Teacher Preparation Institute (TPI)
Start your journey to becoming a teacher at the Teacher Preparation Institute! We
guide and support students every step of the way—from selecting the right classes
to planning a smooth transfer to a four-year university. Our goal is to help you earn
your bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) and move forward into a teaching credential
program in elementary, secondary, or special education.
Mt. SAC also offers an Associate Degree for instructional aides, a great pathway for students who want to begin working in education while continuing their studies.📚🍎
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Start Here: OrientationReady to start your journey toward becoming a teacher? Your first step to joining the Teacher Preparation Institute is attending a 60-minute Orientation Session. During this session, you’ll learn about the support services, resources, and opportunities available to future educators—including students interested in becoming instructional aides.
You’ll also get guidance on choosing classes that align with your educational goals, since not all courses transfer the same way between colleges. The orientation will help you plan your path wisely so the classes you take move you closer to your career in education. 📚🍎
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Benefits of TPI
- Support for future Educators and Instructional Aides
- CBEST/CSET test and Livescan/TB testing reimbursement
- Teacher related presentations
- Specialized Teacher Prep. Counselors
- Transfer advisement appointments with Cal Poly Pomona or Cal State Fullerton.
- Request an appointment for personalized assistance with CSU transfer application.
- Employment & Volunteer Opportunities
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Volunteer Opportunities
- Step Up Tutoring
In collaboration with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Teacher Prep is excited to announce a great volunteer opportunity: Step Up Tutoring. Volunteers will work with LAUSD's underserved communities, virtually tutoring 2nd through 6th grade students. - Volunteer at Walnut Valley USD
Walnut Valley Unified School District is currently seeking after school program volunteers for the 2025-2026 school year who can help ELD (English Language Development) students with their homework.
- Step Up Tutoring
- Currently there are more than 5.8 million TK-12 students in California and more than 300,000 teachers
- According to the California Department of Education, the demand for teachers will continue to grow as almost 160,000 of those teachers are expected to retire in the next 10 years
- Instructional aides will also be needed, especially to assist students with special needs.
- The greatest need areas for teachers are in the subject areas of special education, math, and science.
- There is a critical shortage of males teaching in elementary schools
- Teachers from diverse cultural backgrounds are underrepresented in all K-12 classrooms.
- To become a credential teacher requires completion of a Bachelor's Degree and courses in a credential program at a 4-year college (typically offered in the Department of Education)
- In this area of California, a new teacher's annual salary is approximately $64,000 for a 10 month responsibility. During summers, teachers can earn more money by teaching summer school.
- There are many financial incentives for teachers: state income tax reductions, mortgage assistance and student loan forgiveness.
- Those who already have a Bachelor's Degree should have their transcripts evaluated at a 4-year university where they wish to get their teaching credential. Many of the courses taken in any major will qualify for the elementary or secondary path toward a credential, so it is likely that students with degrees will not take many community college courses. However, while taking those Mt. SAC courses, students are welcome to join TPI.
News
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Senate Bill 153 Retires RICAFor a prospective teacher—that is, someone currently in a teacher preparation program or planning to enroll—Senate Bill 488 (SB 488 - Chap. 678, Stats. 2021) directly affects what you must learn, how you are evaluated, and how your program is monitored, especially around literacy and reading instruction.
SB 488 required California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to update its literacy and reading standards. For you as a candidate, this means:
You will receive more explicit instruction in:
- Phonics
- Phonemic awareness
- Fluency
- Vocabulary
- Reading comprehension
These updates reflect evidence-based reading instruction, often referred to as the science of reading.
What this means for you:
Your coursework will likely be more structured and rigorous in reading instruction than it was for prior cohorts. You are expected to understand how students learn to read and how to intervene when they struggle.
Senate Bill 153 Waives Basic Skills RequirementAs of June 2024, Senate Bill (SB) 153 has changed the BSR requirement by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing's (CTC) Basic Skills Requirement (BSR). This will allow applicants for any credential or permit that requires a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to satisfy the BSR by submitting official transcripts showing conferral of a qualifying degree. Applicants will no longer be required to provide any supporting basic skills materials (such as exam scores, course descriptions or coursework evaluation forms) when the applicant has verified conferral of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution. As of June 29, 2024, all applicants may use this option to satisfy the BSR even if their application has already been submitted and is currently pending evaluation at the Commission.
Calendar:(All Events)
Contact Us
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- Mailing Address
Mailing Address:
Teacher Preparation Institute (TPI) Center
Mt. San Antonio College
1100 N. Grand Ave.
Walnut, CA 91789
- Mailing Address
