You want to become a teacher in California. But before you start assigning homework and scheduling tests for your students, you’ll have to take a test yourself.
What is the CPACE Test?
Passing the CPACE (California Preliminary Administrative Credential Examination) Test is necessary for obtaining your Administrative Service Credentials. These credentials certify you to teach preschool, grades K-12, and adults.
The CPACE is required by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) and is distributed by Evaluation Systems, Pearson. Learn more about the Five-Year Preliminary Credential here. When you apply for the credentials, you must submit your passing exam scores within ten years of taking the test.
If you know you want to get your 5-Year Preliminary Credential and teach in California, it’s time to hit the books on the CPACE test.
What does the CPACE test entail?
The CPACE covers six domains:
- Visionary leadership
- Instructional leadership
- School improvement leadership
- Professional learning and growth leadership
- Organizational and systems leadership
- Community leadership
The CPACE includes two subtests that touch on these areas. You must pass both the Content and the Performance subtests to pass the exam overall. A minimum passing score is 220 per test; you receive your results within five weeks of the exam.
CPACE—Content includes 70 multiple-choice questions and three written assignments. The written section, also called the constructed-response section, asks you to provide explanations and strategies for different problems at schools. You have 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete the Content subtest. This subtest costs $294 to take.
CPACE—Performance includes two performance modules. Tasks include watching a video of a teacher and analyzing his or her effectiveness and reviewing materials about a school and writing up an analysis of the leadership. You have 4 hours to complete the Performance subtest. This subtest costs $358.
For more information on the CPACE, visit the CTC site.
Interested in taking the CPACE test?
The CPACE test is just part of the requirements for credentials. Discover the full picture of teacher credentialing requirements in California here.
At Pacific Oaks, we’re dedicated to helping our students find success. That’s why we want everyone to understand teacher credentialing and how our programs fit into this path.
If you’ve passed the CPACE test, you’re on your way to gaining your California Preliminary Education Specialist Credential. Pacific Oaks offers a program specifically for this credential online and at our Pasadena campus location. Learn more about this special credential program now.
Early childhood education programs
Begin your career in childhood education at Pacific Oaks with one of our B.A., M.A., or Certificate programs online and on campus. See below for the comprehensive list of programs:
- B.A. in Early Childhood Education (Pasadena, Online)
- B.A. in Early Childhood Education: Trauma Studies (Pasadena, Online)
- B.A. in Early Childhood Education: STEAM (Pasadena, Online)
- B.A. Early Childhood Education: Elementary Education and Special Education (Pasadena, Online)
- B.A. Early Childhood Education: Elementary Education (Pasadena, Online)
- M.A. in Early Childhood Education (Pasadena, Online)
- M.A. in Early Childhood Education: Organizational Leadership and Management (Pasadena, Online)
- M.A. in Early Childhood Education: Trauma Studies (Pasadena, Online)
- Early Childhood Education Certificate in STEAM (Pasadena)
Learn more about Pacific Oaks College
If you would like to learn more about the academic programs available at Pacific Oaks, fill out the form below to request more information, or you can apply today through our application portal.
