Applying for:

Education Specialist Instruction Credential with less than two years of out-of-state teaching experience

Allows you to:

Teach all subjects in a Special Education setting as long as the credential specialty area matches the disability area of the students.

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 license from another state showing a comparable teaching authorization to the California credential requested.
  • NOTE: If your out-of-state license is issued in "Special Education" or in a specialty area that does not align with a California specialty area, you may be issued a California Preliminary credential based on completion of an out-of-state generic program in one of the following specialty areas: Mild to Moderate Support Needs, Extensive Support Needs, or Early Childhood Special Education.
 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.

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 Education Specialist Instruction Credential with less than two years of out-of-state teaching experience can be found on CL-808 under the section Route 1 – Less than Two Years of Out-of-State Teaching Experience.
Updated December 02, 2024