(a) Upon the recommendation of a preliminary credential preparation program sponsor approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the commission shall issue a two-year nonrenewable preliminary teaching credential or preliminary services credential to a candidate who is prelingually deaf and meets all of the requirements in law for the full, pertinent five-year teaching or services credential pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 44251, except that the candidate is exempt from compliance with the state basic skills proficiency testing requirements in Section 44252 and subdivision (b) of Section 44830.
(b) A credential issued under this section authorizes the holder to teach or provide services, as authorized by the credential, only to deaf and hearing-impaired pupils who are enrolled in state special schools or in special classes for pupils with hearing impairments.
(c) For purposes of this section “prelingually deaf” means a person who suffered hearing loss prior to three years of age, which prevents the processing of linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification, if the condition is verified through medical or other appropriate professional means.