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California Teacher Preparation

Teacher preparation in California is different from most states. In California, teaching candidates acquire knowledge of the content they intend to teach before they enter a credential program. In the credential program, students learn the pedagogy – how to teach the content – not the content itself. The steps below outline this process.

1. Earn a Bachelors Degree, preferably in the subject area(s) you intend to teach. For multiple subjects, elementary teaching, Liberal Studies is the best choice.
2. Establish subject matter competence in the subject area(s) you intend to teach. For multiple subjects, elementary teaching, the only way to do this is to pass the multiple subjects California Subject Examinations for Teachers-Multiple Subjects (CSET-MS).
3. Complete a credential program at an accredited university. These programs, which include student teaching, can generally be completed in 2-4 semesters.

For a more detailed view of this process,
download the handout on teacher preparation in California