Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Units
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is part of the public school system in California and is the first year of a two-year Kindergarten sequence. While TK serves children 4 years of age, it is not considered preschool and holds different requirements for the educator.
To teach in a TK classroom in the state of California, candidates must hold one of the following teaching credentials:
- Multiple Subjects Credential
- PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist Instruction Credential (Preschool – Grade 3) effective 4/1/25
- General Kindergarten-Primary (K-3), General Elementary (K-8), Standard Early Childhood (P-3), or Standard Elementary (K-9)
AND meet one of the following requirements:
- At least 24 units in early childhood education, or childhood development, or both. The 24 unit requirement can be met by completing any 24 units of early childhood or child development courses from an accredited 2 year or 4 year college.
- Professional experience in a classroom setting with preschool age children comparable to the 24 units of education - comparability is evaluated and determined by the local employing agency (LEA).
- Child Development Teacher Permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (Permits are issued for 5 years and must be renewed). Complete the following to earn the initial Permit:
- Complete 16 semester units in general education, including at least one course in each of the following areas: humanities and/or fine arts, social sciences, math and/or science, and English and/or language arts.
- Complete 24 units in ECE/Child Development including core courses *
- Complete 175 days of experience in an instructional capacity in a child care and development program, working at least three hours per day within the last four years. This experience must be verified by submitting an original letter from the employer on official letterhead.
OR
- Complete an associate degree or higher in early childhood education or child development or a related field.
- Complete three semester units or four quarter units of supervised field experience in an early childhood education setting. Supervised field experience often has pre-requisite courses and includes approximately 6 hours of lab each week (daytime hours) in an approved preschool program.
At OCC, we offer a variety of Child Development and Education (CDE) courses that will satisfy the 24 unit requirement to teach Transitional Kindergarten. When looking at the class schedule, courses noted as ONLINE are taught 100% online, classes with a day/time/location are taught in person. We offer a selection of courses each fall and spring semesters, and a smaller offering in the summer session. Here are our recommendations to complete 24 units:
CDE 180: Child Growth and Development (pre-requisite to other courses) *
CDE 155: Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children *
CDE 190: Family, School and Community Partnerships *
CDE 126: Teaching in a Diverse Society
CDE 131: Creativity for Children
CDE 130: Language Arts for Children OR CDE 132: Math and Science for Young Children
CDE 157: Guidance of Young Children
CDE 200: ECE Programs – The Curriculum *
*Core classes required for Permit
Refer to the class schedule for each term’s available courses and format so that you can choose which classes will best meet your needs. For further information regarding our classes, feel free to contact us at 714-432-5067 or via email.
Laurie Campbell
Program Coordinator and Professor of Child Development and Education
Jenny Chaiyakal
Professor of Child Development and Education
Kara Jones
Instructor of Child Development and Education