Professional Fitness Questions – Information
Each credential application form 41-4 and online application contain the same six Professional Fitness Questions (PFQ) that require an Applicant to disclose specific misconduct. Please note:
- You will be asked to submit documentation for each “Yes” response such as police and court documents and/or other documents related to your disclosure.
- Any “Yes” response will require a detailed explanation.
- The Commission will evaluate your fitness to be granted a credential based on your answers to these questions, our review of criminal history reports, a national database of teacher misconduct, previous reviews by the Commission, reports of educator misconduct from school districts, and violations of teacher preparation tests.
Warning:
- Failure to disclose any required information is considered falsification of your application and the Commission may reject or deny your application or take disciplinary action against your credential.
- Failure to submit the required documentation will cause a delay in the processing of your application and may result in the rejection of your application.
How to Complete Professional Fitness Questions (PFQs)
- When you begin the Professional Fitness Questions (PFQ) section, you will preview an informational page which contains the PFQ questions and additional requirements.
- If you need assistance completing the PFQs, go to the Educator Misconduct page and click on Professional Fitness Questions/Applications. Review the information in the Applicant Disclosure – Online Application section.
- If you have additional questions, please use the Contact Us form.
- Click Next to continue. You will then be required to answer the Professional Fitness Questions (PFQs).
- Answer each of the Professional Fitness Questions (PFQs).
If you select “Yes” to a PFQ, you must complete the next page to report all incidents related to that question.
- Click New to open the page and type the requested information.
- Click Save when finished.
- For each additional incident, repeat steps a. and b.
Click Next to continue to the next page.
Professional Fitness Questions
a. School Employment Action (School Misconduct):
Have you ever been:
- Dismissed/terminated;
- non-reelected;
- suspended without pay for more than ten days;
- retired;
- resigned from; or otherwise left school; because of allegations of misconduct or while allegations of misconduct were pending?
b. Criminal Conviction (Conviction):
Have you ever been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor in California or any other place?
(You may omit misdemeanor marijuana-related convictions that occurred more than two years prior to this application, except convictions involving concentrated cannabis, which must be disclosed.)
c. Currently Under Investigation (Under Investigation):
Are you currently the subject of any criminal inquiry or investigation by a law enforcement agency or any licensing agency in California or any other state?
d. Pending Criminal Action (Charged):
Are any criminal charges currently pending against you?
e. Teaching Credential Disciplinary Action (Credential Discipline):
Have you ever had any credential, including but not limited to, any Certificate of Clearance, permit, credential, license or other document authorizing public school service:
- Revoked;
- Denied;
- Suspended;
- Publicly Reproved; and/or
- otherwise subjected to any other disciplinary action (including an action that was stayed); in California or any other state or place?
f. Professional License Disciplinary Action (License Action):
Have you ever had any professional or vocational (not teaching or educational) license:
- revoked;
- denied;
- suspended; and/or
- otherwise subjected to any other disciplinary action (including an action that was stayed); in California or any other state or place?
Oath and Affidavit and Payment
Application Status
California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 80443, sets a maximum processing time of 50 working days for completed applications. However, applications delayed by a Commission appeal, Division of Licensure Enforcement review, or fingerprint processing are not subject to the 50 day restriction.
If your application status = “Pending Additional Evaluation.” Your application has been forwarded to the Division of Licensure Enforcement due to one or more of the following:
- Yes answer to a Professional Fitness Question;
- Information received from criminal history reports;
- Reports from school districts; and/or
- Your failure to report current or past misconduct.
Mailing Address:
Commission on Teacher Credentialing,
Division of Licensure Enforcement
651 Bannon Street, Suite 600 B
Sacramento, California 95811
Please use the DLE Document Submission Form which will assist DLE staff in processing your application in a timely manner.
Commission on Teacher Credentialing
651 Bannon Street
Sacramento, CA 95811