CA requirements

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Home : 2003 : March : 4

CA requirements
By Amanda K.

You have to take and pass the CBEST, first of all. You need a Bachelor's degree in any field, and a Preliminary California Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential to teach in the elementary setting. After you have the Prelim
Credential, you have five years to take a few more classes to get the Clear Credential. Some districts will accept an emergency credential as long as you are enrolled in a credential program and have the Bachelor's and CBEST, but these districts are becoming few and far between with our budget cuts.
If you already have a teaching credential from another state, you will still probably

have to take a few classes to get the California Clear credential. You will also probably have to take the MSAT. You have to be able to prove competency in U.S. Constitution, either through a class or a challenge exam. And, of course, you have to have a TB test to work in a classroom. I also think that there may be a California history requirement for out-of-staters, but I'm really not sure. Elementary school teachers also have to pass the RICA (Reading Instruction Competency Exam). And it's rumored that there might be a MICA (same test, but for math) coming up in a few years.

The specific requirements... courses, etc., for getting your credential depend on what university you go through. Chapman University has branches all over the state and is great at getting you in and out in a year, a year and a half for your Clear Credential if you go full time (at night). My advice is to find a university that you would like to attend and ask them what their requirements will be. Other schools may be shorter or longer. You might want to shop around from the universities in your area and see which one will meet your needs the most. Find one really close to your home so it won't be too much of a drag to go to night classes if you get a job before you finish the credential course.