4.1: Becoming a Teacher in California

To teach in California's public schools, from Transitional Kindergarten through High School, you need a teaching credential. Most teachers, after completing their Bachelor's degree, enter a credential program and after a combination of coursework and student teaching, they are issued a preliminary credential. After working on the job for two years with additional training and mentorship, they earn a clear credential.

In California, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) is the agency that holds the regulations and processes for how to become a credentialed teacher. There have been many changes in the qualification process for teachers in California in recent years so it is always good to check the CTC website to make sure you have the most up-to-date information.

What kind of credential should you get?

There are a variety of credentials offered in California. Which one you get depends on the grade level of the students you want to teach. There are three basic credentials that most teachers hold:

• Multi-subject: this is for elementary school teachers;
• Single-subject: generally for middle and high school teachers who teach one subject;
• Education specialist: for special education teachers.

There is a new credential that is being developed for early childhood, pending final approval by the CTC and the state office of Adminstrative Law:

• PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Credential: this will authorize teachers in preschool through grade 3 (including Transitional Kindergarten).

Requirements

The basic requirements for a preliminary credential include:

• A bachelor’s degree. This can be in any subject, though for those planning to become a teacher the following are recommended:
  • For Multi-subject credential: Liberal studies BA
  • For single-subject credential: A degree in the subject you wish to teach
  • For PK-3: Child or human development, or at least 24 units in child development or early childhood education
• Completion of an accredited teacher preparation program.
• Completion of 600 hours of student teaching.
• Fingerprinting and a background check.
• Satisfy the Basic Skills requirement, either by passing the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), other qualifying tests or through coursework.
• Prove Subject Matter competency, either through an exam (CSET), coursework or degree completion.
• For Multi-Subject Candidates, pass Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA)
• Completed a course or passed a test on the provisions and principles of the U.S. Constitution. (This is often completed as part of a bachelor's degree. Candidates who earned a degree in another country would probably need to take this course.)
• Earned a recommendation from their teacher preparation program.

Basic Skills requirement

In order to teach, you must show that you have basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics. Recently, legislation has expanded the list of ways to fulfill this requirement. For complete information go to the CTC website but here is a summary of some of the ways to meet this requirement:

• Pass the CBEST
• Pass the California SET: Multiple Subjects plus Writing Skills Examination.
• Pass the CSU Early Assessment Program or the CSU Placement examinations.
• Earn a qualifying score on SAT, ACT test or College Board Advanced Placement Examinations.
• Pass a basic skills test from another state.
• Submit a transcript that shows a grade of B or better in one course in critical thinking, literature, philosophy, reading, rhetoric or textual analysis to show reading proficiency; a course in composition, English, rhetoric, written communication or writing to demonstrate writing proficiency; and a course in algebra, mathematics, quantitative reasoning or statistics to show math proficiency;
• Complete a combination of courses and exams to meet the requirement.

Subject-Matter Competency

You have to demonstrate a proficiency in the subject you are going to teach. Legislation has also expanded the ways this requirement can be met and they are outlined below. Again, see the CTC website for complete information.

• Completion of a bachelor's (or higher) degree that aligns with what you want to teach:
  • For Single-Subject candidates, a degree in the subject you want to teach for which the CTC issues a credential;
  • For Multi-Subject candidates, a degree in Liberal Studies;
  • For Education Specialist (special education) either a degree in a subject for which the CTC issues a credential or a Liberal Studies degree;
  • For the new PK-3 ECE Specialist, a degree in Child Development or Early Childhood education or at least 24 units in those subjects (though these regulations are still being finalized and are subject to change);
• Completion of a CTC-approved degree program at a university;
• Passing the appropriate sections of the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET);
• Combination of CSET and coursework.

Some of this may be confusing, particularly in the area of the Single-Subject credential (Does a BA in Kinesiology qualify for the credential in PE?) Credential programa will make the determination of whether a degree qualifies, so if you are thinking of getting a credential, you should contact the credential program you are interested in to find out if your degree qualifies to meet this requirement.

Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA)

Concerns about literacy and low reading test scores have made it critical that multiple-subject credential holders, education specialists and ECE specialists know how to effectively teach reading. The current RICA is expected to be eliminated in 2025 when it will be incorporated into the Teacher Performance Assessment, which requires teachers to demonstrate their ability to teach.

Teaching Performance Assessment

Before earning a preliminary credential, candidates are required to complete a performance assessment that demonstrates how well they assess students, design instruction, organize subject matter and perform other skills in the classroom with students. The three assessment models — the California Teaching Performance Assessment, edTPA and Fresno Assessment of Student Teachers — require that teachers make a video of themselves teaching at the school where they work. Candidates are assessed according to the six domains of the Teacher Performance Expectations.

Special Education Credentials

If you want the Education Specialist (Special Education) credential, you have to meet all the requirements for the other credentials, and receive instruction in one of four areas of concentration: mild to moderate support needs; extensive support needs; deaf and hard of hearing, visual impairments; and early childhood special education.