The Commission on Teacher Credentialing requires all credential candidates to fulfill various exams and assessments to demonstrate proficiency. Below are descriptions, procedures, and links to the standard requirements for candidates.
For additional details, you can visit the California Educator Credentialing Assessments page.
Basic Skills Requirement (BSR)
The Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) is an admissions requirement for all credential programs. As of 2021 Legislature on AB 130 (Chapter 44, Statutes of 2021) expanded how candidates can satisfy this requirement.
Basic Skill Requirement can be met through one of the following
1. Conferred Higher Education Degree
The majority of candidates will meet the Basic Skills Requirement through their bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally-accredited institution.
2. Completed Coursework
Individuals may meet the requirement by providing official transcripts to a Commission-approved preparation program or submitted with their application packet to the Commission. The transcripts must show passage of courses in reading, writing, and mathematics as outlined below. Courses must have been taken at a regionally-accredited college or university for credit, passed with a grade of B or better, be degree applicable, and be at least 3 semester units or 4 quarter units.
3. Coursework and Exam
The Basic Skills Requirement can be met through a combination of applicable courses and qualifying exams. Both Commission-approved programs and the Commission can determine basic skills proficiency through this combination option. The mixing-and-matching of relevant component or components from all exam options permitted under current law is acceptable with the exception of out-of-state basic skills exams.
4. SAT or ACT Qualifying Scores
5. Pass the CBEST
Individuals only need to pass The California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) once; CBEST passing scores remain valid indefinitely for all credential and employment purposes
6. Pass the CSET: Multiple Subjects Plus Writing Skills Examination
The California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET): Multiple Subjects examination has been modified, adding an assessment of basic writing skills. Passage of the CSET: Writing Skills examination (test #142) can be added to passage of the CSET: Multiple Subjects Examination (subtests #101, 214, & 225) to meet the basic skills requirement. Passing exam scores used to meet the basic skills requirement remain valid indefinitely.
7. Pass the CSU Early Assessment Program or the CSU Placement Examinations
Passing scores on the California State University (CSU) Early Assessment Program (EAP) (English and Mathematics sections) or the CSU Placement Examinations (English Placement Test [EPT] and Entry Level Mathematics [ELM]) are sufficient to meet the basic skills requirement
8. College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
A score of 3 or higher on the College Board AP English exam and AP Calculus or AP Statistics exam may also use these exam scores to meet the basic skills requirement.
9. Pass a Basic Skills Examination from Another State
The Commission will accept basic skills examinations from other states. A photocopy of the score report or letter from the testing agency verifying passage of the examination must be submitted with the application packet. There is no recency requirement for the date the examination was passed. See the chart Out-of-State Basic Skills Exams Guide in the Appendix at the end of this leaflet for a listing of acceptable examinations from other states.
For specifications and details you can visit the Commission’s Basic Skills Requirement (CL-667) page.
Subject Matter Competency Requirement (SMR)
California Education Code requires that all teaching credential candidates must demonstrate they are proficient in the subject matter of their intended credential. Candidates are required to have met and cleared their Subject Matter competency before being intern or supervised teaching eligible. As of 2021 Legislature on AB 130 (Chapter 44, Statutes of 2021) Candidates that have not met Subject Matter Competency by degree have alternative options.
Subject matter proficiency may be demonstrated through one of the following
1. Subject matter programcompletion of a commission approved program.
2. Passage of CSET examination in the subject area.
3. Successful completion of coursework at one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education that addresses each of the domains of the subject matter requirements adopted by the commission in the content area of the credential pursuant to Section 44282, as verified by Credential Analyst.
4. Conferred BA/BS or higher degree in the subject area. Degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with the following, as applicable:
For a comprehensive list of appropriate degree majors, refer to the Appropriate Degrees to Satisfy Subject Matter Competence webpage
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- Single subject candidates – Completion of any of the degree majors for the relevant single subject on the Appropriate Degrees to Satisfy Subject Matter Competence webpage.
- Multiple subject candidates – Completion of any of the degree majors for multiple subject on the Appropriate Degrees to Satisfy Subject Matter Competence webpage, or “other degree that includes coursework in the content areas pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 44282”.
- Education specialist candidates – Completion of any of the degree majors that qualify a candidate for either the Single Subject credential or Multiple Subject credential. See the Appropriate Degrees to Satisfy Subject Matter Competence webpage for appropriate degree majors.
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5. A combination of clauses (1), (2), and (3) in whole or in part, has met or exceeded each of the domains of the subject matter requirements adopted by the commission in the content area of the credential pursuant to Section 44282 for multiple and single subject credentials, or pursuant to Section 44265 for education specialist credentials.
To discuss, review, and confirm SMR methodology candidates can contact their program designated Credential Analyst.
CSET Resources
Teachers Test Prep Free practice tests, study guides, live prep classes, one-on-one tutoring, and online prep.
CTC CSET Website Preparation Materials Click on the Prepare tab at the top of the page for full-length sample tests and test guides.
Khan Academy Many subject areas are covered in easy-to-understand video formats. Free.
MIT OpenCourseWare MIT offers many of the same lectures regularly presented on their campus free online.
Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative Mixed media online course in STEM subject areas and some world languages. Some content may have fees associated.
California Teaching Performance Assessment (CalTPA)
The California Teaching Performance Assessment (CalTPA) is a state-mandated assessment for all preliminary Multiple Subject, Single Subject, or Education Specialist (MMSN, ESN, ECSE, DHH, VI) credentials. This assessment of teaching performance is designed to measure a candidate’s knowledge, skills and abilities in relation to California’s Teaching Performance Expectations (TPEs).
The CalTPA is administered by Pearson. Registration for the CalTPA Cycles and submission of the CalTPA cycles is done through the California Educator Credentialing Assessments website.
Education Specialist, CalTPA
Education Specialist Credential and Dual Credential candidates receive support for the completion of the CalTPA Cycles through seminars in their Supervised Teaching courses SPED 497 and SPED 498.
Performance assessment consisting of two instructional cycles:
Math Cycle: Learning About Students (Children) with IEPs and Planning a Math Activity
Literacy Cycle: Assessment-Driven Literacy Instruction for Students (Children) with IEPs
Mulitple Subject, CalTPA
Multiple Subject Credential candidates receive support for the completion of the CalTPA Cycles through seminars in their Supervised Teaching courses EDUC 497 and EDUC 498.
Performance assessment consisting of two instructional cycles:
Math Cycle: Learning About Students (Children) and Planning a Math Lesson (Activity)
Literacy Cycle: Assessment-Driven Literacy Instruction
Single Subject, CalTPA
Single Subject Credential candidates receive support for the completion of the CalTPA Cycles through seminars in their Supervised Teaching courses EDUC 497A and EDUC 498A.
Performance assessment consisting of two instructional cycles:
Cycle 1: Learning About Students and Planning Instruction
Cycle 2: Assessment-Driven Instruction