Multiple Subject Teaching Credential Requirements for Teachers Prepared Out-of-State (CL-561)

Individuals applying under this option may apply directly to the Commission for a preliminary teaching credential by submitting all of the following in their application packet.  You may also refer to the following checklist: Checklist for Educators Prepared in Another State - Less than Two Years 

1. Official transcripts showing the conferral of a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 
2. Comparable professional level teaching credential earned in a state or U.S. Territory (see Terms and Definitions) 
   
   

Individuals who are issued the preliminary credential via Route 1 must complete all of the following to qualify for the clear credential:

1. Meet subject-matter competence, if not met with the issuance of the preliminary (see Terms and Definitions).             
2. Complete a Commission-approved Teacher Induction Program (See Terms and Definitions).
3. Earn a California English learner authorization (see Terms and Definitions) 

Candidates completing a Teacher Induction program will have their applications for the clear credential submitted online by the program sponsor. Educators who have completed a teacher induction program should not directly apply to the Commission for their Clear credential.

If applying directly, you can apply online by creating an account and following the online application submission process. The drop-down combination for this route is shown below:

If you are submitting your application through a program or employer, please work with them to submit your application and follow the complete your recommendation process.

Individuals applying under this option may apply directly to the Commission for a preliminary teaching credential by submitting by documenting all of the following in their application packet.  You may also refer to the following checklist: Checklist for Educators Prepared in Another State - Two or More Years:

1. Official transcripts showing the conferral of a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 
2. Comparable professional level teaching credential earned in a state or U.S. Territory (see Terms and Definitions) 
3. Letter from the out-of-state employer verifying at least two years of out-of-state full-time teaching experience (see Terms and Definitions) 
4. Either two satisfactory performance evaluations or a supplemental evaluation letter(s) (see Terms and Definitions).

Individuals may apply directly to the Commission for a clear teaching credential by submitting an application (form 41-4) and processing fee by mail with documentation of all of the following (including meeting all the requirements for the preliminary credential):

1. Meet subject-matter competence, if not met with the issuance of the preliminary (see Terms and Definitions).
2. Earn a California English learner authorization (see Terms and Definitions)

If all requirements for both the preliminary and clear credential are met with the initial application, the individual will be issued the clear credential and not the preliminary.

If applying directly, you can apply online by creating an account and following the online application submission process. The drop-down combination for this route is shown below:

If you are submitting your application through a program or employer, please work with them to submit your application and follow the complete your recommendation process. 

Early Childhood (ages 3 - 8) / Generalist

Middle Childhood (ages 7 - 12) / Generalist

Individuals applying under this option may apply directly to the Commission for a clear teaching credential by submitting by documenting all of the following in their application packet. You may also refer to the following checklist: Multiple Subject Credential Checklist for Educators Prepared in Another State National Board Certification

1. Photocopy of National Board Certification.
2. Copy of a professional level credential from a state other than California.

Individuals who obtained National Board Certification in one of the qualifying subjects after obtaining their California Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential may be issued a Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Individuals applying under this route are exempt from the basic skills requirement and all other credential requirements except fingerprint clearance.

Individuals holding a California preliminary or clear Single Subject Teaching Credential, or equivalent previously issued general education teaching credential, using National Board Certification to apply for the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential should consult credential leaflet CL-621A Adding a Teaching or Subject Area to Multiple and Single Subject Credentials for specific requirements.

If applying directly, you can apply online by creating an account and following the online application submission process. The drop-down combination for this route is shown below:

If you are submitting your application through a program or employer, please work with them to submit your application and follow the complete your recommendation process.

Individuals who completed their teacher preparation program outside of the United States and do not hold a comparable teaching credential issued by a US state other than California should refer to the information leaflet entitled Multiple Subject Teaching Credential – Requirements for Individuals Prepared Outside of the United States (CL-871). 

Individuals who do not hold an out-of-state credential but have three or more years teaching experience in a regionally-accredited private school should refer to the information leaflet entitled Single Subject and Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials – Requirements for Teachers with Private School Experience (CL-834) for information on additional options to qualify for the credential.

A two year, job embedded program of mentoring, support and learning based in the California Standards for the Teaching Profession for the beginning teacher. A Verification of Induction Program Completion Form must be signed by the induction program director or designee. Individuals should contact their employing agency concerning enrollment in an induction program.

A professional-level Out of State teaching credential earned in a state or U.S. Territory other than California is one that was issued based upon completion of a professional preparation program (or alternative program), including student teaching, at a regionally-accredited institution where the program was completed.   

• The credential does not have to be valid at the time of application.
• A photocopy of the out-of-state credential is acceptable verification of this requirement (front and back as applicable).
• The subject area listed on the out-of-state credential authorization must correspond to the subject area sought.
• If the out-of-state credential is authorized for middle school service only, a preliminary credential may be issued but the individual will be required to meet California’s subject-matter requirements (see Terms and Definitions) before the clear credential may be issued.
  

Out-of-state prepared individuals who have earned a Clear California Education Specialist Credential and also earned professional level certification from another state in elementary general education may apply for the Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential without first obtaining a preliminary credential, provided they have met the California English learner requirement. If the out-of-state-prepared educator holds a California Preliminary or Level I Education Specialist Credential and a comparable out-of-state elementary general education teaching credential and meets all other requirements, the Commission will issue a Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential.
If the individual has not completed the English learner requirement, the Commission will issue a Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential and the individual will need to complete the English learner requirement to earn the clear credential. See Credential Leaflet CL-628C for more information.

The English Learner (EL) Authorization and Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development (CLAD) Certificate authorize instruction to English learners. Earn a California English learner authorization by one of the following methods:

1. Obtain an English learner authorization issued by the Commission authorizing service in English language development (ELD) and Specially Designed Academic Instruction delivered in English (SDAIE). See Credential Leaflet CL-628C for more information.
2. Submit a copy of an out-of-state credential verifying a full English learner authorization.

Teaching experience must be verified by an original letter on official letterhead of the district or districts where the teacher was employed, signed by the superintendent, assistant superintendent, or director of personnel or human resources. 

This letter must have either an original "wet-ink" signature, or a Commission Approved Electronic signature. Information regarding electronic signatures can be located on the Supported Digital Signature Solutions page. 

The letter must explicitly state the service performed was on a full-time basis and indicate all of the following:

• Experience must be full-time teaching; no part-time or a combination of teaching and other school employment will be accepted. Full-time teaching is defined as a minimum of 4 hours per day for at least 75% of a school year. Beginning and ending dates of service should be clearly indicated.
• All experience must be gained in regionally-accredited schools outside California. Teaching experience gained in California is not acceptable.
• Teaching experience does not need to correspond with the type of certification requested and may be a combination of general education and special education.
• Day-to-day substitute, Adult education, and Vocational/Career Technical education experience is not acceptable.

• Cognia (formerly known as AdvancEd)
• Middle States Association: Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Education
• New England Association of Colleges and Schools (NEASC)
• WASC 

Originals or photocopies of the teacher’s performance evaluations for at least two years of teaching on which ratings of ‘satisfactory’ or better were received must be submitted by individuals applying via Route 2. The evaluations must be from the period of full-time service verified by the out-of-state employer. Applicants must submit summative teacher evaluations for continued employment. Classroom visits/observations or pre-observations, plans for professional growth, self-assessments, self-reflections, or personal reviews do not meet the criteria for performance evaluations and will not be accepted.

Individuals who were not evaluated or who cannot obtain photocopies of their evaluations may provide a supplemental evaluation letter(s) signed by their out-of-state principal or superintendent in lieu of actual performance evaluations. The supplemental letter must cover two separate years of full-time teaching and verify that the individual’s performance in at least the four following areas was “satisfactory” or better:

• The use of teaching strategies that motivate all students to engage in the learning process.
• The ability to establish and maintain high standards for student behavior.
• A demonstration of deep knowledge of the subject being taught and the use of appropriate instructional strategies that promote student understanding.
• An ability to plan and implement a sequence of appropriate instructional activities.

Each supplementary evaluation letter must be dated and signed in ink or with an acceptable digital signature by the appropriate school administrator or school district administrator.

The out-of-state credential authorization must correspond to a California subject area. If the subject(s) listed on the out-of-state credential is for middle school instruction only, a preliminary credential may be issued but the applicant will be required to meet California’s subject-matter requirement before the clear credential may be issued. Subject matter competence may be verified by one of the following methods listed on our website: Subject Matter Requirements.

Individuals who were issued Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials prior to January 1, 2007, on the basis of completion of an out-of-state teacher preparation program may use the transition option under Senate Bill 1209 to the current clear credential requirements. See Coded Correspondence 17-06 and Coded Correspondence 06-0027 for more information. 

Your application package will need to include the following:

1. Completed application (form 41-4)

2. If not previously submitted to the Commission, complete the fingerprinting process.

3. Application processing fee.

4. Supporting documentation including official transcripts, letters of experience, photocopies of out-of-state credentials, and performance evaluations as applicable to the route used to earn the credential. Please review the Routes above to see the specific items you need to submit based on your experience.