Teaching Credential Information
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Center for Careers in Teaching
Education Classroom Building 379
ed.fullerton.edu/cct
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 nationally accredited and 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 at Cal State Fullerton; thus, students seeking teaching credentials must do so in conjunction with, or after the completion of, a baccalaureate degree program in an academic area outside of education.
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.
In this section of the catalog, information is presented regarding:
- SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Center for Careers in Teaching
- Preliminary Credential Programs
- Multiple Subject Credential
- Single Subject Credential
- Education Specialist Credentials
- Administrative Services Credential Program
- Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential
- Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential
- School Nurse Services Credential
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Center for Careers in Teaching
Education Classroom Building 379
657-278-7130
ed.fullerton.edu/cct
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 have already earned a bachelor’s degree should attend a credential program overview for initial advising: ed.fullerton.edu/prospective-students/degrees-credentials/credential-programs.php.
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 at ed.fullerton.edu/cct 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 designed for persons interested in working with children and adults with special needs. Those who work with kindergarten through 12th-grade students should pursue the Mild/Moderate or the Moderate/Severe Credential. Persons interested in working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers 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 or a Clear Credential Program, depending on the school district. 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 or ed.fullerton.edu/cct, or attend an overview session offered by the respective program. Schedules for these sessions are available at ed.fullerton.edu/prospective-students/degrees-credentials/credential-programs.php.
Multiple Subject Credential
ed.fullerton.edu/edel/admissions/cred-edel.php
A Multiple Subject Credential authorizes the holder to teach multiple subjects in pre-K- to 8th-grade classrooms. The Multiple Subject Credential can be completed as a stand-alone program, or it can be completed in the Combined Credential/Master’s Program (16-month program, fall only admission).
Single Subject Credential
ed.fullerton.edu/seced/admissions/cred-seced.php
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
- World Languages (including English Language Development)
Education Specialist Credentials
ed.fullerton.edu/sped/admissions/cred-sped.php
CSUF 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:
- Mild/Moderate Disabilities - to teach persons with mild/moderate disabilities.
- Moderate/Severe Disabilities - to teach persons with moderate/severe disabilities or who have multiple disabilities.
- Early Childhood Education - to teach infants, toddlers and preschoolers with or at risk for disabilities or developmental delays, ages birth through 5 years of age and their families.
- Resource Specialist Authorization (for those who hold a Learning Handicapped Credential) - to serve as a resource specialist in programs serving special education students, their parents and their regular teachers.
See Department of Special Education , College of Education .
Administrative Services Credentials
ed.fullerton.edu/edleadership/admissions/cred-edleadership.php
CSUF 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
ed.fullerton.edu/reading/admissions/cred-literacy-reading.php
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 Human Communication Studies , College of Communications .
The Preliminary Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential requires passing the Praxis examination in the topic and a one-year supervised Clinical Fellowship Year to obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence and/or a one-year supervised Required Professional Experience Year to obtain the California Speech-Language Pathology License to obtain a Clear Credential.
School Nurse Services Credential
To become a school nurse. See Nursing, School of , College of Health and Human Development .
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