Teaching Credentials

A teaching credential provides authorization to teach in a California public school. Eligibility for a credential requires possession of a baccalaureate (bachelor’s degree); demonstration of subject matter competence in an appropriate major, either earned as part of the degree or established by examination; and successful completion of a professional education program.

Credential Designations

Multiple Subject Credential:

Authorizes the holder to teach all subjects in the public schools organized with self-contained classrooms, preschool through grade twelve. Credentials available through CSU, Chico programs include:

Multiple Subject Credential

Multiple Subject Credential

with BCLAD* Emphasis

Multiple Subject Credential

through Internship Program

Concurrent Special Education

(Education Specialist)/Multiple Subject or Multiple Subject with BCLAD* Emphasis

Single Subject Credential:

Authorizes the holder to teach the subject designated on the credential in schools organized by subject departments, preschool through grade twelve.

Credentials available through CSU, Chico programs include:

  • Single Subject Credential
  • Single Subject Credential with BCLAD* Emphasis
  • Single Subject Credential through Internship Program

*BCLAD is an acronym for Bilingual, Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development. The holder of a credential with BCLAD Emphasis is authorized to provide English language development and specially designed academic instruction in English to English language learners as well as to teach learners in their primary language.

Education Specialist Credentials:

The Education Specialist Credential with an emphasis in mild/moderate disabilities authorizes the holder to instruct individuals in grades K–12, and adults, who have specific learning disabilities, mental retardation, other health impairments, and/or serious emotional disturbance.

The Education Specialist Credential with an emphasis in moderate/severe disabilities authorizes the holder to instruct individuals in grades K–12, and adults, with autism, mental retardation, deaf-blindness, serious emotional disturbance, and/or multiple disabilities.

Credentials and certificates available through CSU, Chico programs include:

Preliminary Level I Education Specialist in Mild/Moderate Disabilities

Preliminary Level I Education Specialist in Moderate/Severe Disabilities

Professional Level II Education Specialist in Mild/Moderate Disabilities

Professional Level II Education Specialist in Moderate/Severe Disabilities

Early Childhood Special Education Certificate

Education Specialist Internship Programs

Entering a Program Leading to a Basic Credential

Obtain FOCUS ON TEACHING, Application for Professional Education Programs; information and application materials will guide you through the process. Application materials are available online at www.csuchico.edu/edsc/. Check with the department that houses the program of your choice for application deadlines. A $50 non-refundable application processing fee is required when the completed application packet is submitted. Applicants to programs in Professional Studies in Education are requested to contact the department one year in advance of beginning the program for advising and pre-application materials.

Notice: Professional education program requirements are governed by legislative action and approval of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Requirements may change between catalogs. Please consult with the Department of Education or the Department of Professional Studies in Education offices for current information.

Applicants to programs must meet the following requirements:

  1. Baccalaureate: Prospective teacher candidates should begin to meet credential course requirements as early as possible in their baccalaureate program. While program applicants need not hold a baccalaureate at the time they enter a professional education program, the bachelor’s degree is required to apply for a California Intern, Preliminary, or Professional Clear Credential.

  2. Subject Matter Competence: The State of California requires candidates for credentials to know the subject they will teach. To qualify for entry into a Multiple Subject, Single Subject, or Education Specialist Program, an applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 2.67 or a last 60 unit GPA of 2.75.

    Multiple Subject Credentials candidates must pass the Multiple Subject California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET). http:// www.cset.nesinc.com/

    Single Subject Credentials candidates must:

    a. complete an approved Subject Matter Preparation Program (designated courses in subject) at CSU, Chico; or

    b. complete a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) approved Subject Matter Preparation Program at another university and obtain a verification of progress

    Academic departments at CSU, Chico have credential advisors who help you plan a Subject Matter Preparation Program (see the previous page for a list of programs and advisors).

  3. California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST): Applicants to CSU, Chico Professional Education Programs must take the CBEST before beginning a program. The CBEST must be passed prior to student teaching. http://www.cbest.nesinc.com/
  4. Additional Requirements For additional information including all credential requirements, contact the department that houses the program of your choice. Prospective teacher candidates can begin to meet requirements during their bachelor’s degree program.

Program Specific Prerequisites

Each program of professional preparation requires completion of specific prerequisites. Consult FOCUS ON TEACHING, Application for Professional Education Programs (http://www.csuchico.edu/edsc), program, or department offices for information.

Internship Program Requirements for Multiple or Single Subject Credentials

The Multiple or Single Subject Internship Program enables qualified individuals who demonstrate potential for teaching to earn a credential while holding a paid teaching position. For information, contact the Department of Education.

Specialist/Service Credentials

The University, through the School of Education, offers programs leading to specialist credentials. Some work towards a specialization may be taken concurrently with Multiple and Single Subject programs. However, one must hold a basic teaching credential and have teaching experience prior to being recommended for most specialist or service credentials, except for the Education Specialist Credentials.

Potential candidates are advised to confer with program coordinators in planning courses. Programs leading to specialist or service credentials may be coordinated with a Master of Arts degree. A listing of specialist and service credentials can be found on the second page of this section of the Catalog. Specific course requirements for the specialist and service credentials will be found in programmatic brochures obtained from department offices or from the coordinators of specific programs.

Other Programs

The School of Education participates in a number of projects and programs that provide service to CSU, Chico students and K–14 teachers and students throughout Northern California. Among these programs are:

  • Integrated Teacher CORE
  • Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Project
  • Mini Corps
  • Teacher Diversity
  • Upward Bound
  • Migrant Education
  • Butte College Reading Connections Project.

CLAD Certificate for Credentialed Teachers

Demographic changes in California schools require that teachers be prepared to meet the special needs of linguistically and culturally diverse students. The Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development (CLAD) Certificate for Credentialed Teachers provides the basic knowledge and practice to prepare teachers to work with diverse student populations.

Course Requirements:

BLMC 518 Lang & Comm Skills 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: Teaching experience and faculty permission.
BLMC 636 Intro Multicultural Ed 3.0 FA
BLMC 672 Meth/Strat Sec Lang 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: Possess a single or multiple subject credential, or faculty permission.
BLMC 689A CLAD Practicum 1.0 FS

The above course may be taken three times or the following course may be taken once.

BLMC 689C CLAD Practicum 3.0 FS

In addition, an experience in learning a second language is required. A number of options are available to meet this requirement.

Early Childhood Special Education Certificate

Early Childhood Special Education Certificate is an authorization that may be added to either the Education Specialist Mild/Moderate or Moderate/Severe credentials. Specialists who have completed Levels I and II in either Mild/Moderate or Moderate/Severe will, if they successfully complete required course work and fieldwork in early childhood special education, receive a certificate authorizing service also to individuals with mild/moderate or moderate/severe disabilities from birth through pre-Kindergarten.