How to Get Your Teaching Credential in California [2024]

The state of California is facing a teacher shortage. In fact, teacher shortage in California ranks among the highest in the nation with 1 teacher for every 21 students. As districts and lawmakers work together to address the problem, the goal is to get new teachers into the classroom more quickly. A recent change that accelerates California's teacher credentialing process is part of this process.

Finding a program that fits the latest California teaching credential rules and regulations can help you start your career in as little as four months. To understand how these programs work, consider the various pathways to earn your teaching credential in California.

Types of California Teaching Credentials

In California, teachers can choose either Single Subject, Multiple Subject, or Special Education teaching credential. The Single Subject Teaching Credential focuses on a specific subject area. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) designates a total of 21 subjects available for this credential, everything from physics to PE, agriculture to English. This is often the choice for a teacher looking to teach at the middle or high school level.

The Multiple Subject Teaching Credential allows a teacher to teach all subjects in one classroom, which is the common structure at the elementary level. Teachers must prove competent in every major subject area, so the educational path for this teaching credential is more well-rounded.

The Special Education Teaching Credential in California allows teachers to specialize in working with students with disabilities. Special education teachers are trained to assess students' needs, develop individualized education plans (IEPs), and provide appropriate accommodations and support to help students succeed academically and socially.

The Path to Becoming a California Teacher

The first step toward becoming a teacher in California is earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. If you seek to teach elementary school, a degree such as UMass Global’s BA in Liberal Studies, Multiple Subject Teaching, is a good choice as it focuses on the subjects covered in elementary school classrooms.

If you are looking to teach at the secondary level (middle or high school), your degree will need to either match or else cover one of the 21 subjects approved by the CTC. For instance, if you want to teach high school algebra a bachelor’s in mathematics should enable you to pass the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET). Other subjects, such as English or a foreign language such as French, would require specific degrees to adequately build your subject matter competency. 

With your degree in hand, the next step is to show your competency. First, you will need to show you have the basic foundational education deemed necessary to be a teacher. This covers basic reading, mathematics, and writing skills. This is tested in the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST). Then you need to show your competency in the subject or subjects you will be teaching. This is accomplished by passing the CSET in your subject matter area.

Your bachelor’s degree and passing these two competency exams clears you to start student teaching, either as an intern (as the teacher of record in a classroom) or as a student teacher. A total of 600 hours of fieldwork experience under the supervision of a licensed teacher will be required for you to earn your California Teaching Credential and become a full-time, salaried teacher in California. Earning a California credential may also allow you to teach in other states, but those vary by the different individual states.

A Streamlined Path to Teaching with California’s District Intern Program

The process of becoming a teacher in California using the traditional pathway takes several years. For adult learners, the process can extend even further due to the demands of work and family responsibilities. To help attract more teachers while accommodating the needs of learners who are looking to make a career change to teaching, the state offers a district intern program that allows certain students to start teaching, earning a salary while completing the necessary coursework to complete their credential program.

The district intern program is for students who:

• Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school
• Have satisfied the basic skills requirement
• Have passed a U.S. Constitution course or test
• Work as a district intern under a certificated employee in a California school
• Officially apply for the district intern program

In addition, teachers who wish to teach a specific subject in grades 6 through 12 must complete a subject-matter preparation program and pass a subject matter exam. Teachers in early or elementary education must achieve a passing score on the multiple-subject teaching credential exam to showcase their knowledge.

Professional Development Plan

Once a teacher has the intern credential, they may maintain it for two years, with the option for a one-year extension. During this time, the intern enters a Professional Development Plan. This plan pairs the intern with a mentor teacher. It also requires 120 hours of training in the field of education and child development and six semester credit hours of coursework in these fields.

During the Professional Development Plan period, the district can assign additional courses or training based on the teacher's needs and performance, and they will evaluate the intern’s performance each year.

After completing their internship and passing a Teaching Performance Assessment, the teacher gets a five-year preliminary credential. This opens the door to completing a two-year teacher induction program to earn your teaching credential.

UMass Global’s Intern Pathway Program

With UMass Global, California teachers can start their internship in as little as four months. With just four classes, teachers become intern-eligible and can start their Professional Development Plan to obtain either their Single Subject, Multiple Subject, or Special Education credential.

In addition to the four classes necessary to become a teacher, our program also includes comprehensive test preparation for teachers. This preparation helps ensure teachers can pass their credential assessments. Furthermore, UMass Global offers Added Authorization programs after you have earned your credential, allowing you to expand the subjects you can teach.

Take Your Education Training to the Next Level with a Master of Arts in Teaching

For adult learners who already hold a bachelor’s degree and are looking to make a career change to teaching, an MAT in Elementary Education or Secondary Education can help you achieve your goal. Additionally, we offer special education credentials with master's in teaching for Prelim Early Childhood Special Education, Mild to Moderated Support Needs, and Extensive Support Needs. Whether you choose our Intern Pathway Program, our 10-month student teaching credential program, or our accelerated MAT and Credential program, UMass Global makes it convenient to get the training you need to be successful in the classroom.

The academic coursework portion of our credential programs is online, offering flexibility for those with a busy lifestyle. This flexibility makes UMass Global one of the top choices for accredited teaching credential programs in California, especially for working adults. California (and the rest of the U.S.) needs teachers. Our streamlined pathway to intern teaching allows you to enter the classroom and start making a difference in the lives of K-12 students that much sooner. Request information or apply today.