Teaching Credentials

In California there are three basic teaching credentials. Orange Coast College can help you with your lower division transfer classes before you transfer to an accredited university and provide education courses with fieldwork in local elementary classrooms.

Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
This credential authorizes a person to teach in a classroom where many different subjects are taught by a single individual, such as in elementary schools.
For more information visit: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl561c.pdf

Preparing to Teach at an Elementary School
What does it take to become an elementary school teacher?

Bachelors Degree Multiple Subject Credential

What does an elementary school teacher need to know?

• Subject matter
• How to teach (Pedagogy)
  

For a multiple subject (elementary) teaching credential subject matter competency is determined by passing the California Subject Matter Exam for Teacher (CSET), Multiple Subjects. The CSET Multiple Subject exam covers a wide range of subject matter based from the Student Academic Content Standards, which include:

• Reading, Language, & Literature
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Science
• Visual & Performing Arts
• Physical Education
• Human Development
• More information on the CSET can be found at http://www.cset.nesinc.com/.

All elementary school teachers must meet the Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) requirements which means you earn a bachelors degree and be certified to teach in California (have a credential) and establish subject matter competency.

What do elementary school teachers teach?
Elementary schools teacher teach a wide range of subjects. The California State Department of Education establishes the curriculum to be taught in elementary classrooms. For more information you can visit http://www.cde.gov/ci/pe/.

Single Subject Teaching Credential
This credential authorizes a person to teach in a classroom where only one subject is taught, such as a classroom in middle schools and/or high schools.
For more information visit: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl560c.pdf

Preparing to Teach at a Middle or High School

What does it take to become a middle or high school teacher?

Bachelors Degree Teaching Credential

What does an middle or high school teacher need to know?

• Subject matter
• How to teach (Pedagogy)
  All teachers need to prove subject matter competency or in other words they know their subject matter.

What kind of teaching credential do I need to teach middle or high school?

• Single subject credential or
• Multiple subject credential with ISMA
  

There are several pathways to teach at the middle or high school level.

1. You may obtain a single subject credential by

• passing the California Subject Matter Exam for Teacher (CSET), Single subject or
• completing a State Subject Matter Preparation Program (SMPP) (You can have a degree in the subject area as well to satisfy this requirement)

2. You may obtain a multiple subject credential and then an Introductory Subject Matter (ISMA) Authorization with 32 units in a specific area.

California offers Single Subject Teaching Credential in the following areas:

Education Specialist Credential

This credential authorizes a person to work with children with special needs. The person holding this credential may work with elementary, middle school, or high school students. Depending on which age group you choose to work, special education services are designed to meet the educational, social, emotional, and vocational needs of young children and students with specially designed instruction that often incorporates related disabilities.
For more information visit: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl808c.pdf

How do I get a Education Specialist Credential

What does it take to specialize in this area?

• Bachelors Degree
• Teaching Credential

What does an education specialist need to know?

• Subject matter
• How to teach (Pedagogy)

All teachers need to prove subject matter competency or in other words they know their subject matter. This would be through the CSET for multiple subject if working towards a multiple subject (elementary school) or single subject (middle or high school) exam depending on the specialization.

The areas of specialization consist of:

• Mild/Moderate Disability (M/M)
• Moderate/Severe Disability (M/S)
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH)
• Visual Impairments (VI)
• Physical and Health Impairments (PHI)
• Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)