Checklist for Adding an English Learner Authorization Via Exam
Applying for:
English Learner Authorization
Allows you to:
Teach multilingual students or students who have not attained full proficiency in English, also known as English Learners. Students designated in these categories must be taught by teachers that hold an English Learner Authorization. If an educator has even one English Learner in the classroom, they must hold the appropriate authorization to serve them in accordance with California law.
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.
A valid prerequisite credential or permit
- You must have a credential or permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing that is valid (not expired).
- The following would be considered acceptable prerequisite credentials and permits:
- Teaching credentials
- Speech-Language Pathology Services credentials
- Clinical or Rehabilitative Services credentials with a Special Class Authorization
- School Nurse Services credentials with a Special Teaching Authorization in Health
- Visiting Faculty Permit
- Children’s Center Permit (excluding emergency)
- Child Development Permit (excluding Assistant and Associate Permits) that authorizes the holder to provide instruction to pupils.
- The following ARE NOT appropriate prerequisite credentials or permits:
- Emergency Permits
- Provisional Internship Permits
- Short-Term Staff Permits
- District Intern Credentials
- University Intern Credentials
- Exchange Credentials
- Sojourn Certificated Employee Credentials
- Services credentials without a special class authorization
- NOTE: It is not necessary to attach anything as proof, since the Commission will already have this information if you were issued a document satisfying this requirement.
Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university OR verification of experience learning a second language
Option 1: Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- If you HAVE BEEN issued a document by the Commission that required you to have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, the Commission will already have this information and it is not necessary to attach anything as proof.
- If you HAVE NOT already been issued a document by the Commission that required you to have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, then you must provide transcripts showing conferral of a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- The college or university must be regionally accredited.
- If you earned your degree 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.
Option 2: Verification of experience learning a second language.
- For a list of options to satisfy this requirement, see the section “Options For Satisfying The Second Language Requirement For Those Without A Bachelor’s Degree” on CL-628C.
CTEL
- Upload official score report of passing CTEL.
- All three subtests must be passed.
- In order to be valid, the exam must have been passed within the past 10 years.
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 completed any coursework in a CTEL program, you must contact the program to obtain the formal recommendation. You CANNOT apply to the Commission directly.
- The English Learner Authorization that will be granted is the full English Learner Authorization (authorization code ELA1) which authorizes all levels of English Learner services except for Bilingual instruction.
- Full details on qualifying for the English Learner Authorization via exam can be found on CL-628C.
Commission on Teacher Credentialing
651 Bannon Street
Sacramento, CA 95811