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Special Education (Education Specialist Instruction) Credential Guide

I have completed a special education teacher preparation program (or alternative program) outside of California, have been issued an out-of-state teaching credential, and wish to obtain special education certification in California.

I have less than two years of out-of-state teaching experience.
Individuals prepared outside of California who have less than two years of out-of-state full-time teaching experience may qualify for a preliminary California teaching credential by documenting all of the following:

  1. Transcripts showing a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally-accredited college or university

  2. Basic Skills Requirement. This is required for the issuance of the preliminary credential if the applicant is not employed in California. If employed, the preliminary credential will be issued, but the individual must complete the basic skills requirement during the first year of their preliminary credential. See Commission leaflet CL-667 entitled Basic Skills Requirement [PDF] for additional information.

  3. Comparable special education teaching credential earned in a state other than California based upon completion of a professional teacher preparation program (or alternative program) in special education, including student teaching, from a regionally-accredited institution. The program must align with a disability area authorized on a California credential

My program and teaching credential does not align with a California disability area.

If the out-of-state credential was not issued in a disability area that aligns with California's disability areas, a minimum of 24 semester units in special education must have been completed. The following criterion applies:

  • Twelve (12) of the units must have been completed in the requested disability area, including student teaching

  • If an individual has 24 semester units in special education course work but does not have 12 semester units in the requested disability area, the Commission may deem the program comparable if student teaching was completed in the requested disability area or if two years of out-of-state teaching experience was completed in the requested disability area

  • A letter from the college or university verifying student teaching content will be required if the disability area is not clearly identified on the transcripts

  • If 12 of the required 24 semester units of comparable special education course work in a specific disability area cannot be found, the Commission may issue a preliminary credential but the individual will need to complete a Commission-approved Level I special education program in addition to all other renewal requirements listed on the document to earn a clear credential

  • The credential does not have to be valid at the time of application. A photocopy of the out-of-state credential is acceptable verification of this requirement.

  1. Completed application [PDF] and, if not previously submitted to the Commission, a completed LiveScan receipt [PDF]. Out-of-state residents have the option of submitting two fingerprint cards in lieu of a LiveScan receipt. If submitting fingerprint cards, current fingerprint processing fees must accompany the application packet in addition to the application processing fee. Fingerprint cards may be ordered by sending an e-mail to credentials@ctc.ca.gov.

  2. Application processing fee [PDF]

There are additional requirements to qualify for the clear credential. If all requirements for the preliminary and clear credential are met with the initial application, the individual will be issued the clear credential and not the preliminary.

Individuals may apply for the clear Level II credential by completing all of the following:
  1. A Commission-approved Level II Education Specialist Program at a California college or university, including an individualized induction plan designed in collaboration with your employer and a California college or university with a Commission-approved education specialist program in the disability area listed on your Preliminary Level I credential and obtain the formal recommendation for the credential by the college or university where the individualized induction plan was completed

  2. Earn an authorization to teach English learners by one of the following methods:

  1. Possess a Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development (CLAD) Certificate or Bilingual, Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development (BCLAD) Certificate or a Certificate of Completion of Staff Development issued by the Commission

  2. Holders of an out-of-state teaching credential with an English learner authorization will need to earn a CLAD Certificate. If the application for the Education Specialist Instruction Teaching Credential is submitted with evidence of the out-of-state English learner authorization, the credential will be issued with the English learner authorization and individuals will not be required to obtain a separate CLAD Certificate. A separate application and fee will not be required.

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I have two or more years of out-of-state teaching experience.
An individual prepared out-of-state who has two or more years of out-of-state full-time teaching experience may qualify for a preliminary California teaching credential by documenting all of the following:

  1. Transcripts showing a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university

  2. Basic Skills Requirement. This is required for the issuance of the preliminary credential if the applicant is not employed in California. If employed, the preliminary credential will be issued, but the individual must complete the basic skills requirement during the first year of their preliminary credential. See Commission leaflet CL-667 entitled Basic Skills Requirement [PDF] for additional information.

  3. Comparable teaching credential earned in a state other than California based upon completion of a professional preparation program (or alternative program) in special education, including student teaching, taken at a regionally-accredited institution where the program was completed. The program must align with a disability area authorized on a California credential.

My program and teaching credential does not align with a California disability area.

If the out-of-state credential was not issued in a disability area that aligns with California's disability areas, a minimum of 24 semester units in special education must have been completed. The following criterion applies:
  • Twelve (12) of the units must have been completed in the requested disability area, including student teaching

  • If an individual has 24 semester units in special education course work but does not have 12 semester units in the requested disability area, the Commission may deem the program comparable if student teaching was completed in the requested disability area or if two years of out-of-state teaching experience was completed in the requested disability area

  • A letter from the college or university verifying student teaching content will be required if the disability area is not clearly identified on the transcripts

  • If 12 of the required 24 semester units of comparable special education course work in a specific disability area cannot be found, the Commission may issue a preliminary credential but the individual will need to complete a Commission-approved Level I special education program in addition to all other renewal requirements listed on the document to earn a clear credential

  • The credential does not have to be valid at the time of application. A photocopy of the out-of-state credential is acceptable verification of this requirement.
  1. Verification of two years or more of out-of-state full-time teaching experience
  • Original evaluations or photocopies of the teacher's performance for at least two years of teaching must be submitted

  • Experience must be full-time teaching; no part-time or a combination of teaching and other school employment will be accepted

  • All experience must be gained in regionally-accredited schools in states or U.S. Territory other than California

  • Teaching experience does not need to correspond with the type of certification requested and may be a combination of regular education and special education

  • Adult and vocational education experience is not acceptable

  • Teaching experience gained in California is not acceptable

  • Teaching experience must be verified by the superintendent, assistant superintendent, or director of personnel on official letterhead of the district or districts where the teacher was employed

  • Day-to-day substitute teaching experience is not acceptable
  1. Completed application [PDF] and, if not previously submitted to the Commission, a completed LiveScan receipt [PDF]. Out-of-state residents have the option of submitting two fingerprint cards in lieu of a LiveScan receipt. If submitting fingerprint cards, current fingerprint processing fees must accompany the application packet in addition to the application processing fee. Fingerprint cards may be ordered by sending an e-mail to caworders@ctc.ca.gov..

  2. Application processing fee [PDF]

There are additional requirements to qualify for the clear credential. If all requirements for the preliminary and clear credential are met with the initial application, the individual will be issued the clear credential and not the preliminary.

Individuals may apply directly to the Commission for the Level II credential by completing all of the following:
  1. Complete one of the following:
  1. 150 clock hours of activities that contribute to the individual's teaching competence, performance, effectiveness, and that assist the applicant in meeting or exceeding standards for professional preparation established by the Commission. These activities must be documented on CCTC form CL-820A [PDF] and verified by the employer's director of curriculum and instruction in the subject area listed on the credential

  2. A master's degree or higher or an equivalent number of units in a field related to the credential from a regionally-accredited college or university
  1. Earn an authorization to teach English learners by one of the following methods:

  1. Possess a Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development (CLAD) Certificate or Bilingual, Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development (BCLAD) Certificate or a Certificate of Completion of Staff Development issued by the Commission

  2. Holders of an out-of-state teaching credential with an English learner authorization will need to earn a CLAD Certificate. If the application for the Education Specialist Instruction Teaching Credential is submitted with evidence of the out-of-state English learner authorization, the credential will be issued with the English learner authorization and individuals will not be required to obtain a separate CLAD Certificate. A separate application and fee will not be required.

Resources


Updated November 26, 2007