California Teacher Licensure Guide for Online Master's Students

Who Licenses Teachers in California, and Which Exams Does It Use?

California licenses teachers through California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and the exams it requires are the CBEST/CSET, the California Basic Educational Skills Test and California Subject Examinations for Teachers.

For the programs themselves, the online master's in education programs at universities in California are ranked at the in-state price, and the national and specialty lists cover schools in other states.

How Do I Get a California Teaching Credential With an Online Master's?

Getting a California teaching credential with an online master's depends on whether the program is Commission-approved or whether you hold a professional-level credential from another state. For a California-prepared teacher the Commission asks for a bachelor's or higher degree, proof of subject matter competence, a U.S. Constitution course or exam, a Commission-approved preparation program with a teaching performance assessment, and the program's recommendation.

For preparation done elsewhere, the Commission requires a professional-level credential from another state, so compare elementary education and secondary education programs on whether their home state would credential you, a fact our federal figures omit.

Which Exams Does California Require for Teacher Credentialing?

The exams California requires for teacher credentialing sit on one exam site, which lists the CBEST, the CSET, the CTEL, the CalTPA, the CalAPA and the CPACE. Which of them you take depends on the credential and the route.

Every candidate must show proficiency in the subject of the credential, and for an elementary credential a passing subject matter exam is one of five ways, beside an approved subject-matter program, coursework in an approved program, a suitable degree major or a mix. Candidates for teaching and administrative credentials must also pass a performance assessment before recommendation.

Can I Transfer a Teaching Credential to California From Another State?

A teaching credential can transfer to California from another state through three routes in the Commission's leaflet for multiple subject credentials: under two years of full-time experience, two or more years, or National Board certification. The first earns a five-year Preliminary credential that becomes Clear after induction, an English learner authorization and any subject matter competence not yet met. The second exempts the teacher from induction.

The document must be a professional-level credential earned through a program with student teaching at a regionally accredited institution, and it need not still be valid. The Commission's out-of-state page says intern, apprentice and temporary documents generally do not qualify, and the 2020 Education Commission of the States comparison found no full reciprocity here.

Does NC-SARA Membership Cover Teacher Credentialing for California Online Master's Students?

NC-SARA membership does not cover California online master's students at all, because California appears on the state actions list with no approval date, and teacher credentialing falls outside the agreement in any case: SARA does not address licensing board approval for programs like teacher education.

Ask the school how it is authorized to serve California residents rather than assuming SARA membership answers that, and use the federal disclosure described below to learn whether the program meets credential requirements here.

What Should I Ask an Online Program Before Enrolling From California?

Before enrolling from California, ask an online program to state in writing where it meets requirements, because 34 CFR 668.43 compels a list of the states where the program does and does not qualify, and a notice before enrollment when it found a gap or never assessed your state.

Ask the California questions too: is the program Commission-approved or one that leads to a professional-level credential in its own state, how does it demonstrate subject matter competence, does it build in a performance assessment and an English learner authorization, and can student teaching occur near your home? Out-of-state applicants also need evidence of fingerprint processing.

Do I Need a California Certificate of Clearance Before Entering a Preparation Program?

You need a valid permit or credential, or a Certificate of Clearance application on file, before entering a Commission-approved preparation program in California, and the Commission's leaflet makes that effective September 27, 2026: candidates must show professional fitness by holding the permit or credential or by having applied to the Commission for the certificate.

The rule governs admission to Commission-approved programs, which is one more reason to ask an online school whether it holds that approval before you apply.

Which Credential Do California Principals and School Counselors Need?

A California principal holds an Administrative Services Credential, and an out-of-state applicant submits official transcripts, fingerprint evidence and documents for the route used. The Commission names a Preliminary credential first, then a Clear credential.

A school counselor holds a Pupil Personnel Services Credential, which covers school counseling, psychology and social work for those authorized in another state, with transcripts from a regionally accredited institution. Ask whether an online master's in educational leadership or school counseling produces those documents.