Title
Secondary / Single-Subject Credentials
I HAVE LESS THAN TWO YEARS OF OUT-OF-STATE TEACHING EXPERIENCE AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL.
To obtain the preliminary credential, you must submit all of the following:
- Baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally-accredited college or university
- Basic Skills Requirement. Individuals may be issued a preliminary credential prior to satisfying the basic skills requirement but must meet the requirement within one year of their credential issue date. See Commission leaflet CL-667, entitled ">Basic Skills Requirement [PDF] for additional information.
- Comparable teaching credential (see Closely Related Single Subjects in Terms and Definitions) earned in a state other than California based upon completion of a professional preparation program (or alternative program) in secondary education, including student teaching, taken at a regionally-accredited institution where the program was completed
- 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 (front and back as applicable)
- The subject area listed on the out-of-state credential authorization must correspond to a California subject area
- If the credential is in a subject area that does not correspond with an area that may be listed on a California credential (see subject list above), the candidate must have completed 32 semester units of course work in the California subject area
- If the subject matter course work has not been completed, a preliminary credential will be issued but the applicant will be required to meet California subject-matter requirements (see Terms and Definitions) before the clear credential will be issued.
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-560, entitled Single Subject Teaching Credential -- Requirements for Individuals Prepared Out-of-State [PDF].
Terms and Definitions
How to Apply
I HAVE TWO OR MORE YEARS OF OUT-OF-STATE TEACHING EXPERIENCE AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL.
To obtain the preliminary credential, you must submit all of the following:- Baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally-accredited college or university
- Basic Skills Requirement. Individuals may be issued a preliminary credential prior to satisfying the basic skills requirement but must meet the requirement within one year of their credential issue date. See Commission leaflet CL-667, entitled ">Basic Skills Requirement [PDF] for additional information.
- Comparable teaching credential (see Closely Related Single Subjects in Terms and Definitions) earned in a state other than California based upon completion of a professional preparation program (or alternative program) in secondary education, including student teaching, taken at a regionally-accredited institution where the program was completed.
- 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 (front and back as applicable)
- The subject area listed on the out-of-state credential authorization must correspond to a California subject area
- If the credential is in a subject area that does not correspond with an area that may be listed on a California credential (see subject list above), the candidate must have completed 32 semester units of course work in the California subject area
- If the subject matter course work has not been completed, a preliminary credential will be issued but the applicant will be required to meet California subject-matter requirements (see Terms and Definitions) before the clear credential will be issued
- 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-560, entitled Single Subject Teaching Credential -- Requirements for Individuals Prepared Out-of-State [PDF].
Terms and Definitions
How to Apply
I HAVE NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION AND AM SEEKING A CALIFORNIA SECONDARY TEACHING CREDENTIAL.
Teachers who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards will be issued a clear teaching credential in the subject area in which they have received National Board Certification. Individuals meeting this option are exempt from the basic skills requirement and all other credential requirements.
Individuals applying for their clear credential via National Board Certification may apply directly to the Commission for their teaching credential by submitting all of the following:
- Photocopy of National Board Certification
- Completed application [PDF]
- 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.
- Application processing fee [PDF]
DO I NEED TO PASS ANY EXAMINATIONS PRIOR TO BECOMING CREDENTIALED IN CALIFORNIA?
There are examinations that verify subject matter competence in the subject listed on your credential. Depending on the option by which you qualified for the Single Subject Teaching Credential, verifying subject matter competence may or may not be necessary. Once your preliminary teaching credential is issued, the credential document will indicate if verification of subject matter competence is a requirement to renew your credential.
Verifying Subject Matter Competence by Examination for Single Subject Teaching Credentials [PDF]
SINGLE SUBJECT TERMS & DEFINITIONSACADEMIC MAJORS & CLOSELY RELATED SINGLE SUBJECTS: Agriculture: agribusiness, animal science, agriculture mechanics, agriculture science, forestry, plant science, landscaping, crop science, dairy science, natural resources management, horticulture, or soil science Art: art history, art appreciation or studio art Biological Sciences (Specialized) Business: accounting, business management, economics (business), business administration, finance or marketing Chemistry (Specialized) English: composition, drama, journalism, speech, theatre arts, debate, forensics, or literature Foundational-Level Mathematics Geosciences (Specialized) Health Science: child development, foods, nutrition, health science, human sexuality, or public health Home Economics: child development, foods, nutrition, interior design or clothing Industrial and Technology Education: photography, radio and television, industrial technology, computer education/science, or industrial design Language Other than English: French, German, Spanish, or any language other than English, including American Sign Language Mathematics: algebra, calculus, statistics, probability, or mathematics Music: instrumental or vocal music Physical Education: dance, kinesiology or physical education Physics (Specialized) Science: Biological Sciences: biology, marine biology, anatomy, ecology, environmental science, genetics, zoology, physiology, life science, or botany Science: Chemistry: chemistry or biochemistry Science: Geoscience: astronomy, earth science, ecology, oceanography, meteorology, or geology Science: Physics: physics or thermodynamics Social Science: anthropology, economics (social science), psychology, sociology, geography, government, political science, or history Commission-approved Professional Teacher Induction Program A program of situated learning for the preliminary credentialed teacher. A Verification of Induction Program Completion Form must be signed by the Induction Program director or designee. (For individuals trained outside of the U.S., training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] that covers infant, child and adult CPR skills must also be verified. Submit a course description and a copy of the CPR card for evaluation purposes. Departmentalized A departmentalized class is a class in which one instructor teaches a specific subject matter area. The instructor will teach the subject matter to several different groups of students. This is the classroom organization usually found in a middle, junior, or high school setting but may also be found at the elementary level in classes such as art, physical education, and music. Full-time Teaching Experience (Original evaluations or photocopies of the teacher's performance for at least two years of teaching must also be submitted.)
The out-of-state credential authorization must correspond to a California subject area in order for the Commission to issue a credential. If the credential is in a subject area that does not correspond with an area that may be listed on a California credential, the candidate must have completed 32 semester units of course work in the California subject area. If the subject matter course work has not been completed, a preliminary credential will be issued but the applicant will be required to meet California subject-matter requirements before the clear credential may be issued. See Commission leaflet entitled Verifying Subject Matter Competence for Single Subject Teaching Credentials [PDF] (CL-674S) for more information. |
HOW TO APPLYYou may apply directly to the Commission for your initial credentialing by submitting an application packet consisting of all of the following:
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National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification
* Teachers holding National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification in the area of Science will be issued the specific California science authorization based upon an out-of-state credential or official transcripts from a regionally-accredited college or university. |
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