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Adding Teaching or Subject Areas to Credentials
General Information
The law provides that credential holders can add teaching or content areas to an existing single subject or multiple subject credential, if specific requirements are met.
These processes generally require an application form, current processing fee, and appropriate documentation. This section includes information on requirements for such requests and resources for detailed information on each process.
Added Authorizations in Special Education (AASE) are also available to holders of credentials in Special Education, but require the completion of a Commission-approved program based on Commission-approved standards. The AASE may only be obtained through a recommendation made by an approved program sponsor and applications must be submitted through the Commission’s online process. See Credential Leaflet CL-890 for more information.
ADDING A TEACHING OR CONTENT AREA TO A RYAN CREDENTIAL
| Valid Credential Held | Requirement(s) | Credential Sought |
|---|---|---|
| Clear or Life Multiple Subject | a) specialty area subject matter b) departmentalized methodology course methodology directly related to the new content area (1) | Clear Single Subject |
| Clear or Life Single Subject | a) liberal studies subject matter competency (coursework or exam) b) self-contained methodology course (1) c) English language skills for beginning readers course (2) d) passage of RICA | Clear Multiple Subject |
| Clear or Life Single Subject | a) specialty area subject matter competency (coursework or exam) b) methodology directly related to the new content area | Clear Single Subject |
| Preliminary Multiple Subject | Competency (coursework or exam) b) departmentalized methodology course methodology directly related to the new content area (1) c) United States Constitution (course or exam) (3) d) English language skills including reading (2,4) | Five-Year Preliminary Single Subject |
| Preliminary Single Subject | a) liberal studies subject matter competency (coursework or exam) b) self-contained methodology course (1) c) English language skills for beginning readers course (2) d) passage of the RICA e) United States Constitution (course or exam) (3) | Five-Year Preliminary Multiple Subject |
| Preliminary Single Subject | a) specialty area subject matter competency b) methodology directly related to the new content area | Five-Year Preliminary Single Subject with same expiration date |
(1) These methodology courses must be at least three-semester units (or four quarter units) and have a grade of "C" or better, "Pass," or "Credit."
(2) The English Language skills for beginning readers course must have a grade of "C" or better, "Pass," or "Credit."
(3) If the US Constitution requirement has been satisfied for the credential held, it does not need to be retaken for the credential sought.
(4) If the English Language skills for beginning readers requirement has been satisfied for the preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, it does not need to be re-taken for the Single Subject Teaching Credential.
Existing Credential Type Required to Add Teaching or Subject Area
| RYAN | FISHER | GENERAL |
|---|---|---|
| Single Subject Multiple Subject (preliminary, clear, professional clear or life) | Early Childhood Education Elementary Secondary Restricted (except Visually Handicapped in Mobility) (clear or life) | Kindergarten-Primary * Elementary * Junior High * Secondary Special Secondary in: Art * Business Education * Homemaking * Industrial Arts * Music * Physical Education * Speech Arts * Voc. Agriculture * (clear or life) |
* General Credentials that did not require a fifth year of study
Additional requirements as well as information on the application process and fees is detailed in the credential leaflets Adding a Teaching or Subject Area to General or Standard Teaching Credentials CL-621 and Adding a Teaching or Subject Area to Multiple or Single Subject Credentials CL-621A.
National Board Certification
Senate Bill 941 (Chap. 348, Stats. 2011) authorized the Commission to issue an authorization for an additional subject or new credential type to the holder of a valid Multiple Subject or Single Subject Teaching Credential who has earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) in an additional single subject content area or credential type. See credential leaflets CL-621 and CL-621A for more specific information on requirements and application procedures.
Supplementary Authorizations
Supplementary authorizations are subjects added to Ryan Single Subject and Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials, Fisher Standard Elementary and Secondary Teaching Credentials, and Special Secondary Teaching Credentials with academic subjects. These authorizations allow the holder to teach the subject matter content in grades 9 and below for Introductory Supplementary Authorizations or a specific subject at any grade level for the Specific Supplementary Authorizations.
See CL-603 [PDF] (for Single Subject credential holders) or CL-629 (for Multiple Subjects credential holders). (Education Code Section 44258).
An applicant for a preliminary or clear Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential may request the supplementary authorization at the time of application, or may request it at any time during the life of the credential by submitting an application form (41-4), processing fee, and official transcripts.
| Supplementary authorizations can be added to: | Supplementary authorizations cannot be added to: |
|---|---|
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The authorization will be added to the holder's current credential, which will retain its original expiration date.
The holder of a life Multiple or Single Subject or a clear or life Standard Elementary, Standard Secondary or Special Secondary Teaching Credential may apply at any time and will be issued the supplementary authorization on a separate document designed specifically for that purpose. (Education Code Section 6298)
To evaluate for a Supplementary Authorization, use the Supplementary Authorization Worksheet CL-696b.
American Sign Language
The Commission issues a supplementary authorization in American Sign Language (ASL), which falls under the category of language other than English. To qualify, an individual needs to submit official transcripts with either the ten upper-division or 20 semester units in ASL. Course work in interpreting skills and deaf culture is acceptable; however, the majority of units must be in ASL. Oral proficiency can be assessed via tests in interpreting skills, and a certificate can be used to verify the proficiency requirements.
For more detailed information, please see the Supplementary Authorization Guideline Book.
Subject Matter Authorizations
History
History Effective January 1, 2005, additions to Title 5 Sections 80089.3 and 80089.4 allowed the Commission to issue Introductory and Specific Subject Matter Authorizations as another option to meet subject matter requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Although NCLB has now been superseded by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Subject Matter Authorizations may still be issued. See credential leaflet CL-852 [PDF]
Requirements for Subject Matter Authorization
An applicant for a preliminary or clear Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential may request the Subject Matter authorization at the time of initial application, or may request it at any time during the life of that credential by submitting an application form (41-4), processing fee, and official transcripts. The authorization will be added to the holder's current credential, which will retain its original expiration date.
The holder of a life Multiple or Single Subject or a clear or life Standard Elementary, Standard Secondary or Special Secondary Teaching Credential may apply at any time and will be issued the subject matter authorization on a separate document specially designed for that purpose.
Introductory subject matter authorizations allow the holder to teach the subject matter content typically included in curriculum guidelines and textbooks approved for study in grades 9 and below. This allows an employer to assign a teacher with an Introductory Subject Matter Authorization to teach a class in which the curriculum is for grades 9 and below, but the students in the class may be in grades K-12. A Specific Subject Matter Authorization authorizes the holder to teach the specific subject in grades preschool, K-12, and classes organized primarily for adults.
| Subject Matter authorizations can be added to: | Subject Matter authorizations cannot be added to: |
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To evaluate for a Subject Matter Authorization, use the Subject Matter Authorization Worksheet CL-849.
For more detailed information, including instructions for converting supplementary authorizations to subject matter authorizations, please refer to the Subject Matter Authorization Guideline Book.
Resources:
- Supplementary Authorization Guideline Book
- Subject Matter Authorization Guideline Book
- Adding a Teaching or Subject Area to General or Standard Teaching Credentials (CL-621)
- Adding a Teaching or Subject Area to Multiple or Single Subject Credentials (CL-621A)
- Coded Correspondence 12-02 , Coded Correspondence 13-17, Coded Correspondence 16-06
- CIA 13-14, CIA 14-07