Go to content

Understand the Requirements

To be a teacher, you must meet all the requirements for a credential. California teaching credentials have similar basic skills requirements, but there are specific requirements for each type of teaching:

There are also different requirements for people who:

Virtual Advisor

The Virtual Advisor can answer your questions about high-need subject areas:

  • Special Education
  • Mathematics
  • Science
Virtual Advisor

Next Steps

What's your next step for becoming a teacher in California? Find the answer by using the My Career Plan tool.

The California Commission on Teacher CredentialingIcon indicating a URL to an external Web site (CTC) sets teacher preparation standards, approves teacher preparation programs, and grants credentials and related documents.

California has added some credentialing flexibilities for teachers during the pandemic. These changes allow future teachers flexibility in when they take the required tests. Read the EdSource article.