California Teaching Credential and Education Degree Programs

Pacific Oaks College offers California teaching credentialing programs for educators at every stage, from those working toward their first Preliminary Education Specialist Teaching Credential – Mild/Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) to credentialed teachers seeking an online TK certificate to qualify for Transitional Kindergarten classrooms.

Whether you’re starting your credential journey or adding a specialization, our programs are designed around California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) requirements.

Teaching Credentialing Programs

Explore California Teaching Credentialing and Continuing Education programs at Pacific Oaks! Learn about state of California requirements and certifications today.

This includes programs leading to the Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, the Preliminary Education Specialist Teaching Credential – Mild/Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) , and the Online Transitional Kindergarten Certificate, a fully online TK certificate program for credentialed teachers who need to fulfill California’s 24-unit early childhood education requirement.

Any credential program must be approved by the state of California, and once completed, students must pass examinations to receive certification.

We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of teacher training. We follow a progressive teaching credentialing program model that prepares students to think critically about diversity, culture, and power. At our campus, students learn to apply these principles in the classroom and uncover a child’s true learning potential.

Reports indicate that California is experiencing a record shortage of qualified teachers. Current estimates from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing show that California will need an additional 100,000 teachers in the next decade. California has even enacted a new law to ease the teaching shortage.

How Do I Become a Teacher in California?

If you want to teach in a K–12 classroom, you may consider applying to a teacher preparation program that can recommend you for a teaching credential.

California’s Two-Tier Credential Structure

The state of California has a two-tier credential structure. A preliminary/level I credential is the first document issued after a candidate meets basic teaching credential requirements through their teacher preparation program.

Pacific Oaks College offers two preliminary credentials:

The Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential qualifies graduates to teach in preschool, grades K–12, or in classes organized primarily for adults in a self-contained classroom.
The Preliminary Education Specialist Teaching Credential – Mild/Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) authorizes candidates to teach students with mild to moderate disabilities in grades K–12 and in classes organized primarily for adults through age 22.

The preliminary credential is valid for up to five years, during which a candidate must obtain a clear/level II credential. More information on completing the second level is available through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

All California public school teachers must have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an institutionally accredited institution to earn a teaching credential. However, you do not need to have a bachelor’s degree in order to begin the teaching credential program. Pacific Oaks College offers “blended” programs that allow candidates to complete their undergraduate degree and credential simultaneously and in less time than if they pursued these objectives separately. The two “blended” programs available are the B.A. in Early Childhood Education: Elementary Education and the B.A. in Early Childhood Education: Elementary Education and Special Education (MS & SPED/MMSN).

Required Exams for Teacher Credentialing in California

In addition to completing a bachelor’s degree, candidates must pass the following exams to be recommended for a California teaching credential:

CBEST – a test on reading, writing and math
CSET – a subject-matter competency exam
Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA)
California Teaching Performance Assessments (CalTPA) – four assessments required for Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential candidates

For more information on how Pacific Oaks College administers the CalTPA please refer to our TPA Policy.

Teaching Transitional Kindergarten (TK) in California

Credentialed teachers in California who want to teach Transitional Kindergarten (TK) must also meet an additional requirement set by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC): at least 24 semester units in early childhood education or child development.
Pacific Oaks offers a fully online TK certificate program designed for credentialed teachers to meet this requirement and teach TK in California public schools.

Title II Reports for passage rates of license examination

Pacific Oaks College complies with all federal government reporting requirements pursuant to Section 207 of the Higher Education Act Title II passed by Congress in 1998. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the California Student Aid Commission require a link to the most current year passing rates of the license examination according to AB 2086. Please see the California Title II Data Dashboards for information on the most recent academic year for which data is available.

Teaching Credentialing and Education Degree Programs Offered at Pacific Oaks

Joint Degree/Credentialing Programs

These programs combine an undergraduate or graduate degree with a California preliminary teaching credential, allowing candidates to complete both simultaneously.

Stand-Alone California Teaching Credential Programs

Already hold a bachelor’s degree? These stand-alone credential programs are designed for candidates who want to earn their California teaching credential without completing an additional degree.

Bilingual Authorization Credentials

Careers in Education

With the teacher shortage nationwide, and in California, career opportunities in education and early childhood education are growing. Once you’ve obtained your degree and your credentialing, you could be eligible to apply for the following jobs:

Elementary School Teacher in California—including kindergarten and grades 1-12
Teacher for students with mild to moderate disabilities in preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1-12 in classroom settings as well as adults through the age of 22
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Teacher, one of California’s fastest-growing teaching roles, as the state expands TK to serve all eligible four-year-olds statewide

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California has the highest teacher employment rate in the country.

Can I Get My Teaching Credentials Online?

Most Pacific Oaks teaching credentialing programs, including the Preliminary Multiple Subject and Education Specialist credentials, are delivered in person at our Pasadena, California, campus, as observation, fieldwork, and student teaching hours must be completed in California classrooms.

However, the Online Transitional Kindergarten Certificate is offered fully online for credentialed California teachers who need to complete the 24-unit early childhood education requirement to teach TK.

Teaching Credential Virtual Information Session Video

Watch our recorded information session to learn about the teaching credentialing process for elementary and special education teachers in California, including how Pacific Oaks’ B.A., M.A., and stand-alone programs prepare you for your credential and your classroom.

Hear about our approach to preparing you for your career and supporting you to become a culturally minded role model for your students.

Credentials Office

Students with questions about California preliminary teaching credential requirements, student teaching, or the intern credential, should visit the Credentials Office page or contact the Credential Analyst at [email protected].

All inquiries from prospective students should be directed to Admissions.

Teacher Credentialing and Education Degree Programs