Earn your California Teaching Credential!

California Teacher Credential Exams

California using various CTC exams for teacher certification, including CSET, CBEST, CTEL, RICA, CPACE and NES exams. Below is a list of CTC exams 240 can help you pass.

Most popular California Teacher Credential Exams

Teachers in California must pass the required CTC exams to receive their teaching credential.

Different Routes to California Teacher Credential

Traditional Route

The traditional route to obtaining your teacher credential in California starts with completing a state-approved teacher preparation program and receiving your bachelor’s degree in Education. The main difference between the traditional route and the alternative route is that in the traditional route, you get a bachelor’s degree in Education rather than another subject.

You will also need to complete your required exams depending on which subject area and grade level you want to teach. The CSET, CBEST and CTEL and a few exams you may need to take on your journey to receiving your teacher certification in California. Once you have passed your exams you can then apply for your credential and start applying for teaching jobs!

Alternative Route

Are you interested in becoming a certified teacher in California but have a bachelor’s degree outside of education? If so, you may want to consider alternative teacher preparation programs, also known as non-traditional programs. These programs are specifically designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education and can lead to the award of a certificate or master’s degree.

Fortunately, there are several alternative pathways to becoming a certified teacher in California. However, it’s important to note that all candidates, regardless of the pathway chosen, must meet California’s basic skills requirements for reading, writing, and mathematics. Additionally, they must either take a course on the US Constitution or pass an examination proving adequate knowledge. Furthermore, candidates must complete an application for a teaching credential and undergo a criminal background check.

It’s worth mentioning that the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) is responsible for overseeing the requirements for teacher certification. So, if you’re interested in pursuing a career in teaching in California, be sure to check out the alternative pathways available and ensure that you meet all the necessary requirements.

District Intern Credential

Internship programs provide an opportunity for aspiring teachers to gain hands-on experience in a classroom setting while pursuing a teacher preparation program. These programs can be state-approved university programs or public school internship programs. To be eligible for a credential-through-internship program, candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree, passed the basic skills requirement, and undergone fingerprinting and background clearance. Additionally, they must pass subject assessments for the subject they intend to teach and complete an exam or course in the US Constitution. It is expected that candidates complete all requirements for a professional certificate within two years. In the event of a hardship, candidates may request a one-time, one-year extension.

Private School Experience

It’s worth noting that not all private schools have the same requirements for teacher certification as public schools do. If a teacher has at least three years of experience teaching in a private school, they may be eligible to apply for public school teacher certification without having to complete the student teaching requirement. On the other hand, if a teacher has six or more years of classroom experience, they may be able to waive the entire teacher preparation program requirement.

Peace Corps

Individuals who have completed at least 18 months of teaching in the Californian Peace Corps can now take advantage of the opportunity to teach while working towards fulfilling the teacher preparation program requirement. However, it’s important to note that eligibility for this program is conditional on meeting all other credentialing requirements, including holding a bachelor’s degree, fulfilling basic skills requirements, demonstrating proficiency in the English language, passing subject matter exams, and completing a course or exam in the US Constitution. The certification is valid for up to five years, during which, the candidate can enroll in an approved teacher preparation program to meet the requirements for a standard teaching license. This program is designed to help potential teachers overcome the initial hurdles of teaching, while also providing them with the opportunity to work towards a standard teaching license.

Sojourn Certificate

Individuals who have completed a college-level program in a foreign country, qualifying them to teach a foreign language or culture, may qualify for the Sojourn Certificate. To be eligible, the individual must have taught within a foreign country in the past year, fulfill the basic skills requirement, receive an employment offer from a California school district, and pass a background check. Once issued, the Sojourn Certificate permits the holder to teach a foreign language while working towards meeting standard teacher certification requirements.

How Do I Maintain Teaching Credential in California?

California differs from several other states when it comes to maintaining a teaching certification. Educators initially receive a preliminary credential, which remains valid for five years. The preliminary credential requires a bachelor’s degree, basic skills requirements, subject-matter competency, and the other requirements discussed above.

At the end of the five-year period, educators must obtain a clear credential. Teachers can meet the requirements in two ways. First, they can complete a teacher induction program. The two-year induction program provides support and mentoring for new teachers. Second, teachers with a preliminary credential can complete the requirements for a National Board of Professional Teaching Standards certification.

Educators with a clear credential can renew their credentials online without additional continuing education, service, or coursework requirements.

How to Register For the Exams?

You can follow the following steps to register for your California teacher certification exams:

• Identify Your Exams: Determine the specific teacher certification exams you need to take. If you are a part of a certification program you should talk to your program advisor to determine which exams you need to take.
• Create an Account: Visit the official testing service website and create an account.
• Select Exam and Date: Login, choose your exam, and select a convenient test date and location.
• Complete Registration: Follow instructions, provide necessary information, and pay exam fees online.

How To Study for Your California Teacher Certification Exam(s)

To become a certified teacher you must pass your required exam(s). Luckily, we offer a wide variety of study guides to help you pass your exams and get closer to getting that teacher certificate. Our study guides offer practice questions, video lessons, quizzes and full length practice tests to ensure you are ready come test day! Our curriculum team studies all of the standards and competencies for the exams and cross-references them with the current and previous questions released by the official testing company. We then work with content and teaching experts to distill down what test-takers need to know. No matter where you are in the study guide, you can always see how the concept you are learning is aligned to the test standards.

Best Education Schools in California

• Stanford University
• University of California–Los Angeles
• University of California–Irvine
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of California–Davis
• San Diego State University
• Loyola Marymount University
• University of California–Riverside
• University of California–Santa Barbara (Gevirtz)
• University of California–San Diego

California Teacher Salary Information

The average Public School Teacher salary in California is $63,900 as of February 26, 2024