Credentialing
Overview
Leadership Institute Preliminary Administrative Credential Program
ACSA partners with the Sacramento County Office of Education’s Leadership Institute to offer aspiring teacher leaders the opportunity to earn a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential. This program is designed to empower and build the capacity of leaders to improve teaching and learning for all students.
Candidates will engage in six courses, offering both face-to-face instruction, as well as online learning, guided fieldwork, and an end-of-program project. The institute courses are taught by local and regional school administrators who have first-hand experience and expertise in both the content and region. By completing additional classes, candidates may apply the work from the Leadership Institute credential courses to obtain a master's degree.
Candidates are required to take the California Administrator Performance Assessment (CalAPA) and will be required to complete and submit all three cycles of the CalAPA before being recommended for a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential.
The authorizing agency for the credential is Sacramento County Office of Education.
Clear Administrative Credential Program
ACSA’s innovative induction program and services for administrators seeking to clear their ASC are considered the gold standard throughout the state. The induction program design and implementation provides support and guidance grounded in the California Professional Standards for Education Leaders (CPSEL) in the three designated areas, chronicled in the Individual Induction Plan: coaching, professional development and assessment.
The program provides individualized, one-on-one, job-embedded coaching over the course of the two-year program. Candidates enroll within one year of starting an initial administrative position, with coaching services starting within 30 days of program enrollment.
Preliminary Administrative Credential Program
Leadership Institute Preliminary Administrative Credential Program
with Master's degree option
ACSA, in partnership with the Sacramento County Office of Education’s Leadership Institute, offers aspiring teacher leaders the opportunity to earn a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential. This program is designed to empower and build the capacity of leaders to improve teaching and learning for all students.
Candidates will engage in six courses which offer both face-to-face instruction as well as online learning, guided fieldwork and an end-of-program project. Institute courses are taught by local and regional school administrators who are experienced and have first hand experience and expertise in both the content and region. By completing additional classes, candidates may apply the work from the Leadership Institute credential courses to obtain a Master's Degree.
Candidates are required to take the California Administrator Performance Assessment (CalAPA) and will be required to complete and submit all three cycles of the CalAPA before being recommended for a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential. These candidates will be required to meet the passing standard for the assessment to be recommended for the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential. The authorizing agency for the credential is Sacramento County Office of Education.
Classes begins in August 2023.
Program Details
The credential is earned over the course of a year via the Leadership Institute. What students say sets this credentialing experience aside from others they have had are program director, Dr. Michael Roe’s unconventionally direct leadership style, and the opportunity to receive outstanding instruction in a close setting from an all-star faculty. The Leadership Institute courses are taught by, Dr. Michael Roe (Education Director, DVELUP Leadership Consultants), Dr. Marcus Funchess (Assistant Superintendent Personnel - San Bernardino City Schools), Dr. Suzette Lovely (Ret. Supt – Carlsbad USD), Darren Daniel (Supt – Murrieta USD) and Dr. LaFaye Platter (Ret. Asst. Supt, HR – Hemet USD). Dr. Martinrex Kedziora (Supt – Moreno Valley USD) will be co-instructing with Dr. Lovely.
Eligibility for the Leadership Institute, applicants must have:
- a valid earned teaching credential or service credential,
- five years of full-time teaching experience,
- and a passing score on:
- the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST),
- or the California Subject Examination for Teacher (CSET).
The program curriculum is based on the California Professional Standards for Education Leaders (CPSEL) and is comprised of 154 hours of in-class instruction and 77 hours of online chats, which take place over the course of the year. This time is organized into six courses, each with an end-of-course paper. Classes are held every other Saturday (excepting holiday schedules) from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Faculty members also invite “mini-session experts,” individuals with exceptional knowledge in a specific area related to the course, to share their expertise with participants. Online chats take place in small groups which are rotated between each course, and are mediated by online principal-coaches. These chats facilitate online learning and guided fieldwork for each course. Additionally, each student creates an end-of-year project intended to put concepts and standards from the coursework into action. The project centers around a need of the participant’s school or district which assists with continued development and implementation, and each project proposal is developed collaboratively with the program director and faculty, as well as with the participant’s district coach and peers. Participants present their projects to panels at the end-of-program symposium.
By completing additional classes the following year, candidates may apply the work from Leadership Institute courses to earn their master’s degree in School Leadership.
Participants have a support system and wealth of resources available to them throughout the program, beginning with the State of Education orientation meeting prior to the first course. Key concepts, requirements, and program expectations are provided at this meeting, so participants are inspired and set to succeed from the beginning. Human resources include the Leadership Institute team, a faculty mentor, district coach, and online principal- coaches. The participant handbook provides details about coursework, fieldwork, online instruction, and policies and procedures. Additionally, reading materials are distributed to each cohort member after the first registration payment is made.
Upon successful completion of the coursework for the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential, participants’ names will be submitted to the program office at CTC for either the Certificate of Eligibility or the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (if the participant has received an offer of administrative employment by a district).
“Every minute this morning was challenging and inspiring, and I am beyond excited about this growth opportunity for me as an educator, a leader, and as a person... I cannot believe what a blessing it is to be in the company of these amazing educators that you have brought for us to learn from.”
Program Costs
- 2023-2024 Tuition: $8,000
Additional Costs
In addition to successful completion of the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program, preliminary candidates are required to take, and pass, all three cycles of the Cal APA Exam in order to receive their Preliminary Administrative Services Credential.
Cal APA Exam fees are not included in the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program fees.
These fees are paid separately by the participant.
- Cal APA Exam Fees:
- Cycle 1 - $125
- Cycle 2 - $150
- Cycle 3 - $150
Program Application and More Information
The Fall 2023 cohort Preliminary Administrative Services Credential program application will be available any day. Download the Leadership Institute flier.
For more information, contact Dr. Michael Roe.
This application will be available until end of day May 31, 2023.
Clear Administrative Credential Program
Clear Administrative Credential Program
ACSA’s Clear Administrative Credential Program (CACP) is the largest provider of coaching, professional development and assessment for attaining the Clear Administrative Services Credential. Our program is grounded in the California Professional Standards for Education Leaders (CPSEL) and a highly trained and experienced leadership coach supports and guides candidates with individualized, one-on-one, job embedded coaching to support the work of a new administrator over the course of the two-year program.
New administrators must enroll in a Clear Administrative Credential Program to obtain a Clear Administrative Services Credential within the first year of obtaining an administrative position. ACSA has served 985 new administrators throughout ACSA’s 19 regions as we partner with local programs throughout the state. Local program coordinators provide advisement, coaching assignments and specific information unique to each local program.
| "Having virtually visited the program and interacted with numerous stakeholders, it is apparent that ACSA's Clear Administrative Services Credential Program is highly valued by all of its stakeholders.... Candidates and completers reported that they experienced a powerful job embedded program facilitated and supported by incredible coaches." |
~California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Team Lead
Clear Administrative Credential Candidates benefit from program components:
Program Requirements | Program Benefits |
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Program Enrollment Dates:
Fall 2023-2025 Cohort Enrollment May 1 - August 31
Winter 2023-2025 Cohort Enrollment September 15 - January 31
Eligibility Requirements:
- Possession of a valid preliminary administrative services credential or certificate of eligibility from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Due to COVID-19 Variable Term Waivers may also meet eligibility requirements.
- Verification of an offer of employment in an employing agency as defined in Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations Section 80054 (g) (1).
Application Process:
Step 1:
Local Program Advisement
Contact a Local Program Coordinator for advisement to discuss coach match, professional development, credential pathway, program outcomes and local program coaching fees.
Local Program Coordinator List
Contact the ACSA office at or (800) 608-2272 if you have questions about which Local Program you are affiliated with.
Step 2:
Application
Complete a Verification of Administrative Employment form. A signature is required from your employer.
Obtain a copy of the appropriate credential from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC).
Step 3:
Verification and Acceptance
ACSA will process your application, and will send an "at-a-glance" form to your Local Program Coordinator. Your Local Program Coordinator will contact you for consultation. Based on your eligibility and the availability of a coach in your area, your Local Program Coordinator will recommend ACSA to accept you into the Clear Administrative Credential Program.
ACSA will send you an acceptance letter by email. Please read the email for directions regarding next steps which may include directions to apply to the California Commission of Teacher Credentialing to have a Certificatte of Eligibility converted to a preliminary administrative services credential.
Step 4:
Registration
Included in the email containing your acceptance letter, ACSA will request that you register as your way of agreeing to be in the program.
BE SURE YOU RETAIN YOUR CONFIRMATION NUMBER AND LOGIN INFORMATION FOR FUTURE USE.
Step 5:
Program Fee Payment
Program fees of $1,000.00 per year may be paid by a candidate or an employer.
ACSA Program Fees are
$1,000.00 per year, for a total of $2,000.00 over the course
of the two-year program.
Step 6:
Coaching Service Fees
Contact your Local Program Coordinator for more information regarding coaching service fees which may range from $3,500.00 per year to $5,000.00 per year.
Step 7:
Start Program
The Local Program Coordinator will inform candidates of a coach match.
Nondiscrimination: No candidate will be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familiar status, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy or pregnancy related condition in its employment practices. This policy of affording equal candidate access to all persons is in keeping with provisions of state and federal laws and regulations.