State hub

How to become a teacher in California

Prep providers

Completers

12,750

Newly licensed

17,328

Colleges (IPEDS)

668

Credential rules change. Confirm current requirements with California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Steps drawn from the state's data

Earn a bachelor's degree. At least one initial credential requires one.
Complete a teacher preparation program. California has 99 Title II providers.
Complete clinical experience such as student teaching.
Pass the tests the state requires (Title II reports that tests are required, not which ones).
Complete a background check or fingerprinting.
Apply to California Commission on Teacher Credentialing for an initial credential, such as Career Technical Education - Preliminary; Child Development Permit; Education Specialist Instruction Credential - Intern; Education Specialist Instruction Credential - Preliminary.
Career changers can use one of 2 alternative routes instead of a traditional program.

California teacher certification Alternative routes

Teacher preparation providers in California

Provider	Program types	Enrollment	Completers
Alder Graduate School of Education	Traditional	442	373
Alliant International University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	1,570	257
Azusa Pacific University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	472	199
Bay Area School of Enterprise(REACH Inst)	Alternative, not IHE-based	222	26
Biola University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	266	53
CA State Polytechnic Univ.-Pomona	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	588	255
California Baptist University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	614	118
California Lutheran University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	202	69
California Polytechnic State Univ.-SLO	Traditional	115	97
CALState Teach	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	1,093	511
Chapman University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	68	61
Claremont Graduate University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	126	39
Concordia University	Traditional	149	66
CSU Bakersfield	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	1,001	315
CSU Channel Islands	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	144	113
CSU Chico	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	358	256
CSU Dominguez Hills	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	677	180
CSU East Bay	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	416	308
CSU Fresno	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	813	448
CSU Fullerton	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	615	203
CSU Long Beach	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	1,469	581
CSU Los Angeles	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	853	284
CSU Monterey Bay	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	153	73
CSU Northridge	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	1,012	369
CSU Sacramento	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	346	232
CSU San Bernardino	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	809	375
CSU San Marcos	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	186	133
CSU Stanislaus	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	612	274
Davis Joint Unified School District	Alternative, not IHE-based	60	14
Dominican University of California	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	73	18
Fortune School	Alternative, not IHE-based	51	30
Fresno Pacific University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	537	148
Hebrew Union College	Traditional	8	7
High Tech High	Alternative, not IHE-based	109	54
High Tech High Graduate School of Education	Traditional	23	21
Hope International University	Traditional	86	21
Humboldt State University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	92	33
Humphreys University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	160	41
King-Chavez Academy of Excellence	Alternative, not IHE-based	3	1
Kings County Office of Education	Alternative, not IHE-based	85	24
La Sierra University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	60	12
Lake County Office of Education	Alternative, not IHE-based	23	9
Los Angeles County Office of Education	Alternative, not IHE-based	80	68
Los Angeles Pacific University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	253	30
Los Angeles USD	Alternative, not IHE-based	1,108	232
Loyola Marymount University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	783	335
Merced County Office of Education	Alternative, not IHE-based	68	14
Mount Saint Mary's University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	78	23
National University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	5,574	817
Notre Dame de Namur University	Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based	94	11

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About teacher preparation in California

In the academic year 2023-24, a total of 158 Institution and Program Report Cards (IPRCs) were submitted to the U.S. Department of Education. Teacher preparation programs at Institution of Higher Education (IHE) with alternative routes are required to submit two separate reports: one for the Traditional route only and a second report for the Alternative route only. There were 81 IHE Traditional route reports, 59 IHE-based Alternative route (University Intern) reports, and 18 not IHE-based Alternative route (District Intern, LEA) reports.