Single Subject Credential Checklist for Educators Prepared in Another State: National Board Certification

Applying for:

Single Subject Teaching Credential with out-of-state teaching credential and National Board Certification

Allows you to:

Teach the specific subject(s) named on the credential and is most frequently used in middle and high schools.

 Before You Apply

You will need to obtain your fingerprint clearance specifically for the Commission. If you already have valid fingerprints on file with the Commission, it is not necessary to fingerprint each time you apply for a credential or permit. However, if your fingerprints are expired then you must re-establish fingerprints. Details on how to check your fingerprint status can be found at Check Application Status.

The online application will require you to answer questions related to your professional fitness. Please review How to Complete the CTC Online Professional Fitness Questions before completing the application. If you must answer "yes" to any of the professional fitness questions, please gather all documentation, including any required police reports, certified court records, and miscellaneous documents related to the incident and have them ready to upload as attachments along with the materials for verifying academic requirements listed below. If any of the records have been purged or are otherwise not available, provide an original statement from the agency on its official letterhead verifying that fact.

 Ready to Apply?

The items below are required for this application. The Commission reserves the right to request the original(s) of any supporting documentation by mail to ensure authenticity.

The California Single Subject Teaching Credential subject area you are able to request depends on the subject area of your National Board Certification. Please review the information below to determine which authorization you should request when submitting your online application.

*Teachers holding National Board Certification in the area of Science will be issued the specific California science authorization based upon one of the following:

1. An out-of-state credential with a matching subject.
2. A copy of your NBPTS “My Profile” status page report which indicates the specific science certificate specialty area in which National Board Certification was issued (a National Board score report will not meet this requirement).
3. Official transcripts from a regionally-accredited college or university showing a bachelor’s or higher degree major or 32 semester units of coursework in the appropriate Science subject.

The required documentation must be submitted with the National Board Certificate. Option 2 is only available to individuals who obtained National Board Certification in Adolescence and Young Adulthood in Science.

Teachers with out-of-state credentials issued in the general subject area “Science” who hold National Board Certification in “Science” will be issued a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Foundational-Level General Science unless a specific subject pathway is identified.

Important Notes:

• This checklist is ONLY for submission of an online application.

• This web-based checklist is a guide and does not need to be uploaded with the online application.

• Full details on qualifying for the Single Subject Teaching Credential with National Board Certification can be found on  CL-560 under the section Route 3 –  National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification.