Teaching Levels & Credentials

Information Sessions & Counseling

Teaching student reading a book

The Center for Teacher Education offers counselor-led information sessions that provide an overview of the teaching profession, which includes information about the pathways to becoming a teacher, academic preparation, the CBEST and CSET exams, and credential requirements.  Students may also meet with a Center for Teacher Education counselor to receive individual academic advisement and to obtain a comprehensive educational plan, which maps out their coursework in preparation to become a teacher.  Contact the Center for Teacher Education to sign up for an information session or to make a counseling appointment.​

Basic Skills & Subject Matter Competency Requirements

In order to obtain a teaching credential in the state of California, all students must prove they meet two requirements:

  • Basic Skills: acknowledges the ability to understand basic reading, math, and writing, and
  • Subject Matter Competency: ​acknowledges understanding of the subject one intends to teach
Both requirements must generally be met prior to admission to a teaching credential program. Please refer to program admission websites for additi​onal details.
 

Basic Skills Requirement Update

​On June 29, 2024, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 153 (Chap. 38, Stats 2024), which allows teacher credential candidates to use their bachelor’s degree to meet the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR), effective immediately. For more information, vie​w correspondence from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing​.

Levels of Teaching

  • ​Preschool Teachers/Child Care Workers
  • Elementary School Teachers (K-6)
  • Secondary School Teachers (Middle School/Jr. High School/High School)
  • Special Education Teacher (K-12)
  • College/University Faculty (Post-Secondary/Higher Education)
  • Counselors (School Counseling/College Counseling)
  • Adult Education

Types of Teaching Credentials

In California there are three basic teaching credentials issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC).  In addition to these credentials, the CCTC also issues Child Development permits for those interested in working with children up to 5 years of age.

These permits authorize service in the care, development, and instruction of children in a child care and development program.  Individuals must have a permit to be eligible for child care and development teaching or administration positions funded by the California Department of Education - Child Development Division.  For more information on the Child Development Permit, view the Preparing for a Career in Early Childhood Education / Teaching Pre-School and After-School Programs​ handout.  For course information pertaining to the six levels of the Child Development Permit, listed below, view the Child Development Permit Matrix​​.​

  • ​Child Development Assistant Permit
  • Child Development Associate Teacher Permit
  • Child Development Teacher Permit
  • Child Development Master Teacher Permit
  • Child Development Site Supervisor Permit
  • Child Development ​Program Director Permit

​This credential authorizes a person to teach young children in grades PK through 3. ​For more information on the "PK-3 ECE Credential," view the Preparing to Teach PK-3 Early Childhood Education​ handout. Additional information and FAQ's can be found on the CalState PK-3 Early Childhood Education Instruction Specialist Credential webpage​.

This credential authorizes a person to teach in a classroom where many different subjects are taught by a single individual, such as in elementary schools.​  For more information on Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials, view the Preparing to Teach Elementary School handout.​

This credential authorizes a person to teach in a classroom where only one subject is taught, such as a classroom in departmentalized high schools and junior high schools.  Single Subject Teaching Credentials are offered in California in areas listed below.  For more information on Single Subject Teaching Credentials, view the Preparing to Teach Junior High and High School handout.

  • Agriculture
  • Art
  • Business
  • English
  • English Language Development
  • Foundational-Level General Science
  • Foundational-Level Mathematics
  • Health Science
  • Home Economics
  • Industrial and Technology Education
  • Mathematics
  • Music
  • Physical Education
  • Science: Biological Sciences
  • Science: Chemistry
  • Science: Geosciences
  • Science: Physics
  • Social Science
  • World Languages: Languages other than English

This​ credential authorizes a person to work with children with special needs. The person holding this credential may work with elementary, junior high, or high school students.  Specialty areas are listed below.  For more information on Education Specialist Credentia​ls, view the Preparing to Teach Special Education​​ handout.​

  • ​​Mild to Moderate Support Needs
  • Extensive Support Needs
  • Early Childhood Special Education
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing
  • Visual Impairments

TEACH California

The TEACH California website is the California Department of Education's (CDE) primary web effort for recruiting individuals to the teaching profession.  This website is a resource to help "explain the teacher preparation process, assist prospective teachers in creating their plan to become credentialed teachers, provide relevant content, partner with related public and non-profit entities, and offer links to important resources." For more information, visit the TEACH California website​.