California Teaching Certification

California teacher credential requirements generally include a bachelor’s degree, completion of a Commission-approved teacher preparation pathway with supervised clinical practice, meeting the Basic Skills Requirement, demonstrating subject-matter competence, completing required performance and literacy assessments where applicable, and receiving a program recommendation or CTC approval. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing issues a Preliminary Credential first, valid for a maximum of five years, followed by a Clear Credential after completing an induction program or other qualifying route.

Every prospective teacher in California answers to one state agency: the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). The CTC sets the education, testing, and experience requirements behind every credential, and California teacher credential requirements have shifted in recent years, so what worked for a friend who certified a decade ago may not match what’s asked of you today. This page walks through the current requirements for an initial credential, then routes you to the right next step based on your situation.

Choose the description of certification you are most interested in, or the situation that best describes you:

• Initial Teaching Certification…
• I’m a teacher from another state…
• Teacher Certification Renewal…
• Admin./Principal Certification…
• Alternative Teaching Certification…
• Substitute Teaching Permit…

Initial California Teaching Certification

The Commission on Teacher Credentialing issues Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials, Single Subject Teaching Credentials, Education Specialist credentials, PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist credentials, and other teaching and services credentials. Multiple Subject and Single Subject are the main general-education classroom credentials covered here. To earn a Preliminary Credential, the first credential available to new applicants and issued for a maximum of five years, you need at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution (a term CTC still uses, though it’s worth confirming against current CTC guidance periodically) and completion of an approved California teacher preparation program. If the holder doesn’t complete the Clear Credential requirements before the Preliminary Credential expires, they can’t teach in California public schools under that credential until the requirements are completed and the document is renewed. Additional educational requirements for preliminary credentialing are as follows:

Multiple Subject Teaching Credential:

• Complete a Commission-approved teacher preparation program that includes comprehensive reading and literacy instruction, addressing:
  • Phonemic awareness, phonics, and decoding
  • Language, literature, and comprehension
  • Diagnostic and early intervention techniques
• Complete a two-semester-unit or three-quarter-unit course in the provisions and principles of the U.S. Constitution, or pass an examination given by a regionally accredited college or university
• Complete a Commission-approved teacher preparation program that addresses foundational and advanced computer technology (CTC requires this content to be addressed within the program rather than through a specific standalone course)

Single Subject Teaching Credential:

• Complete a Commission-approved subject matter program in the subject in which you wish to be credentialed, or meet the requirement through coursework or examination as explained below
• Complete a two-semester-unit or three-quarter-unit course in the provisions and principles of the U.S. Constitution, or pass an examination given by a regionally accredited college or university.
• Complete a Commission-approved teacher preparation program that addresses foundational and advanced computer technology (CTC requires this content to be addressed within the program rather than through a specific standalone course)

Applicants may also qualify through out-of-state preparation, out-of-country preparation, qualifying private school teaching experience, intern or residency pathways, or other CTC-recognized routes. Requirements vary by credential type and preparation history:

• If you are an applicant for the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and attended an out-of-state teacher preparation program, review these requirements.
• If you are an applicant for the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and attended a foreign college or university, review these requirements.
• If you are an applicant for the Single Subject Teaching Credential and you attended an out-of-state teacher preparation program, review these requirements.
• If you are an applicant for the Single Subject Teaching Credential who went to a foreign college or university, review these requirements.

Use the CTC’s current credential leaflets and the CTC Exams site for exam-specific information. CSET is only one route for meeting some requirements, not the master source for all certification rules.

Preliminary vs. Clear Credential

California uses a two-tier credential system. A Preliminary Credential is issued for a maximum of 5 years and generally must be cleared through an approved route before it expires. Extensions or renewals are limited and depend on CTC rules. To earn a Clear Credential, most California-prepared teachers complete a Commission-approved teacher induction program, which pairs them with a mentor. National Board Certification can also support clearing in qualifying credential areas. Once cleared, the credential can be renewed on an ongoing basis through CTC Online.

Basic Skills and Subject Matter Requirements

Most credential applicants can meet the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) by holding a bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution. Coursework, exam, and combination options remain available for applicants who need or choose another route. Coursework used for BSR must meet CTC rules on subject alignment, credit, institution type, grade threshold, and documentation. Candidates may still use approved exam options where applicable, including the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), eligible CSET components, or CSU Early Assessment Program options. Verify current accepted tests and score rules with your program or the CTC before relying on any specific exam.

Subject-matter competence also offers multiple options, but the rules aren’t identical to those in BSR. Multiple Subject candidates may meet subject-matter competence through the applicable CSET, an approved elementary subject-matter program, applicable coursework, a qualifying liberal studies or interdisciplinary degree, or a coursework/exam combination reviewed under CTC rules. Single Subject candidates may meet subject-matter competence through the applicable CSET, a Commission-approved subject-matter program, applicable coursework, a qualifying degree major in the statutory subject, or an approved coursework/exam combination. RICA is being retired as California transitions to approved literacy performance assessment requirements for Multiple Subject, Education Specialist, and PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist candidates. Because transition rules and extensions have changed, confirm your specific requirements with your preparation program and the CTC before relying on this timeline.

CSET exams remain available for many subject areas, but test availability, names, subtests, and acceptable uses change over time. Common subject areas historically covered include:

• Agriculture
• Art
• Business
• English
• Health Science
• Home Economics
• Industrial and Technology Education
• Mathematics
• Music
• Physical Education
• Preliminary Educational Technology
• General Science
• Biology/Life Science
• Chemistry
• Earth and Planetary Science
• Physics
• Social Sciences
• Languages Other than English: Subtests I-V
• Languages Other than English – American Sign Language
• Languages Other than English – Hebrew, Italian, and Portuguese

Check the CTC Exams site for the current list of available subject-matter exams before relying on the list above, since subject offerings and subtests change.

Verify current CTC guidance for Latin and other world-language subject-matter competence before relying on this information. As of this writing, no CSET is offered for Latin; candidates may need to complete approved coursework, provide program verification, or pursue another CTC-recognized evaluation route. In that situation, you may have the teacher education department at one of the following California universities evaluate your transcript and issue a single-subject equivalency letter:

• CSU Long Beach
• University of California, Irvine
• San Francisco State University
• San Diego State University

Alternative Pathways

A traditional teacher preparation program isn’t the only route to a Preliminary Credential. California also approves residency, internship, and other preparation models. Some pathways may allow candidates to work under an intern or other qualifying credential while completing coursework. Still, teacher-of-record status depends on the specific credential, employer, program, and CTC rules. These pathways may be faster or more job-embedded for some candidates, but timing depends on the program model, prior coursework, subject-matter status, employment, assessment completion, and CTC processing. See our alternative teaching certification guide for California for the specifics on eligibility and program types.

Experience

If you attend an in-state, Commission-approved teacher preparation program, you also complete the student teaching portion of that program under California rules. During this field placement, which varies in length depending on your college or university’s policies, you’re placed in a classroom specific to the credential you’re pursuing and work under the supervision of a mentor teacher. This mentor teacher offers guidance and advice, and tracks your progress as you lead the class, prepare and implement lesson plans, and perform the day-to-day duties of a classroom teacher. At the end of clinical practice or student teaching, the candidate is evaluated in accordance with the preparation program’s supervision and assessment requirements.

The Commission on Teacher Credentialing has also enacted special provisions for applicants with private school teaching experience. Private school teachers with three to five years of qualifying full-time experience may be able to use that experience instead of student teaching. However, they must still meet CTC’s documentation, evaluation, subject matter, program, and credential requirements. Private school teachers with six or more years of qualifying full-time experience may have a route that substitutes that experience for a teacher preparation program, including student teaching. However, CTC still requires other items such as evaluations, subject-matter competence, the U.S. Constitution requirement, foundational computer education, and Clear Credential requirements. This experience must be documented and supplemented by copies of performance evaluations. More information for applicants who have private school teaching experience is available here.

Document and Application Requirements

Once requirements are complete, most California program completers are recommended online by their Commission-approved program sponsor through CTC Online, rather than submitting a standalone application. If your program isn’t recommending you directly, or you’re applying through another route, you can use the Application for Credential Authorizing Public School Service (Form 41-4). CTC strongly encourages using the online 41-4 web form and the CTC Online application process; mail-in forms may still be available in certain scenarios, but follow CTC’s current instructions for your specific route. Supporting documentation generally includes:

• Official transcripts and program documentation, submitted according to current CTC or program-sponsor instructions.
• Assessment documentation, only if required for your route and not already transmitted to CTC or verified by your program sponsor
• Fingerprint clearance documentation (see below)
• Application fees
• Signed Oath and Affidavit (located on the application)

Criminal History Background Check

Credential applicants must receive fingerprint clearance from the Commission through the California DOJ and the FBI. Many candidates also apply for a Certificate of Clearance before fieldwork, though exact timing depends on the preparation program and credential route. California residents typically use Live Scan; out-of-state applicants may need fingerprint cards and the required CTC stamp-number process. Follow CTC’s current Live Scan or fingerprint-card instructions, which may include submitting a Request for Live Scan Service to the operator taking your fingerprints (locations are available here). If you complete the credentialing application online, you’ll receive instructions on how to verify that the fingerprinting process has begun.

CTC says Live Scan fingerprint and character identification processing is usually completed within 10 working days. Fingerprint cards or applications requiring additional review can take longer. When you’ve met the requirements for the Certificate of Clearance, you’ll receive an email from the Commission notifying you of this.

Contact Information

For more information on California teacher preparation programs, contact the colleges and universities that offer them.

If you need further information on the teacher credentialing process in California, contact the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing at (888) 921-4213 or visit their website.

California Teacher Salary and Job Outlook

According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage estimates, California elementary school teachers earned a median annual salary of $99,650, while high school teachers earned a median of $101,370. Kindergarten teachers earned a median of $82,550, and middle school teachers earned a median of $98,950. Job growth projections for California teachers, sourced separately from the state Employment Development Department rather than BLS national outlook data, vary by grade level between 2024 and 2034, with elementary and secondary teaching both projected to see modest declines in total positions alongside substantial average annual openings.

Even with a projected dip in total positions, California’s Employment Development Department projects an average of 9,670 annual openings for elementary teachers and 5,780 for high school teachers through 2034. These annual opening figures typically include employment growth, labor-force exits, and occupational transfers, not just retirements. For a fuller look at pay scales and benefits, see our guide to California teaching salaries and benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the basic requirements for a California teaching credential?

You need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, completion of a Commission-approved teacher preparation program, supervised student teaching (unless exempted through qualifying private school experience), a course or exam on the U.S. Constitution, and a criminal history background check. The specific coursework depends on whether you’re pursuing a Multiple Subject (elementary) or Single Subject (secondary) credential.

Do I still need to take the CBEST or CSET to become a teacher in California?

Not necessarily. California now offers degree, coursework, exam, and combination options for meeting the Basic Skills Requirement and subject-matter competence. Still, the available options depend on the specific requirement, credential, subject area, program review, and documentation. A bachelor’s degree can satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement for many applicants. At the same time, subject-matter competence is typically demonstrated through an approved degree major, coursework, a subject-matter program, an exam, or a combination of these. Confirm your specific options with your preparation program.

What’s the difference between a Preliminary and a Clear credential?

A Preliminary Credential is your first credential, issued for up to 5 years and generally requiring completion of a Clear Credential route before it expires. Most California-prepared teachers clear their credentials by completing a Commission-approved induction program. National Board Certification can also support clearing in qualifying credential areas. Once cleared, the credential is renewable on an ongoing basis.

How long does it take to become a certified teacher in California?

Timelines vary by pathway. A traditional teacher preparation program, including student teaching, typically takes one to two years after your bachelor’s degree. Residency and internship pathways may let some candidates begin working under a qualifying credential sooner. Still, the exact timing depends on the program model, prior coursework, subject-matter status, and CTC processing.

Can I transfer an out-of-state teaching license to California?

Often, yes. California has reciprocity provisions for teachers holding a valid credential from another state, though the exact requirements depend on your credential type and teaching experience. See our California teacher reciprocity guide for the full process.

• The CTC sets every requirement. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing issues all California teaching credentials and approves the preparation programs behind them.
• Testing requirements are more flexible now. A bachelor’s degree can satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement for many applicants. At the same time, subject-matter competence can be met through an approved degree major, coursework, a subject-matter program, an exam, or a combination, depending on your credentials and subject.
• Credentials come in two tiers. A Preliminary Credential, issued for a maximum of five years, comes first, followed by a Clear Credential after an induction program or other qualifying route.
• There’s more than one path in. Traditional, residency, intern, private-school experience, out-of-state, and out-of-country pathways can all lead to California credentials. However, each route has different eligibility, supervision, employment, assessment, and clearance requirements.
• Pay varies by grade level. California’s median teacher salaries range from about $82,550 for kindergarten teachers to $101,370 for high school teachers, according to May 2025 BLS data.

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage estimates and 2024-2034 employment projections for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers, reflect state and national data, not school-specific outcomes. California job-growth projections are sourced separately from the state Employment Development Department, not from BLS national outlook data. Conditions in your area may vary by district, credential area, school sector, and collective bargaining agreement—data accessed July 2026.