CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
In California, a Single Subject Teaching Credential authorizes the holder to teach a specific subject in a departmentalized
class (grades K–12); this credential is primarily used in middle and secondary schools (grades 7–12).
A Multiple Subject Teaching Credential enables the holder to teach all subjects in a self-contained classroom
(grades K–12); this credential is used primarily in elementary schools (grades K–6). An Education Specialist
Instruction Credential authorizes the holder to teach students in grades K–12 with the specific disability or
impairment noted on the document. The BCLAD Certificate authorization is explained more fully later in this
section.
Information about certification requirements is provided below in the following sections:
Subject Matter Competence Requirement
To earn a Multiple Subject or Single Subject Teaching Credential or an Education Specialist Instruction Credential,
as well as other credentials, it is necessary to verify your subject matter competence as a part of your
teaching qualifications. Teacher candidates must fulfill this requirement before assuming whole-class instruction
(student teaching) or becoming the teacher of record. For candidates who completed their teacher preparation
program in another state, the subject matter competence requirement may also be met through other options;
please contact the CTC for more information regarding this option.
If you plan on fulfilling the subject matter competence requirement by passing one or more of the examinations
of the CSET, please note that you may take an examination of CSET only if you have earned, at minimum, a high
school diploma, a GED, or the equivalent, or if you are or have been a student taking courses for college credit
pursuant to a career in education. If you are uncertain about your eligibility to test, please contact the CTC for
approval to test.
Basic Skills Requirement
The California Education Code and Title 5 Regulations specify that in most cases applicants for any credential,
certificate, or permit to serve in California public schools must verify basic skills proficiency before the credential,
certificate, or permit will be issued. For Multiple Subject and Single Subject Teaching Credential candidates,
the basic skills requirement must be met prior to being assigned daily responsibility for whole-class instruction
in student teaching or serving as an intern.
Beginning in 2007, passage of SB 1209 (Chap. 517, Stats. 2006) made available multiple options for meeting
the basic skills requirement. Passage of the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) remains one of the
options. CSET: Writing Skills is another option for credential candidates to meet the state basic skills requirement.
Candidates who pass all three subtests of CSET: Multiple Subjects AND CSET: Writing Skills will be
considered proficient in the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics and will not be required to take
the CBEST to earn a teaching credential. For more information regarding the basic skills requirement, including
information for candidates for other certifications, information for those trained outside of California, and
additional options, see the CTC’s Web site at www.ctc.ca.gov.
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
To earn a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, all candidates who enrolled in a California multiple subject
teacher preparation program on or after July 1, 2004, must pass a CTC-approved subject matter examination,
currently CSET: Multiple Subjects (all three subtests). For more information about NCLB requirements, candidates
are encouraged to consult with the credential analyst at their institution or with their employer.
Single Subject Teaching Credential and Education Specialist Instruction Credential
Candidates wishing to earn a Single Subject Teaching Credential or an Education Specialist Instruction Credential
may verify their subject matter competence in one of the following ways:
-
By completing a CTC-approved subject matter preparation program or by completing Science (Specialized).
For Science (Specialized), review the CTC’s Coded Correspondence 03-0010, available from the
CTC’s Web site at www.ctc.ca.gov/notices/coded-2003.html.
- By passing the appropriate subject matter examination(s)
- By verifying appropriate experience or education if trained in another state
One way to fulfill the subject matter competence requirement is to complete a subject matter preparation
program or its equivalent at a California college or university. Only programs that have been evaluated and
approved by the CTC fulfill this requirement. (The CTC has evaluated and approved more than 400 programs
at over 70 accredited institutions. Check with a credential analyst at one of these CTC-approved institutions to
determine whether your educational experience satisfies its program requirements.)
Another way to verify your subject matter competence is to pass one or more of the subject matter examinations
adopted by the CTC. For the Single Subject Teaching Credential, you may pass the appropriate combination
of subtests listed in the following table to verify your subject matter competence. For the Education Specialist
Instruction Credential, you may pass the appropriate combination of subtests listed below or the three
CSET: Multiple Subjects subtests.
| Credential Area |
CSET Subtests Required |
| Agriculture |
Agriculture Subtest I (test code 172)
Agriculture Subtest II (test code 173)
Agriculture Subtest III (test code 174)
|
| American Sign Language |
American Sign Language Subtest I (test code 186)
American Sign Language Subtest II (test code 187)
American Sign Language Subtest III (test code 188)
|
| Arabic |
Arabic Subtest I (test code 192)
Arabic Subtest II (test code 193) |
| Armenian |
Armenian Subtest I (test code 194)
Armenian Subtest II (test code 195) |
| Art |
Art Subtest I (test code 140)
Art Subtest II (test code 141) |
| Biological Sciences (Specialized) |
Science Subtest III: Biology/Life Science (test code 120)
Science Subtest IV: Biology/Life Science (Specialized) (test code 124) |
| Business |
Business Subtest I (test code 175)
Business Subtest II (test code 176)
Business Subtest III (test code 177) |
| Cantonese |
Cantonese Subtest I (test code 202)
Cantonese Subtest II (test code 203)
Cantonese Subtest III (test code 204) |
| Chemistry (Specialized) |
Science Subtest III: Chemistry (test code 121)
Science Subtest IV: Chemistry (Specialized) (test code 125) |
| English |
English Subtest I (test code 105)
English Subtest II (test code 106)
English Subtest III (test code 107)
English Subtest IV (test code 108) |
| Farsi |
Farsi Subtest I (test code 196)
Farsi Subtest II (test code 197) |
| Filipino |
Filipino Subtest I (test code 190)
Filipino Subtest II (test code 191) |
| Foundational-Level Mathematics |
Mathematics Subtest I (test code 110)
Mathematics Subtest II (test code 111) |
| French |
French Subtest I (test code 148)
French Subtest II (test code 149)
French Subtest III (test code 150) |
| Geosciences (Specialized) |
Science Subtest III: Earth and Planetary Science (test code 122)
Science Subtest IV: Earth and Planetary Science (Specialized) (test code 126) |
| German |
German Subtest I (test code 151)
German Subtest II (test code 152)
German Subtest III (test code 153) |
| Health Science |
Health Science Subtest I (test code 178)
Health Science Subtest II (test code 179)
Health Science Subtest III (test code 180) |
| Hmong |
Hmong Subtest I (test code 198)
Hmong Subtest II (test code 199) |
| Home Economics |
Home Economics Subtest I (test code 181)
Home Economics Subtest II (test code 182)
Home Economics Subtest III (test code 183) |
| Industrial and Technology Education |
Industrial and Technology Education Subtest I (test code 184)
Industrial and Technology Education Subtest II (test code 185) |
| Japanese |
Japanese Subtest I (test code 157)
Japanese Subtest II (test code 158)
Japanese Subtest III (test code 159) |
| Khmer |
Khmer Subtest I (test code 200)
Khmer Subtest II (test code 201) |
| Korean |
Korean Subtest I (test code 160)
Korean Subtest II (test code 161)
Korean Subtest III (test code 162) |
| Mandarin |
Mandarin Subtest I (test code 163)
Mandarin Subtest II (test code 164)
Mandarin Subtest III (test code 165) |
| Mathematics |
Mathematics Subtest I (test code 110)
Mathematics Subtest II (test code 111)
Mathematics Subtest III (test code 112) |
| Music |
Music Subtest I (test code 136)
Music Subtest II (test code 137)
Music Subtest III (test code 138) |
| Physical Education |
Physical Education Subtest I (test code 129)
Physical Education Subtest II (test code 130)
Physical Education Subtest III (test code 131) |
| Physics (Specialized) |
Science Subtest III: Physics (test code 123)
Science Subtest IV: Physics (Specialized) (test code 127) |
| Punjabi |
Punjabi Subtest I (test code 166)
Punjabi Subtest II (test code 167)
Punjabi Subtest III (test code 168) |
| Russian |
Russian Subtest I (test code 154)
Russian Subtest II (test code 155)
Russian Subtest III (test code 156) |
| Science: Biological Sciences |
Science Subtest I: General Science (test code 118)
Science Subtest II: General Science (test code 119)
Science Subtest III: Biology/Life Science (test code 120) |
| Science: Chemistry |
Science Subtest I: General Science (test code 118)
Science Subtest II: General Science (test code 119)
Science Subtest III: Chemistry (test code 121) |
| Science: Geosciences |
Science Subtest I: General Science (test code 118)
Science Subtest II: General Science (test code 119)
Science Subtest III: Earth and Planetary Science (test code 122) |
| Science: Physics |
Science Subtest I: General Science (test code 118)
Science Subtest II: General Science (test code 119)
Science Subtest III: Physics (test code 123) |
| Social Science |
Social Science Subtest I (test code 114)
Social Science Subtest II (test code 115)
Social Science Subtest III (test code 116) |
| Spanish |
Spanish Subtest I (test code 145)
Spanish Subtest II (test code 146)
Spanish Subtest III (test code 147) |
| Vietnamese |
Vietnamese Subtest I (test code 169)
Vietnamese Subtest II (test code 170)
Vietnamese Subtest III (test code 171) |
Passage of previously approved subject matter examinations (e.g., Single Subject Assessments for Teaching)
may be used to satisfy the requirement only if the passing score was used to earn certification within five years
of the date that the score was achieved and the passing score was achieved before a specific date, based on the
specific subject area. See the CTC’s Web site, www.ctc.ca.gov, for those examinations and dates. Otherwise,
passing the CSET in that subject area is required.
No Child Left Behind Compliance
In spring 2004 the California State Board of Education adopted regulations for the implementation of the federal
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). These regulations require that elementary teachers who are “new to
the profession” pass a CTC-approved subject matter examination. CSET: Multiple Subjects is the current CTC-approved
elementary subject matter examination for the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Single Subject
Teaching Credential candidates have two options to meet the NCLB requirement: completing a CTC-approved
single subject matter preparation program or passing a CTC-approved subject matter examination, currently
the CSET: Single Subjects.
Individuals who are seeking enrollment in or who are currently enrolled in Multiple Subject and/or Single
Subject Teaching Credential programs are encouraged to discuss the NCLB subject matter requirement with
the credential analyst at their institution. Individuals currently holding Multiple Subject or Single Subject Teaching
Credentials may contact their employer concerning NCLB subject matter compliance issues. For the most
up-to-date information regarding the implementation of the federal NCLB teacher requirements for California,
see the California Department of Education’s Web site at www.cde.ca.gov.
Educational Technology Requirement
The Multiple Subject and Single Subject Teaching Credentials require knowledge and skills in general and specialized
uses of instructional technology in educational settings. Individuals trained inside and outside of California
must satisfy both the basic and advanced levels of the educational technology requirement before being
issued the clear credential. CSET: Preliminary Educational Technology (test codes 133 and 134) is the current
approved examination that may be used to fulfill the basic educational technology requirement. Candidates
who have completed a teacher preparation program outside of California may wish to contact the CTC to
determine whether they have met the basic educational technology requirement through their previous
education or experience. For more information regarding this requirement, see the CTC’s Web site at
www.ctc.ca.gov.
Bilingual Authorization
California Education Code Sections 44253.3 and 44253.4 require the CTC to issue certificates that authorize
the holder to provide specialized instruction to English Learners (EL). These certificates are the Crosscultural,
Language and Academic Development (CLAD™) Certificate and the Bilingual, Crosscultural, Language and
Academic Development (BCLAD™) Certificate.
The following table describes the types of instruction of English Learners authorized by the CLAD and BCLAD
Certificates.
| Type of Instruction |
Certification Authorizing
Instruction |
Description |
| Instruction for English Language Development (ELD) |
CLAD, BCLAD |
Instruction designed specifically for English Learners to develop their listening, reading, and
writing skills in
English. This type of instruction is also known as “English as a second language (ESL)” or “teaching English
to speakers of other languages (TESOL).” |
| Specially designed academic instruction in English (SDAIE) |
CLAD, BCLAD |
Instruction in a subject area, delivered in English, that is specially designed to
provide English Learners
with access to the curriculum. |
| Instruction for primary-language development |
BCLAD |
Instruction designed for English Learners to develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing
skills in
their primary language. |
| Content instruction delivered in the
primary language |
BCLAD |
Instruction in a subject area delivered
in the primary language of English Learners.
|
The following table describes the grade-level authorizations of each type of instruction authorized by the CLAD
and/or BCLAD Certificates.
| Type of Instruction |
Grade-Level Authorization |
| Instruction for English Language Development (ELD) |
Preschool, K–12, and adults, with the following exceptions: a prerequisite
children’s center instructional or supervision
permit or a child development permit limits instruction for ELD to the programs authorized by the permit; a
prerequisite
designated-subjects teaching credential in adult education limits instruction for ELD to classes organized
primarily for adults. |
| Specially designed academic instruction in English (SDAIE) |
In subjects and grade levels authorized by the prerequisite credential or
permit. |
| Content instruction delivered in the primary
language and instruction for primary-language development |
Content instruction delivered in the primary
language in subjects and grade levels authorized by the prerequisite teaching
credential or permit. Instruction for primary-language development for preschool, K–12, and adults, with
the following
exceptions: a children’s center instructional or supervision permit or a child development permit limits
instruction for
primary-language development to the programs authorized by the permit; a designated-subjects teaching
credential in adult
education limits instruction for primary-language development to classes organized primarily for adults. |
For information about earning a CLAD Certificate, refer to the CTC’s Web site at
www.ctc.ca.gov or the
California Teacher of English Learners® (CTEL®) Web site at
www.ctcexams.nesinc.com.
BCLAD Certificates (currently available only through examination) are available for the following
languages:
- Arabic
- Armenian
- Cantonese
- Farsi
- Filipino
- French
- German
- Hmong
- Japanese
|
|
Testing program transition information.
Effective fall 2007, specific CSET: LOTE subtests replaced
Tests 4, 5, and 6 of the BCLAD Examinations as the required assessments for individuals who wish to use the
exam route to earn a bilingual authorization. Individuals who wish to use the exam route and have not yet
passed any BCLAD test will need to take the appropriate CSET: LOTE subtests, as indicated in
“
Requirements for a BCLAD Certificate” below.
Candidates who have previously passed one or more tests of the BCLAD Examinations will be able to use their
BCLAD Examinations scores within the applicable period of score validity to meet requirements for a bilingual
authorization. The period of score validity for the BCLAD Examinations is seven years; the period of score validity
for the examinations of the CSET is five years. Candidates may combine scores from the BCLAD Examinations
and the CSET: LOTE as necessary to meet bilingual authorization requirements.
Candidates who have not yet passed one or more tests of the BCLAD Examinations must pass the appropriate
CSET subtests as indicated in the table below.
|
BCLAD Test Not Yet Passed |
CSET Subtest to Take |
|
BCLAD Test 4: Methodology for Primary-Language
Instruction |
CSET: LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
(assesses the methodology of bilingual education) |
|
BCLAD Test 5: The Culture of Emphasis |
CSET: LOTE Subtest V
(assesses bilingual cultural knowledge) |
|
Armenian |
CSET: Armenian Subtest V (test code 252) |
|
Chinese |
CSET: Chinese Subtest V (test code 253)
(This test is for both the Cantonese and Mandarin
authorizations.) |
|
Filipino |
CSET: Filipino Subtest V (test code 255) |
|
Hmong |
CSET: Hmong Subtest V (test code 259) |
|
Khmer |
CSET: Khmer Subtest V (test code 261) |
|
Korean |
CSET: Korean Subtest V (test code 262) |
|
Latino |
CSET: Spanish Subtest V (test code 258) |
|
Punjabi |
CSET: Punjabi Subtest V (test code 263) |
|
Vietnamese |
CSET: Vietnamese Subtest V (test code 265) |
|
BCLAD Test 6: The Language of Emphasis (Test 6 consists of four components: Listening, Reading,
Speaking, and Writing. If you have passed some but not all four components, you must pass the entire CSET subtest.) |
CSET: LOTE Subtest II or III
(assesses language and communication skills) |
|
Armenian |
CSET: Armenian Subtest II (test code 195) |
|
Cantonese |
CSET: Cantonese Subtest III (test code 204) |
|
Filipino |
CSET: Filipino Subtest II (test code 191) |
|
Hmong |
CSET: Hmong Subtest II (test code 199) |
|
Khmer |
CSET: Khmer Subtest II (test code 201) |
|
Korean |
CSET: Korean Subtest III (test code 162) |
|
Mandarin |
CSET: Mandarin Subtest III (test code 165) |
|
Punjabi |
CSET: Punjabi Subtest III (test code 168) |
|
Spanish |
CSET: Spanish Subtest III (test code 147) |
|
Vietnamese |
CSET: Vietnamese Subtest III (test code 171) |
For more information, refer to the CTC’s Coded Correspondence 06-0024, available from the CTC’s Web site
at www.ctc.ca.gov/notices/coded-2006.html.
Requirements for a BCLAD Certificate. To earn a BCLAD Certificate, you must
- have an appropriate prerequisite credential or permit;
- satisfy one of the following:
-
have passed within the last five years all three California Teacher of English Learners (CTEL) Examination
subtests (see the CTEL Web site at www.ctcexams.nesinc.com);
- have passed within the last seven years CLAD/BCLAD Tests 1, 2, and 3 (these tests are no longer given);
- hold an LDS Certificate;
-
hold or verify eligibility for a CLAD Emphasis Credential, a CLAD Certificate, a Multiple Subject or
Single Subject Teaching Credential with an English Learner authorization based on AB 1059, an Education
Specialist Instruction Credential with an English Learner authorization, or an SB 2042 Multiple
Subject or Single Subject Teaching Credential;
-
have passing scores from within the last five years on the appropriate CSET subtests, as identified below.
(If you have already passed Test 4, 5, or 6 of the BCLAD Examinations, see the testing program transition
information above.)
The CSET subtests required for bilingual authorization candidates are listed by language in the table below.
-
In all cases, the first subtest listed (either Subtest II or Subtest III, depending on the language) assesses language
and communication skills. Please note that the language and communication skills subtest that can be
used toward a BCLAD Certificate is the same language and communication skills subtest that can be used
toward a Single Subject Teaching Credential in a language other than English.
-
Subtest IV does not focus on any specific language (the same test applies to all languages) and assesses the
methodology of bilingual education.
-
Subtest V assesses bilingual cultural knowledge (the same test is used for Cantonese and Mandarin).
| Bilingual Authorization Area |
CSET Subtests Required |
| Arabic |
Arabic Subtest II* (test code 193)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Arabic Subtest V (test code 251) |
| Armenian |
Armenian Subtest II* (test code 195)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Armenian Subtest V (test code 252) |
| Cantonese |
Cantonese Subtest III* (test code 204)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Chinese Subtest V (test code 253) |
| Farsi |
Farsi Subtest II* (test code 197)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Farsi Subtest V (test code 254) |
| Filipino |
Filipino Subtest II* (test code 191)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Filipino Subtest V (test code 255) |
| French |
French Subtest III* (test code 150)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
French Subtest V (test code 256) |
| German |
German Subtest III* (test code 153)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
German Subtest V (test code 257) |
| Hmong |
Hmong Subtest II* (test code 199)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Hmong Subtest V (test code 259) |
| Japanese |
Japanese Subtest III* (test code 159)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Japanese Subtest V (test code 260) |
| Khmer |
Khmer Subtest II* (test code 201)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Khmer Subtest V (test code 261) |
| Korean |
Korean Subtest III* (test code 162)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Korean Subtest V (test code 262) |
| Mandarin |
Mandarin Subtest III* (test code 165)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Chinese Subtest V (test code 253) |
| Punjabi |
Punjabi Subtest III* (test code 168)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Punjabi Subtest V (test code 263) |
| Russian |
Russian Subtest III* (test code 156)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Russian Subtest V (test code 264) |
| Spanish |
Spanish Subtest III* (test code 147)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Spanish Subtest V (test code 258) |
| Vietnamese |
Vietnamese Subtest III* (test code 171)
LOTE Subtest IV (test code 250)
Vietnamese Subtest V (test code 265) |
|
*For the BCLAD Certificate only, passage of this subtest is not required if (1) you hold a valid, non-emergency Single Subject or Standard Secondary Teaching
Credential with a major in the language authorized by the BCLAD Certificate you are seeking or (2) you hold a three-year or
higher degree from a foreign institution in which all instruction is delivered in the language authorized by the BCLAD Certificate
you are seeking and the institution is equivalent in status to a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the United States.
|
Requirements for a BCLAD Certificate in Portuguese.
To earn a BCLAD Certificate in Portuguese, you must
- have an appropriate prerequisite credential or permit;
- satisfy one of the following:
-
have passed within the last five years all three California Teacher of English Learners (CTEL)
Examination subtests (see the CTEL Web site at www.ctcexams.nesinc.com);
- have passed within the last seven years CLAD/BCLAD Tests 1, 2, and 3 (these tests are no longer given);
- hold an LDS Certificate;
-
hold or verify eligibility for a CLAD Emphasis Credential, a CLAD Certificate, a Multiple Subject or
Single Subject Teaching Credential with an English Learner authorization based on AB 1059, an Education
Specialist Instruction Credential with an English Learner authorization, or an SB 2042 Multiple
Subject or Single Subject Teaching Credential;
-
have passing scores from within the last five years on CSET: LOTE Subtest IV or from within the last seven
years on BCLAD Test 4 (this test is no longer given);
-
have passing scores from within the last seven years on the two Portuguese culture and language tests
administered by the Merced County Office of Education. For information about test dates and registration
for the Portuguese culture and language tests, contact:
Merced County Office of Education
Instructional Services Department
632 West 13th Street
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 381-6649
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