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General Requirements

The requirements listed here are the basic requirements to receive any credential. Any specific requirements will be listed in the College of Educational Studies graduate catalog.

A baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited university or college.
Completion of a credential program from an accredited university or college.
Passage of the CBEST exam.
Character and Identification Application (Certificate of Clearance).
Passage of an approved subject matter preparation program or passage of all subject matter competency exams.
US Constitution - Knowledge of the principles and provisions of the United States Constitution.
Passage of the RICA exam.

Definitions

California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST): The purpose of the CBEST is to assess and verify acceptable proficiency in reading, writing, and mathematics skills in the English language, basic educational skills that are needed and used by all school practitioners.

Certificate of Clearance: The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing is required by law to conduct a background check including fingerprint verification by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) prior to the issuance of any credential, unless you have been issued a document by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing such as an Emergency Permit or Teaching credential. If you have been fingerprinted for other reasons, including employment by a district or private school or by the military, you will still need to complete this application.

Subject Matter Preparation courses: If you completed your undergraduate degree at a California university, you may contact that university to see if they have a Commission approved subject matter preparation program in your subject area to request a transcript review. Contact the Credentials Office or School of Education for information about this process.

Subject Matter Exams: Multiple Subjects: Pass the CSET or Praxis Series for your subject area.
US Constitution: Knowledge of the principles and provisions of the United States Constitution. This can be met two ways:

Complete a college level Political Science course in American Government. (This requirement is often met as part of the undergraduate degree program.).
Passage of a college level exam on the US Constitution. Chapman University provides this test through our Center for Academic Success. Please visit the test information site at http://www1.chapman.edu/cas/uscon.html.

Reading Instruction and Competence Assessment (RICA): The RICA tests a candidate's knowledge of reading instruction. This is only a multiple subject and special education credential requirement.