Summer Pre-Service

Calling all aspiring educators!

Enroll in our Summer Pre-Service coursework and get a head start on enrollment in the District Intern Program. Intern participants are required to have 120 hours of instruction prior to being admitted into the HTH District Intern Program. This instruction includes foundational preparation in general pedagogy prior to the start of the program of study. Completion of prerequisite coursework does not guarantee admission into the Intern program but is mandatory for enrollment. Courses are credit, no credit and run concurrently.

The HTH Teacher Center makes acceptance, admissions, and personnel decisions without considering race, color, creed, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation or preference, marital status, sex, religion, age, military service or any other constitutionally or legally prohibited consideration protected by law. These decisions include the admission, retention, or program completion of participating teachers, and decisions regarding the employment, retention, or promotion of employees. All admission actions will be administered in a nondiscriminatory manner.

• March 15: Pre Service registration opens
• June 10: Pre Service registration closes
• June 11: Pre Service Online Orientation (4-5pm)
• June 15 – July 24: Online Pre Service in session (6 weeks)
• July 29 – 31: Mandatory In-Person On-Campus course in session
  • Classroom Structures: All new District Interns Wed – Fri 9am – 4pm
• Aug 3 – 4: New Teacher SPED Academy with Selpa 
  • Ed Specialists only: Mon -Tues 9am – 4pm

Mode: Two fully online courses followed by a one-week on-campus coursework

Contact: credentialing@hightechhigh.org if you have any questions

Eligibility for Pre Service only requires that you have a desire to earn your CA teaching credential, a conferred bachelors degree, and the means to meet all other requirements by August 1. Participation in the Summer Pre-Service is based on conditional enrollment and all requirements, including qualifying employment, must be met before official admission to the District Intern Program can be granted in August.

Once enrolled in summer courses, you will be invited to attend a 1:1 advising session to better understand your unique enrollment requirements. Additionally, following your 1:1 advising session, our Credential Analyst can provide you with a Verification of District Intern Credential Eligibility Letter which you can then offer to potential employers in lieu of a valid CA credential. This letter will verify your enrollment status and eligibility to teach in the 2026-27 school year as a teacher-of-record should you be hired.

• Application Fee: $50
• New Teacher Pre-Service Tuition: $1,500 (for applicants that do not currently hold a CA teaching credential)
• Bridge Teacher Pre-Service Tuition: $1000 (for applicants that currently hold a CA teaching credential)

Q: What is a District Intern Credential?  

A: In a nutshell, the District Intern Credential allows an individual to legally gain employment as a teacher of record in a public or charter school while simultaneously enrolled in a teacher prep program to earn their CA Preliminary Credential. The High Tech High District Intern Program is authorized by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to credential San Diego County teachers in this way.   

Q: Do I have to have a job as a teacher before I can enroll in Pre-Service?

A: No, you don’t have to have a teaching job in order to enroll in Pre-Service, however, employment as a teacher of record is a requirement in order to acquire a District Intern Credential. Therefore, you would not be able to be officially enrolled in the High Tech High District Intern Program in the fall without employment.

Q: How do I get a teaching job without first having a credential?

A: Many of San Diego County’s smaller school districts and charter schools are familiar with the District Intern Credential and when in need will hire aspiring teachers with the understanding that they will gain their District Intern Credential upon official enrollment into the High Tech High District Intern Program. We are happy to provide our Pre-Service participants with a letter of Intern Eligibility once you meet the necessary minimum prerequisites of a conferred Bachelor’s degree, a Certificate of Clearance or other permit on file with the CTC, and Verification of US Constitution (course or exam).

Q: Does the High Tech High District Intern Program employ their interns?

A: No, our program does not provide employment however we can offer some assistance in your work search. Upon enrollment, and after you provide us with an official copy of your undergraduate transcript showing a conferred Bachelor’s degree, as well as a Certificate of Clearance or other permit with the CTC, and show that you’ve meet the Basic Skills Requirement then we can provide you with a letter of Intern Eligibility to supplement your employment applications. 

Additionally, you may explore jobs as High Tech High here or go to EdJoin to search for jobs throughout San Diego County. 

Q: What if I don’t find a job?

A: Completion of Summer Pre-Service coursework does not guarantee any offers of employment. For those participants who are unable to meet the employment requirement prior to August 15, official enrollment into this District Intern Program cannot be granted and you would need to apply again for the following year; however you would not be required to retake any completed Summer Pre-Service courses.

Q: Do I have to go to campus for Summer Pre-Service courses?

A: Your first six weeks of courses will be entirely online beginning Mid June. These courses are followed by a one week course intensive (Mon-Fri 9:00AM to 4:00PM) in-person on-campus at HTHMesa. This course is usually scheduled for the last week of July or the first week of August. Please plan accordingly.