CALIFORNIA
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You must obtain a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 

Blended programs are designed for individuals without a baccalaureate degree. These programs typically begin in the junior year and include a five-semester curriculum sequence of subject matter content courses, education courses, and student teaching experiences. 

Find out more at the Find the Right Preparation Program web page. 

As of July 9, 2021, the new rule allows incoming teachers to meet the subject matter competency requirement if they have completed an academic major in the subject they will teach. For Single Subject credentials, the major must be in one of the subjects of single subject credential defined in statute. For Multiple Subject credentials, the major must be in liberal studies or an interdisciplinary major that addresses all the content areas of the Multiple Subject credential. For Education Specialists the major must meet the Multiple Subject requirements or be in a subject aligned to authorized CSET examination content areas used for an Education Specialist credential. Read the press release for more information: https://www.ctc.ca.gov/docs/default-source/commission/briefing-room/pdf/pr-2021-07-09.pdf?sfvrsn=bd562ab1_2  

Education Code Section 44283 requires the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to "develop, adopt, and administer a reading instruction competence assessment . . . to measure an individual's knowledge, skill, and ability relative to effective reading instruction." Evaluation Systems was contracted by the CTC to assist in the development, administration, and scoring of this assessment, which is known as the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment® (RICA®).  The purpose of the RICA is to ensure that California candidates for Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials and Education Specialist Instruction Credentials (special education) possess the knowledge and skills important for the provision of effective reading instruction to students. 

To teach special education in California, you must have the Education Specialist Instruction Credential. It authorizes the holder to teach in the area of specialization and in a variety of settings listed on the credential. All teaching credentials in California are obtained through a two-level process, beginning with the preliminary credential and resulting in the clear credential. School districts may also look for other related qualifications and experience. 

California has a two-level process to obtain a clear special education teaching credential 

Level 1 — Preliminary Credential 

A preliminary credential is valid for only five years. The following requirements must be met to obtain the preliminary credential: 

• Obtain a baccalaureate degree 

• Satisfy the basic skills requirement 

• Satisfy the subject-matter competence requirement  

• Pass the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) 

• Complete a course or pass an examination on the U.S. Constitution 

• Complete a Commission-approved Education Specialist Instruction Credential program 

Level 2 — Clear Credential 

To obtain a clear credential, you must complete one of the following options before the preliminary credential expires:

• Complete a Commission-approved teacher induction program and submit the application for the clear credential through the Induction program sponsor. Program sponsors are often public or private colleges/universities, and school districts. 

• Obtain a National Board of Professional Teaching Standards certification 

An intern program is an alternative path to a preliminary credential. 

If you have a baccalaureate degree and have met other requirements, you may be eligible for an intern program where you complete the necessary coursework and are employed as a special education teacher at the same time. The Find the Right Preparation Program page identifies California-specific information you should know prior to selecting an intern teacher preparation program. 

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing maintains a list of accredited programs at colleges and universities that you can explore here: https://www.ctc.ca.gov/commission/reports/data/approved-institutions-and-programs.  

• California’s Council for Exceptional Children - https://calstatecec.org/about-california-cec   

• California Teachers Association – Special Education - https://www.cta.org/our-advocacy/special-education    

• Types of Financial Aid:  https://www.teachcalifornia.org/FinancialAid/Types   

• Sources of Financial Aid:  https://www.teachcalifornia.org/FinancialAid/Sources