The program begins in the fall and runs through June. 

Can I obtain my Mild/Moderate & Moderate/Severe Education Specialist Credentials at the same time?
Only if your teaching position states that you are working with both Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe students. This is extremely rare. 

If I already have a SpEd credential, can I obtain a General Education credential?
Yes, but it is treated like a new preliminary program and the candidate must be intern eligible (pass the subject matter examination needed for the desired credential).

Can I work in a school district other than LAUSD and be eligible to patriciate in the District Intern Program?
Yes. Our program is for teachers in the County of Los Angeles, so any districts within the county, or boundary lines to Orange County, are eligible to participate in the program. 

Are there schools that I am not eligible to teach at as an Intern?
Yes. Private, religious school, an non public schools/charters. Interns must teach at public schools/districts/charters. ​​