The California Teaching and Certification Resource
“For anyone interested in learning how to become a teacher in California, there are several requirements that must be met for each different pathway to certification. Requirements for teachers in the state are set by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), which provides both traditional and alternative paths to becoming a certified teacher in the state. Below we outline the traditional pathway to teaching in California. To learn more about the alternative pathways, visit our guide to alternative teacher certification in California.
How to Become a Teacher in California
There are several ways to become a teacher in California, but all public school teachers are required to hold a bachelor’s degree. Those who do not already hold a bachelor’s degree may complete a “blended” program that permits applicants to pursue an undergraduate degree and teaching credential simultaneously. There are also several alternative routes to teacher certification in California for those who do have a bachelor’s degree but did not complete a formal teacher preparation program. For more information about becoming a teacher in particular cities in California, check out our “How to Become” pages for Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose.
Finding Approved Teacher Education Programs in California
Projected Job Growth
Growth in Teaching Jobs in CA through 20242
Perhaps the most important step towards obtaining California teacher certification is completing a teacher preparation program on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing’s approved programs list.
Bachelor’s degree programs at institutions that have been accredited by one of the regional accreditation agencies are generally acceptable as a starting point for earning teacher certification in California. Accreditation is overseen by the US Department of Education but works on a regional scale. California colleges and universities are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The WASC is composed of three accreditation commissions that evaluate senior colleges and universities, community and junior colleges, and various interdisciplinary schools systems within the state. However, even if the institution a certification candidate attended holds regional accreditation, the teacher certification program completed must be on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing’s approved programs list to be eligible for certification.
California teacher certification requires that individuals complete a program approved by the Commission and accredited by the WASC, but there is another organization that denotes a highly distinguished standard in the field of teacher preparedness, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation or CAEP. Although accreditation by CAEP is not required for a teacher preparation program in California, most quality schools apply for this accreditation as it is a marker of the program’s ability to meet CAEP’s rigorous standards.
See our list of CAEP accredited schools in California.
- I want to be a teacher in California, but don’t have a degree: Earn an Education Degree
- I want to be a teacher and have a degree, but not in education: Learn about California’s Alternative Certification Process and Programs
- I have a teaching degree and am interested in more education: Learn about Master’s Degree Education Programs or Doctoral Education Programs
California Teacher Education Requirements
In addition to holding a bachelor’s degree, applicants hoping to become certified teachers in California must decide which grade level they would like to teach and whether they want to work in general or special education. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing has different pathways and guidelines for elementary, secondary, and special education:
Applicants who want to teach in elementary school must apply for a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. This includes earning a bachelor’s degree as well as completing a teacher certification program in multiple subjects.
Applicants who want to teach in middle school or high school must apply for a Single Subject Teaching Credential. Secondary teachers must earn a bachelor’s degree, complete a teacher preparation program, and prove competency in at least one teachable subject area.
Special Education Teachers
Applicants who want to teach special education students must apply for a Education Specialist Instruction Credential. In addition to a bachelor’s degree special education teachers must complete a teacher preparation program that focuses on special education.
The traditional route to receiving teaching certification in California is to complete a state-approved teacher education program from a regionally accredited university and follow through on these specific credentials. However, applicants for becoming a certified teacher in California can also obtain a multiple subject credential through other means, such as through a college internship program, a school district internship program, private school teaching experience, an early completion internship option, or experience teaching through the Peace Corps.
The California Employment Development Department estimates 1,330 average annual job openings due to growth and 3,070 average annual job openings due to replacements for elementary school teachers, 480 average annual job openings due to growth and 1,100 average annual job openings due to replacements for middle school teachers, and 930 average annual job openings due to growth and 2,310 average annual job openings due to replacements for secondary school teachers through 2024.3 According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 285,900 elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers worked in California as of 2015.4 Elementary school teachers in the state earn an average annual salary of $72,360, while middle school teachers average $69,020 per year and secondary school teachers average $74,770 per year.4 For more information visit The California Teachers Association, which publishes relevant news and resources for education professionals in California.
California Teacher Testing Requirements
California uses its own system of examinations for certifying teachers in the state. All applicants for a preliminary California teaching certification must meet basic skills testing requirements. This may be done through completion of the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) including the basic writing test, the California State University (CSU) Early Assessment Program, or the CSU Placement Exam. All of these exams test basic skills in reading, math, and writing. Specific subject matter competence is tested through the content tests of the CSET. California previously used the Praxis series of exams, and will still accept Praxis test scores that are less than five years old as a basis for credentialing. For more information on testing, see the CTC’s page on testing requirements and options.
Additional California Teacher Certification Requirements
California law states that every teacher in the public school system must complete a 41-LS (Live Scan) fingerprinting application. The 41-LS form can be downloaded and printed from the CTC’s website. Applicants must also use the Live Scan to apply for and obtain a certificate of clearance, which shows potential employers that the applicant does not have a criminal background. For more information on the process, see the CTC’s page on fingerprinting.
California Teachers Licensing Application Process
Once all the requirements have been met, applicants for teacher certification must send all appropriate documents to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The required documents include:
- Transcripts from all schools attended
- Verified completion of an approved teacher preparation program
- Passing scores on all required examinations
- Live Scan fingerprints and certificate of clearance
- A completed application for teacher credentialing
The required documents must be sent to:
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
1900 Capitol Ave
Sacramento, CA 95811-4213
Visit the California State Department of Education for more details on earning California teacher certification.
California Teacher Salary and Jobs
|Type||Number Employed||Average Annual Salary|
|Preschool Teachers, Special Education||2,050||$67,790|
|Elementary School Teachers||138,890||$72,360|
|Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School||16,420||$68,690|
|Middle School Teachers||49,750||$69,020|
|Middle School Teachers, Special Education||6,420||$66,130|
|Secondary School Teachers||97,260||$74,770|
|Secondary School Teachers, Special Education||8,930||$74,360|
|Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education||2,950||$69,930|
Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2015.4
California Teacher Interviews
- Kindergarten Teacher, Vanessa Escobar
- Kindergarten Teacher, Michelle Griffo
- President, California Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, Joanne Becker
- Professor and Director, San Jose State University School of Information, Dr. Sandra Hirsh
- Lecturer, San Jose State University School of Information, Dr. Mary Ann Harlan
California School District Requirements
If you would like to learn more about the specific requirements for becoming a teacher in the following California cities, check out our city pages below. On these pages, you will find a step-by-step description of how to become a teacher in the city’s public school district as well as information on how to become a substitute teacher, school contact information, and private and charter school information.
Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a Teacher in California
Question: How do I become a science teacher in California?
Answer: To become a science teacher in California, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree and be able to show competency in the subject. This means taking the required courses and exams at an accredited university or college. You must also enroll in a teacher preparation program and take all required courses and participate in a student teaching experience.
Question: How do I become a substitute teacher in California?
Answer: Each district has its own requirements for hiring substitute teachers, so contact the human resources department of the districts to which you want to apply. To make yourself more marketable as a substitute, you can get a substitute teaching permit through the state of California. It allows you to work in any position for 30 days. To get this permit you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and have met the basic skills requirements for teaching in California.
Question: How do I become a substitute teacher in Los Angeles?
Answer: To work as a substitute teacher in Los Angeles, you must apply through the district’s human resources department. The district prefers substitute teachers to be fully credentialed through the state of California. If you are credentialed, you must also supply references, student teaching evaluations, and college transcripts.
Question: How do I become a math teacher in California?
Answer: To become a math teacher in California, you must earn a bachelor’s degree and show competency in the subject by taking a test. You must also complete a teacher preparation program, which includes taking all the appropriate courses and completing a student teaching experience.
Question: What are the requirements to become an elementary school teacher in California?
Answer: To be an elementary teacher in California you need to earn an elementary teaching certification through the state. The first step towards the certificate is to complete a bachelor’s degree and elementary teacher preparation program at an approved university or college. You must also meet the basic skills requirement by passing a test and also pass tests in the subject areas you will be teaching. Finally, you must complete a reading assessment.
Question: What are the California preschool teacher requirements?
Answer: To work as a preschool teacher in California, you must hold a child development teacher permit. To be qualified for the permit, you must complete a minimum of an associate’s degree in early childhood education or in child development or 24 credit hours of related coursework as well as 16 general education credit hours. In addition to coursework, you must also complete field experience to be eligible for the permit.
Question: How do I become a high school teacher in California?
Answer: To become a high school teacher in California, you need to earn a college degree and complete a teacher preparation program. After completing your education, you must pass a subject area test to show competency in the subject you hope to teach. You must also complete courses in reading, technology, and the US Constitution. When these requirements are met, you can apply to the state for certification and then interview for jobs.
Question: How do I become a high school math teacher in California?
Answer: To be a high school math teacher in California, you must have a bachelor’s degree. You also need to complete a teacher preparation program. Once you have finished a program, you need to pass a math subject matter test and then apply to the state for your certificate.
Question: How do I become a kindergarten teacher in California?
Answer: To become a kindergarten teacher in California, you need to be certified through the state. Elementary certification requires a bachelor’s degree as well as a teacher preparation program with a student teaching component. You also have to pass the state’s subject matter tests.
Teaching and Education Programs
1. California Commission on Teacher Credentialing: https://www.ctc.ca.gov/commission/default
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: http://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
3. State of California Employment Development Department: https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/data/employment-projections.html
4. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, California: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ca.htm