Written by Brent Loomes
This guide aims to provide you with more information about the paths to certification, certification requirements, and the recent changes in obtaining a teaching credential in California, as well as a comprehensive list of schools that provide alternative pathways to certification. To meet increased demand for teachers, California no longer requires the CBEST and CSET exams as a condition to becoming a teacher. However, some requirements have remained the same if you want to be a teacher in this state. Let's see what that means for you!
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The California Basic Skills Test (CBEST) and the California Subject Matter Exams for Teachers (CSET) are two tests used in California during the teacher credentialing process. So what are these tests used for?
The Commission on Teacher Credentialing's (CTC) Annual Report on Passing Rates of Commission-Approved Examinations covering the school years between 2012 and 2016 showed that both the CSET and CBEST passing rate were low. As of the 2019-20 school year, less than 66% of test takers passed the CBEST on their first attempt, and less than 67% of them acquired the CSET passing score on their first attempt according to the same source.
While the CSET and CBEST are accurate tools that provide the state with a clear understanding of the would-be teachers' ability to teach at their level, they have increasingly proven to be an actual barrier to starting teaching. As the state has been confronted by a high demand for teachers with candidates being hindered by the difficulty level of the CSET and CBEST, the CTC decided to change its policy and allow alternatives.
These alternatives will ensure that more students from more diverse walks of life find ways to begin teaching and embrace this as a career. Many students who would otherwise not be able to teach at their level because they were intimidated by the CSET and CBEST are now able to pursue alternatives and join the growing body of teachers in California.
The available alternatives to the CBEST exam include:
There are many ways in which you can credential under this new piece of legislation. If you earned a B or higher in math, reading, and writing coursework, you can apply for your credential after taking classes such as textual analysis, critical thinking, statistics, or geometry. You can also have your transcripts vetted by your program to see if you meet the requirements related to basic skills.
Should you want to combine coursework and tests for the basic skills requirement, you should first make sure that your preparation program will accept them.
The California CSET previously required candidates to either complete a higher education subject matter program or take the test. This caused some teachers, such as elementary school teachers, to have to pass three tests to earn their credentials. This has now changed to allow candidates to qualify for the credential if they have pursued coursework in approved subjects or hold an academic degree in the subject they want to teach.
If you're looking for a single-subject credential, make sure that you major in what you're intending to teach. For multiple-subject credentials, you need a major in liberal studies, or to graduate with a degree in:
If your plan is to work as a special education teacher, make sure that you major in CSET-included subjects for special education. Your major will be assessed by the preparation program. If you're applying for permits directly to the CTC, the organization will be responsible for assessing your major. There are many ways you can show competency in these subjects. They include taking the CSET or taking the subtests of the CSET and using college coursework.
As these changes are very recent, the CTC has not finalized all rules and regulations that govern the process. Because of that, information is likely to change in the future. We'll make sure to update this guide as needed to provide you with the latest information.
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Create AccountIf you're thinking about becoming a teacher but have not entered higher education on a traditional path, you can still qualify. This is because the alternative certification programs we're going to introduce in the next few sections are available to a higher number of students than the CSET and CBEST were.
The qualifications you need to pursue these avenues to certification include:
If you didn't start off as a teacher, you can use the California Teacher Corps to start teaching as a second career choice. The California Teachers Corps includes over 100 certification programs. You can easily become certified as a teacher if you enroll in one of these programs.
Earning your certification through the California Teacher Corps allows you to engage in hands-on teaching as you're working towards your credential. If you have worked in a career for years, you'll be right at home with these certification programs because they put an emphasis on your experience and expertise. This path is best suited for professionals who want to give back to their community by becoming an educator.
Through the California Teacher Corps, you can teach at the elementary, middle, or high school level. The subjects that you can teach based on your previous experience include:
If you have experience teaching as part of the Peace Corps, this can be used for teacher certification. A director of the Peace Corps will need to confirm and certify that you have spent at least one year and a half (18 months) in the Peace Corps. At least half of your duty during your mission will need to be teaching in a classroom.
Other requirements include:
Once you earn this credential, your certificate is valid for a period of five years or less. Once you complete the teacher preparation program, you can earn a standard teaching license.
Similar to the Peace Corps certification, if you're qualified to teach a foreign language to an academic level by having earned a degree in a foreign country, you can apply for a Sojourn Certificate. This allows you to also teach culture studies.
Some of the requirements include:
When you receive your certificate, you will be able to teach the language specified on your certificate while working on your certification requirements.
One of the areas most affected by the teacher shortage in California is the STEM and CTE area. Using STEM and CTE credentials is a great way to start a career in teaching in the state.
There are four main alternative teacher certification options to start teaching STEM and CTE courses:
1) Early Completion: Involves passing the Teaching Foundation examination, which then makes teachers exempt from taking the program course.
2) Intern: Candidates can teach in their own classroom under supervision while still enrolled in teaching instruction.
3) Residency: Candidates are allowed to teach part-time under the supervision of a collaborating teacher as they are enrolled in coursework related to the subject matter being taught.
4) Student Teaching: Candidates are enrolled in a teaching program in the areas of STEM and CTE and then get hands-on teaching experience under the supervision of a collaborating teacher.
Intern programs are another way to achieve certification in California. You can work as an intern while you're still enrolled in a teacher preparation program. This typically happens over a period of one year or longer. Both traditional higher education institutions, such as colleges and universities, and school districts and offices of education in California offer such programs.
There are requirements that need to be fulfilled before you are accepted as an intern. They include:
The duration of this type of credential program is two years. However, should an emergency come up, you have the one-time opportunity to extend your internship by one year, for a total of three years.
If you have spent between three and five years in a private school setting (at the elementary or secondary level) as a teacher, you will be exempt from having to fulfill the student teaching part of certification in California.
If you have six or more years' experience as a private school teacher, you are exempt from both the student teaching and the preparation program for teachers and you can start teaching right away.
Teach for America works in many communities around the United States, including through its two main chapters in California in California Capital Valley and San Diego. If you're a recent college or university graduate who wants to give back to your community, this is the right alternative teaching credential for you! The program provides training for getting certified in California and provides teaching assignments.
As a member of this organization, you'll be expected to network and form relationships with everyone in your community, including schools, students, and their families. Teaching is tailored to the particular needs of each community or ''region,'' which is what Teach for America calls its communities. As such, teaching is highly personalized and provides leverage to developing local impacts and accelerated learning.
The following schools in California are accredited to offer the alternative teacher certification credentials discussed in the previous section:
| Alliant International University | Antioch University | Azusa Pacific University |
| Bakersfield College | Biola University | Brandman University |
| California Baptist University | California Lutheran University | Chapman University |
| Citrus College | Claremont Graduate University | Clovis Community College |
| Concordia University Irvine | CSU Bakersfield | CSU Channel Islands |
| CSU Chico | CSU Dominguez Hills | CSU East Bay |
| CSU Fresno | CSU Fullerton | CSU Long Beach |
| CSU Los Angeles | CSU Monterey Bay | CSU Northridge |
| CSU Sacramento | CSU San Bernardino | CSU San Luis Obispo |
| CSU San Marcos | CSU Stanislaus | Cuesta College |
| Cypress College | Dominican University of California | Fresno City College |
| Fresno Pacific University | Gavilan College | Hartnell College |
| Holy Names University | Humboldt State University | Humphreys University |
| La Sierra University | Long Beach City College | Los Medanos College |
| Loyola Marymount University | Mills College | Mount Saint Mary's University |
| National University | Notre Dame de Namur University | Orange Coast College |
| Pacific Oaks College | Pepperdine University | Point Loma Nazarene University |
| Reedley College | Saddleback College | San Diego State University |
| San Francisco State University | San Jose State University | Santa Clara University |
| Simpson University | Sonoma State University | St. Mary's College of California |
| Teachers College of San Joaquin | Touro University | UC Berkeley |
| UC Los Angeles | UC Riverside | UC San Diego |
| UC Santa Barbara | University of La Verne | University of Redlands |
| University of San Diego | University of San Francisco | University of the Pacific |
| Ventura College | Whittier College |
In order to become a certified teacher in California, there are some requirements that you'll need to meet. These requirements still need to be met if you're interested in pursuing the alternative paths to certification that are discussed in the previous section. For example, having a minimum education level is still required whether you want to pursue this traditional path to certification or you have previous experience teaching in the Peace Corps. Likewise, you'll still need to complete some form of teacher preparation program regardless of taking an alternative route. Finally, while the CBEST and CSET are no longer the only path to certification, they can still help you achieve it if you're more interested in becoming a teacher the traditional way.
Let's take a closer look at these certification requirements in this section.
As elsewhere, you'll need a minimum education requirement. In California, this is a bachelor's degree. This has to be earned at an accredited higher education institution. In addition, you'll also need to pursue a preparatory program that is organized and approved by the CTC. These programs are made up of two parts: a curriculum and a practicum. They can be included in an undergraduate degree.
If you have already graduated with an undergraduate degree, you'll need to enroll in an approved program that will qualify you for teaching. As we've seen in the previous section, there are also many options that you can take to start your teaching career.
In order to start teaching, you'll have to complete a teacher preparation program, which is also subject to approval from the CTC. To qualify, you'll need to put in at least 600 hours of actual teaching work under a collaborating teacher. However, there are other options as well. As we have seen in the previous sections, you can enroll in co-teaching, internships, or a residency. The whole point is to get the classroom experience that you'll need when you strike out on your own!
The most common certification tests, the CBEST and the CSET, have already been covered in the previous sections.
Alternatives include the English and Math sections of the California State University Early Assessment Program and the English Placement Test and Entry Level Math Early Placement exams. Even your SAT or ACT scores may qualify you for certification.
In certain cases, you'll need to take and pass a subject matter exam. In this case, you can take the examination for CSET Multiple Subject. Also, if you're looking for a Single Subject Teaching Credential, you can also do the CSET registration on the specific assessment for the role that you want to become certified in.
Finally, you may be required to take the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) depending on your certification. This test assesses the reading education and skills of teachers who want to obtain Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials, as well as Education Specialist Instruction Credentials. The latter applies to special education. The RICA exam can be taken either as a written exam consisting of three subtasks or a video performance exam.
Once you've completed all the requirements described above, you'll need to apply for certification. The fastest way to do so is to apply online. The sponsor of the program you took and completed will recommend you through the CTC's system.
After your sponsor's recommendation, you need to complete the recommendation document within 90 days. This includes the Professional Fitness Questions that deal with your professional and criminal background and assess your competence. You'll also need to submit your fingerprints, which will then be cleared by the FBI and the California Department of Justice. This can also be done online, along with paying for your application. Background checks usually complete within 24 to 72 hours. After this, if you qualify, you'll receive the Certificate of Clearance.
However, if you have an out-of-state credential, you won't be able to take advantage of the online submission option. Also, if you're adding new certificates to existing ones, you'll have to provide original documentation, including transcripts. This can be done by mail.
When you apply for certification, you'll be provided with a Preliminary Teacher Certification. Within five years of this being issued, you'll need to complete requirements for a Clear Credential. This can be done by applying for an induction program or by becoming certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. To become certified, you'll need to submit an application, including a copy of your certification, and pay a processing fee.
There are several types of teaching credentials in California, all with similar requirements. We're going to explore them in more depth below.
This five-year credential allows you to teach elementary school and middle school students all the subjects in their curriculum. The requirements for the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential are:
Additionally, you'll need to complete the Clear Credential requirements, as discussed in a previous section.
If you're interested in a career as a high school teacher, you'll need to apply for this credential, which allows you to teach specific subjects. The Single Subject Teaching Credential can also allow you to teach middle schoolers.
The subjects you can get this teaching credential for include but are not limited to:
This credential has the same requirements as the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential.
This credential is the right one for you if you want to begin a career in special education. The requirements of this credential are similar to those of the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, with one exception. You'll have to complete an Education Specialist Credential as opposed to a multiple subject preparation course.
The Clear Credential requirements that you fulfill must be related to special education. Alternately, if you seek certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching, it must be related to exceptional need or special education from early childhood to adulthood.
To become an early childhood educator, you have two options in California. They are:
To become certified as an English as a Second Language teacher, you'll need the English Learner Authorization and the Cross-Cultural, Language, and Academic Development Certificate.
English teaching is part of both the Single and the Multiple Subject Matter Credentials. However, this certificate is geared toward teaching English as a second language, so the authorization is required if you want to follow this route. You can get this authorization at the same time you're getting the Single or the Multiple Subject Matter Credentials, or you can wait until you're in possession of them.
When you obtain this authorization and certificate, you are then able to teach English language development, content in students' first language, academic instructions in English, and primary language development content and instruction.
To work as a substitute teacher in California, you can choose between four types of certifications. All four of these apply to working with either preschoolers or K-12 students. You may want to work as a substitute teacher before you are ready to be certified to improve your hands-on experience as a teacher.
Let's look at each of them below:
If you're applying to become a teacher in California from another state, you'll need to submit the following information in paper format:
If you already work as a teacher in another state, you're able to expedite your certification through the many reciprocity agreements between California and other states that work based on whether you have some prerequisite skills or are already licensed or certified in another state.
| Agreement | Description |
|---|---|
| NASDTEC Interstate | California is part of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. |
| Full Reciprocity | Not granted; if you have a teaching license you can apply for a Preliminary or Clear Credential only. |
| Coursework | Must demonstrate subject matter understanding for certification and complete the English teaching curriculum. |
| Exemptions | Not granted; however, English teachers from out of state who have proof of completing all requirements for teaching can use their credentials in California. |
| Experience | Teachers must have credentials from their home state. Candidates who have a master's degree or higher, as well as two years and 150 hours of teaching, can apply for a Clear Credential. Other candidates must complete an induction program before receiving their Clear Credential. |
| Assessment | Candidates who successfully completed their basic skills assessments outside California do not have to re-test, provided they can submit proof. However, if their credentials do not match the subject matters that are recognized in-state, they'll need to pass assessments. The English teaching requirement may also need to be assessed for out-of-state candidates. |
| Performance | Two years of experience are required for candidates who apply for the Clear Credential. |
| Special Reciprocity | Not granted for advanced credentials. If a candidate needs to meet extra requirements to apply for the Clear Credential, they can apply for a Preliminary Credential while they work to meet them. |
The state of California has the second largest teacher workforce in the US according to the National Center for Education Statistics. However, the need for teacher positions is likely to continue to remain high, despite there being over 250,000 teachers available in 2017. Moreover, teachers who reach retirement age are also likely to increase the need for new teachers.
If you're interested in a teaching career in the state, you should know that you'll be making more money than in other states both as a starting teacher and overall, but you'll also be dealing with larger classrooms than the average.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salaries of teachers in California are as follows:
According to the US Department of Education, the areas that are most affected by the shortage of teachers in California are:
