Individuals who hold teaching credentials with the following authorizations may request that the English learner authorization be listed on their California teaching credential or may apply for a Clear CLAD Certificate (provided they hold a prerequisite teaching credential) under the provisions of SB 1209 (refer to Coded Correspondence 07-03 for additional information pertaining to earning a California English learner authorization based on an out-of-state authorization).

This is a guide and may not contain all acceptable English learner authorizations issued by each state. The Commission continues to research this information and changes will be made as additional information becomes available.

An individual who holds a document with an English learner authorization not included in the guide must provide a letter from the state agency that issued the document. The letter must verify that the document authorized the holder to provide the equivalent of ELD and SDAIE services at the time the individual earned the document. The Commission reserves the right to make the final determination regarding the equivalency of any authorization submitted for evaluation.

State Authorization/Endorsement
Alabama English as a Second Language (ESL)
Alaska English as a Second Language (ESL)
Arizona English as a Second Language (ESL) Bilingual Education
Provisional ESL Endorsement is NOT equivalent (Structured English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement is NOT equivalent)
Colorado
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (ESL)
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Bilingual Education
Connecticut Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Bilingual Elementary Education (K-8)
Bilingual Education PK-12 (no longer issued)
Secondary Bilingual (in English, History/Social Studies, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, General Science, and/or Business Education)
Delaware  English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Bilingual Teacher (K-12)
District of Columbia English as a Second Language (ESL)
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Florida  English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Georgia  English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) grades P-12
Hawaii Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) PK-3, 5-9, K-6, 7-12, or K-12
Idaho English as a Second Language (ESL) grades K-12 or 6-12
English as a New Language (ENL) grades K-12
Bilingual Education grades K-12
Illinois  English as a Second Language (ESL)
English as a New Language (ENL)
Bilingual Education
Indiana  English as a Second Language
English as a New Language
Teachers of English Learners
Iowa  English as a Second Language (ESL) K-12
Kansas  English as a Second Language (ESL)
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) K-6, 5-8, 6-12, or PK-12
Kentucky  English as a Second Language (ESL) K-12
Restricted Base Certificate for ESL K-12
Louisiana  English as a Second Language (ESL)
Maine English as a Second Language (ESL) K-12
Maryland  English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) PK-12
Massachusetts  English as a Second Language (ESL) Pk-6, 5-12 Transitional Bilingual Learning Endorsement (Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement is NOT equivalent)
Michigan English as a Second Language (ESL)
Bilingual
Minnesota English as a Second Language (ESL) K-12
Bilingual/Bicultural Education
Mississippi  English as a Second Language (ESL)
Missouri  English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) K-12
English Language Learners, K-12
Montana  English as a Second Language (ESL) K-12
Nebraska  English as a Second Language (ESL)
Bilingual Education
Nevada  Teach English as a Second Language (TESL) – before June 2016
English Language Acquisition and Development (ELAD)
Bilingual Endorsement
New Hampshire  English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) K-12
New Jersey  English as a Second Language (ESL) K-12
Bilingual/Bicultural Education
New Mexico  Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Bilingual Education
New York  English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
North Carolina  English as a Second Language (ESL) K-12
North Dakota English as a Second Language (ESL)
Bilingual Education
Ohio Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Oklahoma English as a Second Language (ESL) PK-12
Oregon  English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)/Bilingual
Pennsylvania  Program Specialist – English as a Second Language (ESL)
Rhode Island English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement or Specialist
South Carolina  English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
South Dakota  English as a New Language (ENL) K-12
Tennessee English as a Second Language (ESL) PK-12
Texas  English as a Second Language (ESL) Generalist EC-G4 or G4-8
English as a Second Language (ESL) Supplemental
Bilingual Generalist EC to G4 or G4-8
Bilingual Education Supplemental EC-G4 or G4-8
Utah  English as a Second Language (ESL) Bilingual/ESL (minor or endorsement)
Vermont  English as a Second Language Endorsement (ESL)
English Language Learners Endorsement (ELL)
Virginia  English as a Second Language (ESL) PK-12
Washington  English as a Second Language (ESL)
English Language Learner (ELL)
Bilingual Education
West Virginia English as a Second Language (ESL) PK-Adult
Wisconsin  English as a Second Language (ESL)
Bilingual-Bicultural Education
Wyoming  English as a Second Language (ESL)

 

 

Updated July 22, 2025