Apply for the Teaching Credential

Qualifying exams, coursework, or a combination of both exams and coursework may be used to fulfill the BSR. For more information on the CTC’s BSR guidelines, visit Basic Skills Requirement (CL-667). Please use the following information to determine how you will fulfill the BSR:

Exams: 

Qualifying exam scores for the SAT, ACT, AP, CBEST, or CSET Multiple Subjects + Writing Skills exams may be used to fulfill the BSR. To indicate which of your exam scores will be used to fulfill BSR, please complete the BSR Evaluation Form. Qualifying exam scores can be found on BSR (CL- 667), under Appendix A.

Coursework: 

Qualifying coursework includes the following:

• For reading proficiency: a course in critical thinking, literature, philosophy, reading, rhetoric, or textual analysis.
• For writing proficiency: a course in composition, English, rhetoric, written communication, or writing.
• For mathematics proficiency: a course in algebra, geometry, mathematics, quantitative reasoning, or statistics.

Coursework may be used to meet the BSR by providing necessary official transcripts to SMC. The transcripts must show passage of courses in reading, writing, and mathematics as outlined below. Courses must have been taken at a regionally-accredited college or university for credit, passed with a grade of B- or better, be degree applicable, and be at least 3 semester units (or 4 quarter units). Qualifying coursework does not include professional development, continuing education units, in-service training, or workshops. To indicate what coursework will be used to fulfill BSR, please complete the BSR Evaluation Form.

The Credentials Office uses Saint Mary's Core Curriculum and Transfer Equivalency System (TES) as a guide for courses that meet the BSR framework. If a course taken at an outside institution fulfills the SMC Core Curriculum requirement in Reading, Writing, or Math, then that course will satisfy the requirement for BSR. A course that does not fall within the indicated areas may still qualify with additional letter of explanation. A letter from the registrar or relevant department chair of the college or university must state that a course passed by the applicant covered reading, writing, or mathematics at the same level as one of the listed courses. Such a letter could also attest that a single course sufficiently indicates proficiency in reading and writing combined.

Combination (Exam + Coursework):

To fulfill the BSR using the combination option, candidates must provide official CBEST, SAT, ACT, or AP results and Official Transcripts for qualifying coursework. To indicate which exam(s) and coursework will be used to fulfill BSR, please complete the BSR Evaluation Form. The Credentials Office will only accept official documents for this requirement. Credential candidates must be prepared to order official transcripts from their undergraduate institution and have them delivered to either of the following addresses:

For e-transcripts: smcadmit@stmarys-ca.edu 

For hard copy transcripts: 1928 St. Mary’s Rd., PMB 4350, Moraga, CA 94575-4350

Qualifying exams or degree majors may be used to fulfill the SMCR. Please use the following information to determine how you will fulfill the SMCR. If you are unsure about whether your degree major qualifies for fulfilling SMCR, please email the Credentials Office at credential@stmarys-ca.edu. Additional information about the SMCR can be found on the CTC's Subject Matter Requirements, and CTC's Educator Credentialing Assessments under California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET).

Exams: 

Multiple Subject 

1. CSET: Multiple Subjects I, II, and III

Single Subject

1. CSET subject area that matches credential subject area

Education Specialist

1. CSET: Multiple Subjects I, II, and III
2. Or any CSET subject area in which the CTC grants credentials 

Degree Majors:

Multiple Subject 

1. Liberal Studies Degree.
2. Interdisciplinary Studies Degree that covers the CTC’s Subject Matter Domains for Multiple Subjects.  
3. The Justice, Community, and Leadership Degree from Saint Mary’s will fulfill the SMCR.

Single Subject

1. A degree major that matches exactly to the credential area. 

Education Specialist

1. Candidates may use any of the degree major options listed above.

The Constitution requirement can be met through passing a college or university examination, or completing undergraduate coursework that covers the principles of the Constitution with a grade of B- or better. Candidates who have completed a Bachelor’s degree at SMC in JCL, or a Bachelor’s degree from any of the Cal State University campuses, have completed the Constitution requirement through their coursework. It is the student's responsibility to order an official transcript from the institution at which the Constitution course was taken or to provide an official exam result to the Credential Office before applying for the credential. If you have completed an undergraduate course that covered the principles of the Constitution, please send an email that includes the course number, course title, and institution at which it was taken to credential@stmarys-ca.edu. For more information about the Constitution requirement, please visit the CTC’s CC 11-01.

Online Exam

Candidates may complete following online courses and exams to fulfill the Constitution requirement: 

• Notre Dame de Namur University: US Constitution Exam
• UCLA Extension: Online US Constitution Exam
• UCSD Extension: US Constitution Preparation Course and Examination

Coursework

Courses in American Government or U.S. History that cover the period prior to the year 1865 will fulfill the requirement. Previously completed college-level coursework is acceptable. Alternatively, candidates may complete coursework at SMC or a community college to fulfill the requirement.

For more information about the Constitution requirement, please visit the CTC’s CC 11-01.

The CTC Credential Record requirement may be fulfilled by providing proof of holding any of the following valid CTC documents. Students may upload a screenshot of their CTC account showing their name, document number, and valid dates or receipts for any of these items to fulfill the CTC Credential Record requirement:

• CTC Certificate of Clearance 
• 30-Day Substitute Permit
• Children’s Center Permit
• Activity Supervisor Clearance Certificate
• Variable Term Waiver
• CTC Credential

Please watch the video provided at the bottom of the CTC's Online Application Information webpage to apply for the Certificate of Clearance. For locations that provide Live-Scan fingerprinting services, please visit the DOJ's Live Scans webpage, and select your county of residence. After completing your Live-Scan, email a copy of your Form 41-LS receipt to the CTC at fingerprints@ctc.ca.gov. 

For more informaiton, please visit CTC's Fingerprint Information webpage. 

CPR Certificates that cover Infant, Child, and Adult CPR, show the student’s name, valid dates, course title, training organization, and appropriate signatures will fulfill the requirement. Trainings completed in-person or online are acceptable. 

Students may upload a PDF of their official digital CPR certification or a photocopy of their official CPR certification to fulfill the requirement. CPR trainings must cover infant, child, and adult CPR in order to fulfill the requirement. The Credentials Office will reject documents if they are unable to verify coverage of all three areas as well as any document that contains eligible text. The CTC only requires CPR certification for candidates applying for the Preliminary Teaching Credentials.

Many students complete the American Red Cross' online training for Adult, Child, and Baby First Aid/CPR/AED, but students may select use a training of their choice as long as it covers adult, child, and infant CPR. 

Unofficial SMC Transcripts showing completed program coursework will fulfill the Final SMC Transcript requirement. Unofficial transcripts may be retrieved from GaelXpress or the Registrar’s Office through the Unofficial Transcript Request form. 

Official results showing your name, dates, and passing scores for the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) will fulfill the RICA requirement. A PDF of your official results can be found in your CTC Educator Credentialing Assessments account. 

*RICA is only required for MSTE and SPED candidates.

*RICA may be deferred to the Clear Credential if testing was impacted by test center closures. This deferral expires on June 30, 2022. 

Official results showing your name, dates, and passing scores for the EdTPA will fulfill the EdTPA requirement. A PDF of your official results can be found in your CTC Educator Credentialing Assessments account.

*EdTPA is only required for MSTE and SSTE candidates. EdTPA will become a requirement for new SPED candidates starting Fall 2022. 

*EdTPA may be deferred to the Clear Credential if completion was impacted by school closures. This deferral expires on August 31, 2022.