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

Becoming an Elementary School Teacher

1. 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 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.
2. 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 2.75 or above (undergraduate or last 60/90 calculation)
   • Passing score on California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) or equivalent
   • Pre-professional experience in a K-8 public school setting. 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 the 45-hour minimum for pre-professional experience.
   • Passing score on California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET): Multiple Subject Tests or equivalent
   • Completion of a CalState Apply application
   • Submission of transcripts from all colleges attended outside of SJSU.
3. Complete all requirements for the Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential  as listed below.
   
            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: EDTE 224  and EDTE 208  
   • Dual language: EDTE 262  
   • Curriculum: EDEL 108A , EDEL 108B , EDEL 108C  and EDEL 108D  
   • Student teaching: EDEL 143A  and EDEL 143B , including EDTE 260  
   • In addition, before or during the program, students must take and pass EDTE 190  or its equivalent
   • *Program completers must also take and pass -
     • The Reading Instruction Competence assessment (RICA)
     • CalTPA (California Teaching Performance Assessment)
     • 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

1. 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.

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.

2. 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.
3. 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
   • EDTE 208 - Educational Sociology   
   • EDTE 224 - Seminar in Educational Psychology   
   • EDTE 260 - Critical Perspectives on Schooling for a Pluralist Democracy   
   • EDTE 262 - Classroom Issues in the Language/Literacy Development of L2 Learners   
   • 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

1. Apply for admission to the Education Specialist Preliminary Teaching Credential: Early Childhood Special Education , Education Specialist Preliminary Teaching Credential: Mild/Moderate Support Needs , Education Specialist Preliminary Teaching Credential: Extensive Support Needs  . 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) or other approved method to meet the Basic Skills Requirement.
   • Passing score on any of the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (or other approved method to meet Subject Matter Competency).
   • 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  materials in Quadrant 4 of CSU Apply including two letters of professional recommendation.
2. 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