How to Become a Teacher

Preparation and Tests
Becoming an Elementary School Teacher
Becoming a Secondary School Teacher
Becoming a Special Education Teacher

A California teaching credential is a license to teach in California public schools. A single subject credential is primarily for those who intend to teach in a designated subject area at the secondary (high school) or middle school level. A multiple subject credential is primarily for those intending to teach multiple subjects in the elementary or middle school level. The Education Specialist Credential is for individuals who want to become special educators.

A description of the different options is outlined on these pages. The process, requirements, and application materials are described in detail on each program’s website.

Preparation and Tests

Credential	Undergraduate Preparation	Tests	Postbaccalaureate Preparation
Pre-School	Consult Child and Adolescent Development department	None	None
Elementary (K-8)	Preparation to teach in any K-8 grade in one of the following programs is strongly recommended-Child and Adolescent Development, Creative Arts, Environmental Studies, Liberal Studies, Natural Science, or Social Science	CBEST, CSET for Multiple Subject	Multiple Subject Credential program
High School	Complete a Single Subject Matter Preparation program or pass CSET	CBEST	Single Subject Credential program
Special Education	Complete a Multiple or Single Subject Matter Preparation program and/or demonstrate subject matter competence by CSET	CBEST	Consult Special Education department
Bilingual/ESL Authorization (Grades K-12)		CBEST, CSET and Language Proficiency and CSET LOTE III Test in Spanish	Multiple Subject Teaching Credential program with Bilingual Authorization
College	Complete a major in the subject that you want to teach	Consult major department	PhD (or MA/MS for some community colleges)

Becoming an Elementary School Teacher

Seek Subject Matter Preparation
As an undergraduate student consider one of the following programs to strengthen your preparation:
- Department of Child and Adolescent Development
- Department of Environmental Studies
- Department of History
- Department of Humanities
- Each of the above departments has majors with a teacher preparation option that was designed to provide you the opportunity to learn the content you will apply as you teach in grades K-8.
Apply for Admission to the Multiple Subject Credential Program
- Applications to the Credential Program are accepted for Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
- Requirements include:
- Admission to Graduate Studies at San José State University
- Grade point average (GPA) of approximately 2.75 (see advisor)
- Passing score on California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST)
- Pre-professional experience in a K-8 public school setting is a requirement for admission to the Multiple Subject Credential Program. This requirement can be met either through fieldwork hours completed as part of a college course, experience in a K-8 classroom, or a combination of the above. Experience observing/assisting or teaching in a Title 1 or “low performing” school is encouraged. Experience in a private school setting or at the preschool level cannot be included as part of 50-hour minimum for pre-professional experience.
- Passing score on California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET): Multiple Subject Tests.
- Completion of Multiple Subject Credential Program Department Application.
Complete a professional Preparation Program leading to the Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential .
Program pathways include Bilingual Authorization, Flexible, Concurrent, Teacher Educator, Middle Level Emphasis and Critical Research Academy.

The following requirements apply to all of the above pathways:

PRELIMINARY CREDENTIAL
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and program. Bachelor’s degree must be granted on the same day or after university graduation.
- Prerequisites: Certificate of Clearance for personal and professional fitness
- Foundations: EDEL 102 and EDEL 103
- Dual language: EDTE 162
- Curriculum: EDEL 108A , EDEL 108B , EDEL 108C and EDEL 108D
- Student teaching: EDEL 143A - Beginning Student-Teaching (Phase I) and EDEL 143B - Advanced Student-Teaching (Phase II) , including EDTE 246
- In addition, before or during the program, students must take and pass the following courses or their equivalents:
- EDTE 190 - Health Education for the Classroom Teacher
- EDSE 192A - Including and Supporting Students
- *Program completers must also take and pass -
  - The Reading Instruction Competence assessment (RICA)
  - The Performance Assessment for California Teachers (PACT)
  - Satisfaction of the U.S. Constitution requirement
  - Level I Technology requirement
  - CPR - Adult, Child, Infant
- When ready, candidates should visit Credential Services to review requirements for the Multiple Subject Credential application process.
  
  PROFESSIONAL CLEAR CREDENTIAL
- Employed teachers need to continue professional development for the advanced credential following completion of the Preliminary Credential. To meet the requirements for the advanced teaching credential check with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) at www.ctc.ca.gov.

Becoming a Secondary School Teacher

Complete a Single Subject Matter Preparation Program
Programs with asterisks (*) are majors that are fully compliant with the requirements of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Students in other majors may have to take the California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET). See your department advisor for your particular course of study.

Major	Credential
Art	Art
Biology*	Science: Biological Sciences
Chemistry*	Science: Chemistry
Earth Science*	Science: Geosciences
Economics	Social Science
English*	English
French	World Language: French
Geography	Social Science
History	Social Science
Japanese	World Language: Japanese
Journalism	English
Kinesiology	Kinesiology
Mandarin	World Language: Mandarin
Mathematics*	Mathematics
Meteorology*	Science: Physics
Music	Music
Physical Education	Kinesiology
Physics*	Science: Physics
Political Science	Social Science
Social Sciences	Social Science
Spanish	World Language: Spanish
Speech Communication	English
Theatre Arts	English

Students who have completed or wish to complete another major may consult with the teacher preparation advisor from one of the listed programs to determine possible equivalence to Single Subject Matter Competency.

Apply for Admission to the Single Subject Credential Program
Applications to the Credential Program are accepted for both Fall and Spring semesters. Visit the program website at www.sjsu.edu/teachered for information on how to apply. Please note that the process of meeting application requirements can take several months to complete, so plan ahead.
Complete a Professional Preparation Program leading to a single subject credential. Requirements include:

PRELIMINARY CREDENTIAL (LEVEL 1)
Non-renewable, valid for a maximum of five years.
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- Prerequisite: Certificate of Clearance of personal and professional fitness
- EDSC 162 - Language/Literacy Development of L2 Learners
- EDSC 172A - Social, Philosophical Multicultural Fdn
- EDSC 173 - Psychological Foundations of Secondary Teacher Education
- EDSC 246 - Learning Communities: Methods and Management
- EDTE 294 - Research/Practices in Health and Special Education
- EDTE 282 - Assessment and Evaluation
- EDSC 184X - Student Teaching I
- Phase II Student Teaching: 184Y and 184Z in disciplinary departments
- CalTPA
- Subject-specific methods
- CPR (adult, infant and child)
- U.S. Constitution requirement
- Technology requirement

Becoming a Special Education Teacher

Apply for admission to the Education Specialist Preliminary Teaching Credential: Early Childhood Special Education Credential , Education Specialist: Mild/Moderate Disabilities Credential , Education Specialist: Moderate/Severe Disabilities Credential . Requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and program.
- Admission to San José State University.
- Grade Point average (GPA) of 2.75, or better.
- Passing score on the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST).
- Passing score on the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (for the Education Specialist: Mild/Moderate Disabilities Credential and Education Specialist: Moderate/Severe Disabilities Credential )
- Satisfaction of the Constitution requirement.
- Completion of 45 hours of verifiable, supervised experience with children in an instructional setting
- Completion of Department of Special Education application with all required documents
- Certificate of Clearance for personal and professional fitness.
Complete a Professional Preparation Program leading to the Educational Specialist Credential
To be endorsed for the credential, the following requirements apply to all options:

PRELIMINARY CREDENTIAL
- Satisfied all course requirements for the credential option (see Special Education section of the Catalog).
- Grades of “B” or better in all credential courses/GPA of 3.0
- Proof of competence in Reading Instruction by passing the RICA, unless having a valid California Multiple Subject Credential or Single Subject Credential .
- Satisfactory Dispositions Evaluations
  
  PROFESSIONAL INDUCTION PLAN
- To be endorsed for the credential, the following requirements apply to all options:
- Candidates must hold a valid Preliminary Education Specialist Credential .
- Candidates must apply to the university and department for the Clear Induction Program and complete an Induction program of studies.
- Complete a program of studies and experiences (see Special Education section of Catalog).
- Professional portfolio demonstrating advanced knowledge and skills.
- Grades of “B” or better in all courses for credential.