Applying for:

Administrative Services Credential with five or more years of out-of-state teaching experience

Allows you to:

Serve as an administrator in positions such as Principal, Assistant Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent.

A red octagon shape surrounded by a gray border 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.

A green circle surrounded by a gray ring 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.


ItemImportant Details and Tips

 

Out-of-state teaching credential
  • Scanned copy, image, or screenshot of your full, professional-level teaching credential from another state in the U.S.

 

Transcripts

 

  • Transcripts must show completion of ALL of the following:

A bachelor's degree or higher

A professional teacher preparation program in another state (must include student teaching).

Completion of an administrator preparation program in another state.

  • The colleges or universities must be regionally accredited.
  • If you earned any degrees outside of the U.S., you cannot provide the official transcripts. You must obtain a foreign transcript evaluation from an approved agency.
  • Submitting paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations: 
    • Upload a scan of the original, official paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluation. Clear photographs will also be accepted. All pages, front and back, must be included in the upload. 
  • Submitting electronic transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations.
    • Upload the original file sent to you by the college, transcript service provider, or foreign transcript evaluation agency.
  • NOTE: Alternative administrator programs are not acceptable.

 

Verification of five or more years of out-of-state teaching experience
  • Experience must be at a public school or private school of equivalent status located in another state.
  • Experience must be full-time and indicate beginning and ending dates of hire. Full-time teaching and administrative experience is defined as a minimum of four hours a day, unless the minimum statutory attendance requirement for the students serviced is less. Experience must be on a daily basis and for at least 75% of the school year. Experience may be accrued in increments of a minimum of one semester. No part-time experience will be accepted.
  • Signed by Superintendent, Asst. Superintendent, Director of personnel, or Director of HR.
  • The letter must be a scanned copy of an original letter or an electronic PDF. If the letter is a scanned copy, the original letter that was scanned must be signed with a wet ink signature. If the letter is an electronic PDF, it must be signed with an acceptable electronic signature. Screenshots are not acceptable.
  • Must be on official school or district letterhead.
  • Service record forms will also be accepted in lieu of a letter, as long as they contain all the required information.
  • NOTE: Up to two years of successful, full-time experience in an administrative position at a public or regionally accredited private school located in another state may be combined with teaching experience.
 Out-of-state administrative services credential
  • Scanned copy, image, or screenshot of your full, professional-level administrative credential from another state.
  • If you were not issued an administrative credential but are eligible for one, you may provide a letter of eligibility instead.
    • The letter must be from the institution where you completed your administrator preparation program or the state agency responsible for issuing the credential.
    • The letter must be a scanned copy of an original letter or an electronic PDF. If the letter is a scanned copy, the original letter that was scanned must be signed with a wet ink signature. If the letter is an electronic PDF, it must be signed with an acceptable electronic signature. Screenshots are not acceptable.
    • Must be on official letterhead of the school where you completed the program or the state agency that issues the credential.
  • NOTE: Alternative administrator programs based on work experience or administrative services credentials issued on the basis of passing an out-of-state administrator exam are not acceptable.

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.
  • If you are granted a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential, you must complete a Commission-approved Clear Administrative Services induction program and two years of administrative experience in California to obtain your Clear Administrative Services Credential. Enrollment is expected upon placement in an administrative position and the program typically takes two years to complete.
  • Full details on qualifying for the Administrative Services Credential with five or more years of out-of-state teaching experience can be found on CL-574 under the section Requirements for the Administrative Services Credential, subsection Route 1: Five or More Years of Out-of-State Teaching Experience.
Updated July 31, 2025