In California, most Teacher Preparation Programs are offered upon the completion of a Bachelor's Degree. The basic premise is that students spend four years as undergraduates learning the subject matter they wish to teach, followed by a year or more in a teaching credential program learning the pedagogy, or how to teach the content they have mastered. For a complete explanation of the process and the various areas, please review the publications listed on the left and visit the additional Web sites listed on the right.
Besides the links listed above, view the Applying to Teaching Credential Programs video available through the Advising Services Video Player.
All Teacher Credential Programs are regulated by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), which provides statewide standards and prerequisites. Individual programs, however, often have additional prerequisites. Therefore, after reviewing the information available on our handouts, it is wise to also check the prerequisites for each individual program.
If you are uncertain about your future educational path or if an advanced degree or teaching credential is the right choice, take some time to read over the publication, Confused About Your Life and Future?
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