Examinations for Teacher Certification (CL-818)

California state laws and regulations require individuals pursuing credentials authorizing service in California’s public schools to verify proficiency in a number of areas. The required level of proficiency may be verified by passing one or more Commission-approved examinations. Refer to the information leaflet related to the credential you are seeking for your specific examination requirements. It is an individual’s responsibility to take the correct examination(s) and to contact the Commission when questions arise.

The following is a reference list of the examination programs and testing companies under contract with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to administer each examination. Contact the testing company to obtain examination registration materials and information on administration procedures, examination score reports, and preparation materials. Faxed registration forms are not acceptable.

When new examinations are created to replace existing examinations, there is often a delay in receiving score results from the initial administration of new examinations because of the time it takes to establish passing standards. Check the Commission’s website often for updates.

Examination and Testing Companies

California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)

Demonstration of proficiency in basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills

For information regarding additional examination options to meet California’s Basic Skills Requirement, see Credential Leaflet CL-667.

California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET)

Demonstration of subject-matter competence for Single Subject and Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials. Information regarding appropriate subject-matter examinations can be found in Verifying Subject Matter Competency by Examination leaflets CL-674M for Multiple Subject or CL-674S for Single Subject. 

California Teacher of English Learners (CTEL) Examination

Demonstration of competence in knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for effective teaching of English learners.

California Subject Examinations for Teachers: World Languages (Languages Other Than English)

Passing CSET: World Languages examination scores may also be used for certification purposes towards obtaining a Bilingual Authorization. Please see Credential Leaflet CL-628B, entitled Bilingual Authorizations, and Credential Leaflet CL-674S for a listing of available languages. Also see the CSET Website for additional information.

Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA)

Demonstration of knowledge and skills necessary for effective teaching of reading.

Preliminary Educational Technology Test (PET)[1]

Demonstration of effective use of technology at the foundational level.

Note [1]: This examination is only applicable to credential candidates meeting the foundational level technology requirement outside of a Commission-approved program, such as those using 6 years of private school experience, teachers prepared outside California, etc.

California Preliminary Administrative Credential Examination (CPACE)

Other Evaluation Systems Contact Information

Phone times:
9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Pacific time, Monday–Friday (for all test programs) (excluding holidays)
6:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Pacific time, Saturday (for the CPACE program only)
(Automated Information System available 24 hours daily)

National Evaluation Series (NES) Assessment of Professional Knowledge (APK)

Demonstration of knowledge related to basic teaching education foundations and pedagogy to satisfy the required education courses for the Early Completion Intern Option. Credential candidates must pass either the NES APK: Elementary (Test code 051) for Multiple Subject candidates or the NES APK: Secondary (Test code 052) for Single Subject candidates.

Evaluations Systems Group of Pearson
National Evaluation Series
300 Venture Way
Handley, MA 01035
Teacher Licensure Testing & Performance Assessment
Phone: (800) 778-5315 (toll free, US and Canada only) (Automated Information System available 24 hours daily)
Website: http://www.nestest.com/PageView.aspx?f=GEN_Tests.html

Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)

Demonstration of skills equal to the proficiency used by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for their certification requirements.

ETS – The Praxis Series
P.O. Box 6051
Princeton, NJ 08541-6051
(800) 772-9476 or (609) 771-7395
Teletypewriter (TTY): (609) 771-7714
Automated System (24 hours a day): (800) 772-9476
Website: http://www.ets.org/praxis/ca/requirements/

Test Score Reports

Information on obtaining test score reports may be found on the testing agency websites:

• Evaluation Systems-Pearson
• Educational Testing Service (ETS)
• National Evaluation Series (NES)