Teaching Credential Via Peace Corps Experience (CL-535)

Multiple Subject or Single Subject Teaching Credential Via Peace Corps Teaching Experience

California regulations authorize the Commission to accept specified Peace Corps teaching experience in lieu of the professional teacher preparation program requirement for the Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential.

The Commission requires individuals to provide the following information to waive the teacher preparation program requirements based upon Peace Corps teaching experience:

Certification by the director of the Peace Corps of the United States or the Peace Corps Country Director that the applicant has satisfactorily completed at least 18 months in a Peace Corps assignment in a foreign country, during which time 50 percent or more of his or her duties consisted of classroom teaching of resident children of the foreign country.

Applicants must meet all other requirements for the preliminary and clear Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential as listed below, but may begin teaching with the issuance of the preliminary credential. 

Requirements for the Five-Year Preliminary Credential

1. Bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally-accredited college or university, verified by official transcript.
   
   
2. Peace Corps teaching experience, verified by original letter from the Peace Corps Country Director or the Director of the Peace Corps of the United States.
   
   
3. Completed application ( form 41-4) indicating the type of credential being requested and, if not previously submitted to the Commission, a completed Live Scan receipt (form 41-LS). Out-of-state residents must submit two fingerprint cards in lieu of a Live Scan receipt. If submitting fingerprint cards, current fingerprint processing fees must accompany the application packet in addition to the application processing fee. Fingerprint cards may be ordered by sending an email to the Commission at Fingerprints@ctc.ca.gov.
   
   
4. Application processing fee.
   

Requirements for the Clear Credential

1. Satisfy the basic skills requirement prior to the issuance of the preliminary credential or within one year of the issuance of the preliminary credential in order to be eligible to continue teaching. See Commission leaflet CL-667, entitled Basic Skills Requirement, for additional information.
   
   
2. Developing English Language Skills including Reading – (Single Subject candidates must satisfy [a]; Multiple Subject candidates have the option of satisfying [a] or [b]):
   1. Complete a course in Developing English Language Skills, including Reading, that is research-based and includes the study of phonemic awareness, spelling patterns, early intervention techniques, ongoing diagnostic techniques, and a strong literature, language, and comprehension component (Submit a photocopy of the course description for evaluation purposes).
   2. Pass the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA). Visit the Evaluation Systems, Pearson website for more information (available to Multiple Subject Credential holders only).
      
      
3. United States Constitution – individuals must satisfy one of the following requirements:
   1. Complete a course (at least two semester units or three quarter units) in the Provisions and Principles of the U.S. Constitution from a regionally-accredited college or university (Submit a photocopy of the course description for evaluation purposes).
   2. Pass an examination in the Provisions and Principles of the U.S. Constitution given by a regionally accredited college or university.
      
      
4. Subject-Matter Competence: This requirement can be met by completing one of the following:
   1. Pass all of the appropriate subject matter examination(s) for the Multiple Subject Credential (CL-674M) or the Single Subject Credential (CL-674S), according to your credential type.
   2. Complete a Commission-approved subject-matter program, or its equivalent, at a California college or university according to your credential type. Verification of completion must be signed by the person authorized by the program sponsor.
   3. For Specialized Science subjects only, individuals may take and pass the appropriate subject matter examinations or obtain verification of completion of subject-matter course work from the Commission on Teacher credentialing. Requirements and procedures are explained in Coded Correspondence 03-0010.[1]
      Note [1]: The last administration of the examinations in the Specialized Sciences was July 11, 2015. These examinations have been discontinued. Applicants will have five years during which to use passing examination scores toward obtaining California certification. The last date to verify subject-matter equivalency by coursework for any of the Specialized Sciences was July 11, 2015. See Coded Correspondence 14-09.
   4. Successful completion of applicable coursework verified by a Commission-approved program of professional preparation. Coursework must be completed at a regionally-accredited institution and addresses each of the domains of the subject matter requirements adopted by the Commission in the content area of the Single or Multiple Subject Credential.
   5. Complete a degree major from a regionally-accredited college or university. For a Single Subject Teaching Credential, the degree major must be in one of the statutory single subjects named in Education Code section 44257(a). For a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, the degree major must be in liberal studies or an interdisciplinary major that includes coursework in the content areas identified in subdivision (b) of California Education Code section 44282.
   6. Successful completion through a combination of coursework and examination options that meet or exceed the domains of the subject matter requirements adopted by the Commission in the content area of the Single or Multiple Subject Credential. Such mixing of options may only be done by candidates enrolled in a Commission-approved preparation program.
      
      
5. Complete a Commission-approved Teacher Induction Program. Individuals applying for the clear credential must submit their application through their approved induction program sponsor. The application will be submitted online by the recommending institution.
   

Reference:
California Education Code, Section 44322