Welcome to the State of California

Title

Secondary / Single-Subject Credentials

SINGLE SUBJECT TERMS & DEFINITIONS


ACADEMIC 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.)
  • 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. Territories 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
Subject Matter Competence
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.


Did we answer your question? If not, click here to email our credential staff. It takes approximately 3 to 5 business days to receive a response to your email.

Updated April 11, 2008