Teaching Credential Information
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Center for Careers in Teaching
Education Classroom Building 379
Introduction
 From its earliest days to the present, teacher preparation has been one of the chief missions of the university. Today, Cal State Fullerton offers a full range of state-approved credential programs leading to careers in education. Students pursuing a teaching credential in California must navigate a number of specific requirements. Credential requirements are established by the Legislature and enforced by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The commission also reviews and approves all university credential preparation programs. An academic major in education is not offered within the CSU system; thus, students seeking teaching credentials should do so in conjunction with, or after the completion of, a baccalaureate degree program in a subject area that aligns with the teaching credential they intend to receive. Future teachers are encouraged to consider earning a baccalaureate degree in Urban Learning within the College of Education at Cal State Fullerton. The degree in Urban Learning has been designed so that students will meet subject matter and prerequisite course requirements to enter the MSCP and SPED credential programs and more importantly, have a strong foundation of knowledge, skills and dispositions to enter the teaching profession.
CSUF offers programs leading to preliminary and clear teaching credentials, specialist credentials and services credentials. The Administrative Services, Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist, and Clinical Rehabilitative Services credentials described briefly below, are more advanced programs designed to be taken in conjunction with graduate study.
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Center for Careers in Teaching
Education Classroom Building 379
657-278-7130
The SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Center for Careers in Teaching provides comprehensive career and academic advising to students planning to become elementary, middle school, high school, special education teachers and/or work in higher education settings. Students are encouraged to go to the center for early academic and career advising to best prepare for credential and graduate programs at Cal State Fullerton. The center provides scheduled appointments throughout the year where students have the opportunity to learn about the various education program requirements and how to efficiently blend requirements for general education, major and credential program prerequisites. These services provided by the center are geared toward the undergraduate who is planning to enter the teaching profession. Students who will earn a bachelors degree at another institution or have already earned a bachelor’s degree should attend a credential program overview for initial advising.
The center also works with local community colleges to facilitate the transition of transfer students who are planning to become teachers. Transfer students can meet with one of the center’s advisers at many of the local community colleges. Check the community college transfer center for schedules. Transfer students are also welcome to visit the center at the Cal State Fullerton campus even while attending the community college. See the SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Center for Careers in Teaching website for more information about careers in teaching, making an appointment and much more.
Preliminary Teaching Credential Programs
In California, there are three initial/preliminary teaching credentials: Multiple Subject Credential, Single Subject Credential and Education Specialist Credential.
- The Multiple Subject Credential authorizes a person to teach in a transitional kindergarten through eighth-grade classroom where multiple subjects are taught by a single individual.
- The Single Subject Credential authorizes a person to teach one subject to various age groups.
- The Education Specialist Credential is for persons interested in working with children and adults with special needs.
Those who work with birth through age 22 students should pursue the Mild/Moderate Support Needs or the Extensive Support Needs Credential. Persons interested in working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers with special needs should pursue an Early Childhood Education Specialist Credential.
In California, a prospective teacher first earns a Preliminary Credential and then completes a two-year induction program sometimes referred to as a Clear Credential Program, depending on the school district in which they are hired. The Preliminary Credential is the initial credential for the beginning teacher.
To learn more about minimum requirements for a Preliminary Multiple Subject, Single Subject or Education Specialist Credential, contact the SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Center for Careers in Teaching, 657-278-7130, visit the website or attend an overview session offered by the respective program.
Multiple Subject Credential
A Multiple Subject Credential authorizes the holder to teach multiple subjects in pre-K- to 8th-grade classrooms. Visit the Multiple Subject Credential website to learn more about the credential program, as well as the Combined Credential/Master’s Program option (16-month program, fall only admission).
See Department of Elementary and Bilingual Education , College of Education
Single Subject Credential
A Single Subject Credential authorizes the holder to teach a specified subject in kindergarten through 12th-grade classrooms in departmentalized settings. The Single Subject Credential program at CSUF offers programs in each of the following state-authorized subject fields.
- Art
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English
- Foundational Level Math
- Foundational Level General Science
- Geosciences/Earth Science
- Mathematics
- Music
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Social Science
- Theatre
- World Languages (including English Language Development)
See Department of Secondary Education , College of Education
Education Specialist Credentials
The Department of Special Education offers several state-approved programs leading to specialized credentials. These specialist credentials are oriented toward post-baccalaureate coursework and coincide with master’s degree programs.
CSUF offers the following Specialist Credential programs:
- Early Childhood Special Education - to provide educational services to children from birth through kindergarten who are eligible for early intervention, special education, and/or related services under federal and state laws. This specialization is committed to preparing reflective professionals who will provide high quality services to infants, toddlers, young children, and their families.
- Mild to Moderate Support Needs - to provide services to individuals from transitional kindergarten through age 22, with mild to moderate support needs, such as autism, intellectual disabilities, specific learning disabilities and other health-impaired and emotional disturbances.
- Extensive Support Needs - to provide services to individuals from transitional kindergarten through age 22, with extensive support needs, such as autism, intellectual disabilities, deaf-blindness, serious emotional disturbances, multiple disabilities and other disabilities.
See Department of Special Education , College of Education .
Administrative Services Credentials
The Department of Educational Leadership offers the following Administrative Services Credential programs:
- Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC) - the first step of the two-step administrative services credential structure, authorizing service as a school site administrator, principal or other administrative officer of a school district.
- Clear Administrative Services Credential (CASC) - the second step of the two-step administrative services credential structure.
See Department of Educational Leadership , College of Education .
Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential
Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential - to teach literacy to students of diversified grade and ability levels and to prepare candidates to work as a literacy leader at the district, state and national levels, a literacy coach/specialist, and a pre-K to 12th-grade reading teacher.
See Department of Literacy and Reading Education , College of Education .
Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential
Preliminary Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential in Language, Speech and Hearing provides services to students with disorders in language, speech and hearing. See Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders , College of Communications .
The Preliminary Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential requires passing the Praxis examination and a one-year supervised Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) to obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and/or a one-year supervised Required Professional Experience (RPE) year to obtain the California Speech-Language Pathology License. The Clear Credential can be obtained after completing the CFY/RPE.
School Nurse Services Credential
The School Nurse Services Credential prepares nurses to work in schools (pre-K through grade 12).
See the School of Nursing , College of Health and Human Development .
Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work and Child Welfare and Attendance
Students who complete the Master of Social Work may also obtain the Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work and and optional authorization in Child Welfare and Attendance.
See the Department of Social Work , College of Health and Human Development
See Department of Social Work , College of Health and Human Development .
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