Applying for:

Education Specialist Instruction Credential as an educator prepared outside of the United States

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-country teaching credential
  • Be sure that when you request your foreign transcript evaluation, you provide the agency with your out-of-country teaching credential as well.
 Foreign transcript evaluation from an approved agency

 Must show completion of a bachelor's or higher degree from an institution equivalent to a regionally accredited institution in the U.S.

 Must show completion of a professional preparation program in Special Education, with a minimum of 24 semester units, including completion of a supervised field study at an institution equivalent to a regionally accredited institution in the U.S.

  • 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 foreign transcript evaluations:
    • Upload a scan of the original, official paper foreign transcript evaluation. Clear photographs will also be accepted. All pages, front and back, must be included in the upload.
  • Submitting electronic foreign transcript evaluations: 
    • Upload the original file sent to you by the foreign transcript evaluation agency.
  • NOTE: If the program completed outside the U.S. was only in "Special Education" or in a specialty area that does not align with a California specialty area, the Commission may issue a Preliminary credential to an individual based on completion of a generic program in Special Education completed outside the U.S. in one of the following specialty areas: Mild to Moderate Support Needs, Extensive Support Needs, or Early Childhood Special Education.

 

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 for educators prepared outside of the United States can be found on CL-808.
Updated December 02, 2024