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 Bilingual 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. As an added option, 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. On January 1, 2009, SB 1186 added two more options for satisfying the basic skills requirement.  These are (1) passage of both the English and mathematics sections of the California State University (CSU) Early Assessment Program (EAP) and (2) passage of both the English Placement Test (EPT) and the Entry-Level Mathematics Test (ELM). For more information regarding the basic skills requirement, including information regarding those trained outside of California, see the CTC's Web site at www.ctc.ca.gov. The basic skills requirement may also be a condition of California employment. Please contact the agency where you are considering employment for information.

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:

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 and/or locally assessed proficiency assessments 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 General Science Science Subtest I: General Science (test code 118)
Science Subtest II: General Science (test code 119)
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)
Hebrew Hebrew examination (test code 301)
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)
Italian Italian examination (test code 303)
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)
Portuguese Portuguese examination (test code 302)
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 and Education Specialist Instruction Credentials require knowledge and skills in general and specialized uses of instructional technology in educational settings. Multiple Subject and Single Subject Teaching Credential candidates 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 authorizations that allow the holder to provide specialized instruction to English Learners (EL). The new authorizations are the Bilingual Authorization and the English Learner Authorization.

About the Bilingual Authorization. With the implementation of Assembly Bill 1871, effective July 1, 2009, the Bilingual Authorization will be added to the selected valid prerequisite credential when minimum requirements have been met.

Below is the description of the new Bilingual Authorization. The scope and content for the Bilingual Authorization remain the same as for the BCLAD Certificate.

The following instructional services for English Learners may be provided in the subjects, grade levels, and programs authorized by this prerequisite credential or permit:

  1. Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English
  2. Instruction for primary language development in the target language and content instruction delivered in the target language

In addition, instruction for English Language Development in grades twelve and below, including preschool, and in classes organized primarily for adults is also authorized. Bilingual Authorization also covers classes authorized by other valid, nonemergency credentials held, as specified in Education Code Section 44253.4.

Bilingual Authorizations are available for the following languages:

  • Arabic
  • Armenian
  • Cantonese
  • Farsi
  • Filipino
  • French
  • German
  • Hmong
  • Japanese

About the English Learner Authorization. With the implementation of Assembly Bill 1871, effective July 1, 2009, the English Learner Authorization may be added to the selected valid prerequisite credential when minimum requirements have been met.

The following instructional service for English Learners may be provided in the subjects, grade levels, and programs authorized by this prerequisite credential or permit: Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English.

In addition, instruction for English Language Development in grades twelve and below, including preschool, and in classes organized primarily for adults is also authorized. This authorization also covers classes authorized by other valid, nonemergency credentials held, as specified in Education Code Section 44253.3.

For information about earning an English Learner Authorization, refer to the CTC's Web site at www.ctc.ca.gov.

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 Bilingual Authorization" 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 Bilingual Authorization. To earn a Bilingual Authorization, you must

  1. have an appropriate prerequisite credential or permit;
  2. 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 or a Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential with CLAD Emphasis;
    • hold or verify eligibility for a CLAD Certificate, a Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential with an English Learner Authorization, or an Education Specialist Teaching Credential with an English Learner Authorization;
    • completion of a CTC-approved CTEL program;
  3. 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.

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 Bilingual Authorization 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 Bilingual Authorization 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 Bilingual Authorization 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 Bilingual Authorization in Portuguese. To earn a Bilingual Authorization in Portuguese, you must

  1. have an appropriate prerequisite credential or permit;
  2. 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 or a Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential with CLAD Emphasis;
    • hold or verify eligibility for a CLAD Certificate, a Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential with an English Learner Authorization, or an Education Specialist Instruction Credential with an English Learner Authorization;
    • completion of a CTC-approved CTEL program;
  3. 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);
  4. 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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