People with Teaching Experience — Credential Options

Individuals with some private school teaching experience have options with certain California credentials requirements. Experience in a career other than teaching, even with an advanced degree, does not generally replace any requirements.

If you have:

• at least 3 years of experience teaching at the elementary or secondary level in a private school you may be eligible for a preliminary California credential
• teaching experience in another state or country, you may be able to apply for a preliminary credential in California. To find out more, you can answer some questions about yourself in the Make and Follow Your Plan section.
• Peace Corps teaching experience, it may be accepted in lieu of the teacher preparation program requirement for the elementary (Multiple Subject Credential) or high school/middle school (Single Subject Credential).
• taught in the past year and wish to provide bilingual instruction, foreign language instruction, or cultural enrichment, you may be eligible for the Sojourn Certificated Employee Credential.
• cross-cultural teaching experience in a foreign country, you may be eligible for the Exchange Visitor Program for Teachers
• technical or vocational experience and wish to teach career technical education, you may want to obtain a Career Technical Education Teaching Credential

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) sets teacher preparation standards, approves teacher preparation programs, and grants three types of teaching credentials as well as related documents and other credentials.

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