Overview of Prerequisite Tests and Requirements for Intern Credential

The following descriptions are provided by the CTC (Commission on Teacher Credentialing) website. For specific information on registration, testing dates, test format, reporting of scores, and costs, visit the CTC website: Educator Credentialing Examinations.

Please note: It is strongly recommended that candidates pass the CBEST and CSET tests (422k PDF). In some cases, previous coursework and college placement exams may satisfy certain prerequisites.

CBEST

“The California Basic Educational Skills Test™ (CBEST®) was developed to meet requirements of laws relating to credentialing and employment. This test requirement does not replace any of the other requirements of subject matter knowledge, professional preparation, and practice teaching or field experience applicable to the issuance of credentials. The CBEST is designed to test basic reading, mathematics, and writing skills found to be important for the job of an educator; the test is not designed to measure the ability to teach those skills.”

CSET

The California Subject Examinations for Teachers® (CSET®) have been developed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for prospective teachers who choose to or are required to meet specific requirements for certification by taking examinations. The CTC contracted the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson to assist in the development, administration, and scoring of the CSET. The CSET program includes examinations designed to help candidates meet the following certification requirements:

Basic skills requirement: Candidates may satisfy all components of the state basic skills requirement by passing all three subtests of CSET: Multiple Subjects and the CSET: Writing Skills test.
Subject matter competence requirement: All candidates who need to meet the subject matter competence requirement for a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential must earn passing scores on CSET: Multiple Subjects. Candidates applying for a Single Subject Teaching Credential or an Education Specialist Instruction Credential may pass the appropriate examination(s) of the CSET as one method of satisfying the subject matter competence requirement.

RICA Reading Instruction Competence Assessment

This assessment is a requirement for Multiple Subject candidates and is taken during the two-year Intern Program coursework. The purpose of the RICA is to ensure that California-trained 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.

The set of teacher knowledge and skills described in the RICA Content Specifications and reflected in the RICA is organized into the following five domains:

Domain 1: Planning, Organizing, and Managing Reading Instruction Based on Ongoing Assessment
Domain 2: Word Analysis
Domain 3: Fluency
Domain 4: Vocabulary, Academic Language, and Background Knowledge
Domain 5: Comprehension

U.S. Constitution Requirements

The U.S. Constitution requirement may be met by coursework or a college-level examination completed at a regionally accredited community college or four-year college or university. Most California-prepared candidates complete a U.S. Constitution course or equivalent examination while earning their bachelor’s degree. Completion of this course satisfies the U.S. Constitution requirement for a teaching credential. Out-of-state prepared teachers are not held to the U.S. Constitution requirement.

Many local colleges offer an online test to satisfy these requirements.