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Special Education Credentials

I HAVE LESS THAN TWO YEARS OF OUT-OF-STATE TEACHING EXPERIENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.


To obtain the preliminary credential, you must submit all of the following:

  1. Official transcripts showing a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally-accredited college or university
  2. Basic skills requirement. Individuals may be issued a preliminary credential prior to satisfying the basic skills requirement but must complete the requirement within one year of their credential issue date. 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 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.

    If the out-of-state credential was not issued in a disability are 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.

The preliminary credential is issued to individuals who have met basic credential requirements. There are additional requirements that must be met 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. See Commission leaflet CL-808 for more information.
• How to Apply

• Terms and Definitions

I HAVE TWO OR MORE YEARS OF OUT-OF-STATE TEACHING EXPERIENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.


To obtain the preliminary credential, you must submit all of the following:

  1. Official transcripts showing a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally-accredited college or university
  2. Basic skills requirement. Individuals may be issued a preliminary credential prior to satisfying the basic skills requirement but must complete the requirement within one year of their credential issue date. 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 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.

    If the out-of-state credential was not issued in a disability are that aligns with California's disability areas, a minimum of 24 semester units in special education must have been completed. The following criteria 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. Two years or more of out-of-state full-time teaching experience (see Terms and Definitions)

The preliminary credential is issued to individuals who have met basic credential requirements. There are additional requirements that must be met 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. See Commission leaflet CL-808 for more information.
• How to Apply

• Terms and Definitions

I HOLD NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION AND AM SEEKING A CALIFORNIA SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHING CREDENTIAL.


Individuals who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in Exceptional Needs/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood will be issued a Clear Level II Education Specialist Instruction Credential. This includes those individuals who obtained National Board Certification after their California Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Instruction Credential was issued. Individuals qualifying under route 3 are exempt from the basic skills requirement and all other credential requirements.

Individuals who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in the area of Special Education will be issued the specific California special education authorization based upon the course work completed within the teacher preparation program. All course work must be submitted on official transcript from a regionally-accredited college or university.

Those qualifying under Route 3 may apply directly to the Commission for their Level II teaching credential by submitting all of the following:

  1. Photocopy of National Board Certification
  2. 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 (FD-258) in lieu of a LiveScan receipt. If submitting fingerprint cards, current fingerprint processing fees [PDF] must accompany the application packet.
  3. Photocopy of out-of-state credential with a corresponding specific disability area or official transcripts verifying twenty-four (24) semester units of special education course work including twelve (12) semester units in a corresponding specific disability area
  4. Application processing fee [PDF]



SPECIAL EDUCATION TERMS & DEFINITIONS


Full-time Teaching Experience

  • 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
  • Original evaluations or photocopies of the teacher's performance for at least two years of teaching must be submitted
  • Day-to-day substitute teaching experience is not acceptable
  • Full-time teaching experience is defined as a minimum of four periods a day for at least 75 percent of the school year

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HOW DO I APPLY FOR MY SPECIAL EDUCATION CREDENTIAL?


You may apply directly to the Commission for your initial credential by submitting an application packet consisting of all of the following:
  1. A completed application [PDF]

  2. Completed Livescan receipt [PDF], if not previously submitted to the Commission. Out-of-state residents (with out-of-state addresses) have the option of submitting two fingerprint cards (FD-258), in lieu of a LiveScan receipt. If submitting fingerprint cards, current fingerprint processing fees must accompany the application packet. Fingerprint cards may be ordered by sending an e-mail to the Commission at CAWOrders@ctc.ca.gov. This e-mail address is for ordering materials only. Credential questions sent to this e-mail address will not be answered.

  3. Application processing fee [PDF]

Official transcripts, letters of experience, photocopies of out-of-state credentials, verification of completion of the basic skills requirement, and performance evaluations as required by the option you apply under. California has three options for qualifying out-of-state prepared teachers. Review each option to determine which is best for you.

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Updated April 17, 2008