Prepared in Another State: Route 1 - Less Than Two Years of Teaching Experience

California has three routes for a professional-level license teacher from another state to apply for a California credential. It's important to know which route you qualify for because the materials you need to provide for your application will vary depending on your out-of-state experience. Keep reading to learn more about Route 1!

Should I take Route 1?

This is your route if either of these apply to you:

• You hold a professional-level teaching license out-of-state and have less than two years of full-time, out-of-state teaching experience. 
• You have zero teaching experience besides the student teaching you completed to earn your out-of-state license.

What do I need to apply?

Your application packet should include the following items:

• Application packet
  
  
• Copy of out-of-state teaching credential
  • This must be a professional-level license in a comparable subject area issued in California. Not sure if your license is professional-level? In most cases, if your license was issued for only three years or less and includes terms like intern, apprentice, temporary, or alternative or if you still need to complete a subject matter examination, you have not yet met the requirements of a professional-level credential. It should also be noted that California does not issue Middle School teaching authorizations. If you have only a Middle School grades authorization on your out-of-state license, you may apply for the Multiple Subjects credential or the Single Subject Credential, but not both. Also, 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. More details can be found in the Miscellaneous Questions section of Frequently Asked Questions for Out-of-State Prepared Applicants.
    
    
• Official transcripts showing conferral of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally-accredited college or university
  • Hard copies do not need to be in their original sealed envelope. You may also have official e-transcripts emailed from your college or university to etranscripts@ctc.ca.gov.
    

Where do I send my application packet?

To apply, mail all materials in one envelope to the following address:

May Lee State Office Complex
Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Certification Division
651 Bannon Street, Suite 601
Sacramento, CA 95811

Recalculating route...

If after reading about Route 1 you're not sure that it's the right route for you, take a look at the other routes. If you have two or more years of out-of-state teaching experience, check out Route 2! If you're National Board Certified, Route 3 might be the one for you.

Help! I think I'm lost!

If you have additional questions, please visit Frequently Asked Questions for Out-of-State Prepared Applicants or reach out to the Education Career Counselors via email at careerguidance@ctc.ca.gov.