General Requirements

The following are general requirements that may be required in addition to your credential program requirements. These requirements, if applicable, must be met and on file in the Credential Center during and/or prior to completion of your credential program and recommendation.

 

On June 29, 2024, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 153 (Link) (Chap. 38, Stats 2024). This budget trailer bill addresses multiple topics related to education. Included in this new law, among other provisions, is the allowance of a candidate’s bachelor’s degree to meet the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) for most credentials, effective immediately.

Most credentials require a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution, so the majority of applicants will meet the Basic Skills Requirement through their degree. Applicants that do not yet have a bachelor's degree, may use the following options to meet the Basic Skills Requirement when applying for an Emergency Substitute Teaching Permit for Prospective Teachers. 

Options for meeting the Basic Skills Requirement:

  • Bachelor's or Higher Degree - Most credentials require a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution, so the majority of applicants will meet the Basic Skills Requirement through their degree
  • Pass the CBEST – total scaled score of 123 or above
  • Pass the CSET: Multiple Subject Plus Writing Skills Examination – passing status
  • Pass the CSU Early Assessment Program or the CSU Placement Examinations
    • See Appendix A, Table 1 of CL-667 (Link)
    • Please note: as of 9/30/19, duplicate scores are no longer available
  • Achieve Qualifying Score on the SAT
  • Evidence-Based Reading and Writing:
    • exam date 3/1/16-present, score of 560 or above
    • exam date 4/1/95-2/28/16, score of 500 or above (on Critical Reading (or Verbal))
    • exam date prior to 4/1/95, score of 420 or above (on Critical Reading (or Verbal))
  • Math:
    • exam date 3/1/16-present, score of 570 or above
    • exam date 4/1/95-2/28/16, score of 550 or above
    • exam date prior to 4/1/95, score of 420 or above
  • Achieve Qualifying Score on the ACT
    • Score of 22 or above on the ACT English exam
    • Score of 23 or above on the ACT Mathematics exam
  • College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
    • Score of 3 or above on one of the following: English Language and Composition, or English Literature and Composition
    • Score of 3 or above on one of the following: Calculus AB, Calculus BC, or Statistics
  • Pass a Basic Skills Examination from Another State – Out-of-State Basic Skills Exams Guide (Link)
  • Coursework in reading, writing, and mathematics as outlined below:
    • Reading: must be in the subject of critical thinking, literature, philosophy, reading, rhetoric, or textual analysis
    • Writing: must be in the subject of composition, English, rhetoric, written communications, or writing
    • Mathematics: must be in the subject of algebra, geometry, mathematics, quantitative reasoning, or statistics
    • Acceptable Coursework
      • “B-“ or better (Pass/Credit also acceptable)
      • Completed at a Regionally Accredited college or university
      • 3 semester units (or 4.5 quarter units) of college credit
      • Degree applicable (not remedial)
      • A course that does not fall within the indicated areas may still qualify with an additional letter of explanation. The letter must be from the registrar or the department chair that oversees the Mathematics or English department, as applicable. The letter must state that a course passed by the applicant covered reading, writing, or mathematics. Such a letter could also attest that a single course sufficiently indicates proficiency in reading and writing combined.
  • Coursework and Exam
    • Qualifying coursework and exam(s) must meet the requirements as described above

Helpful Resources:

A Certificate of Clearance is issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to credential program candidates. Title 5 regulations require that an application for Certificate of Clearance be filed to determine whether or not a candidate meets the state standards for character and fitness to teach in California’s public schools. A Certificate of Clearance is valid for five years.

To obtain a Certificate of Clearance, please follow these steps:

Step 1. Complete the fingerprinting process

  1. Go to: Fingerprint Information (Link)
  2. Download the 41-LS form from the table. Complete the required fields (*) in the "Applicant Information" section. Note the "Applicant Submission" section will automatically populate.
  3. Take the 41-LS form to an agency providing fingerprinting services.
    • For all California locations, including the CSULB University Police Department, go to the current listing of sites (Link).
    • Your fingerprints will be transmitted electronically to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

Step 2. Apply for a Certificate of Clearance

  1. Apply for your document using the CTC Online system (Link) at the Commission's website.
    • If you have created an Educator Account after February 2017, please login with your User ID and Password.
    • If you have not created an Educator Account, please use the Create Educator Account link.  Note: When an User ID has been created, it cannot be changed. For security purposes, never use your SSN as your User ID.
      • For resources such as step-by-step videos and helpful tips to troubleshoot login issues, please visit the CTC's Login Help (Link) page.
  2. Continue to the Educator Page, which displays after the Legal Disclaimer and Personal Information pages.
  3. Scroll down to the heading Apply for a Certificate of Clearance or Activity Supervisor Clearance Certificate.
  4. Click on Create New to start.
  5. For the General Application Category, click on the arrow and select Certificate of Clearance/Activity Supervisor Clearance Certificate from the list.
  6. For the Document/Authorization Title, click on the arrow and select Certificate of Clearance.
  7. Click Next. Note: There is no longer a checklist to review and print.
  8. The next page will display the Disclosure and Professional Fitness Questions (PFQs) page. For additional information on this item, please go to the CTC's website and scroll down to the Complete the Online Disclosure, PFQs and Payment (Link) section.
  9. Continue through the application by completing the Professional Fitness Questions, Oath and Affidavit and Payment.

NOTE: Once the application and payment have been completed, the document will no longer display under the Apply For A COC or ASCC section. For information on how to check the application's status, view the CTC Online - Your Educator Account (Link) and click the Check Your Application Status item.

Program Standard 10, “Preparation for Learning to Create a Supportive, Healthy Environment for Student Learning,” clearly states that all candidates recommended for a preliminary teaching credential must have CPR certification, which satisfies criteria established by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. 

All candidates are encouraged to complete an in-person component as part of their CPR Certification. Please note that future employers may require an in-person component. Certification must include infant, child and adult CPR.

Submit a copy of your signed CPR card (front and back) or pdf certificate to our office for verification. CPR certification must be valid at the issuance date of your teaching credential. Please note that agencies issue CPR cards with various validity periods, so plan accordingly.

Below is a list of agencies that our office has compiled. You are not limited to these agencies.

California Education Code Section 44335 (Link) requires all candidates for a Multiple Subject, Single Subject, Education Specialist, or Designated Subjects Credential to demonstrate knowledge of the United States Constitution by completing a college-level course, or a college level examination in the subject. This requirement must be completed before the credential can be granted. The U.S. Constitution requirement can be met by successful completion of one of the following:

  1. Graduation from a university within the California State University (CSU) system.
     

  2. Completion of a course on the provisions and principles of the U.S. Constitution taken at a regionally accredited college or university.

    At CSULB, you may take either Political Science 100, or Political Science 391

    Verify a course taken or AP credit earned at another college or university meets the requirement by emailing CED-Credentials@csulb.edu. Please provide a transcript showing completion of the course and a copy of the course description, if possible.
     

  3. Pass an examination on the Provisions and Principles of the U.S. Constitution offered by a regionally accredited college or university. 

    USConstitution.com (Link) (Notre Dame de Namur University) Cost: $85