APPLICATION CHECKLIST
Spring 2026 applicants: Please review our new recommendation requirements (Item #10).
The following documents must be submitted before an application is considered complete. Only complete files are reviewed for admission into the program.
1. BEFORE YOU APPLY
Complete prerequisite classes. You can view prerequisite information on our Admissions webpage under Application Process table.
2. Official transcripts are required from every college and university attended (including community colleges) and must be opened and uploaded into your application.
Non-CSUF students must also send an additional set of official transcripts to the CSUF Office of Admissions. If you attended CSUF as an undergraduate student, the Office of Admissions will have those transcripts on file.
3. Accredited Degree
You must have a Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited university. The university must be accredited during the years in which you earned your degree. Please see resources below for checking your degree:
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Check your college/university accreditation status.
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Check to see if the CTC accepts this accrediting body.
- Degrees completed outside of U.S. For applicants who obtained a bachelor's degree outside of the United States, please review guidelines regarding CTC Foreign Transcript Evaluation (CL-635).
4. Certificate of Clearance or 30-Day Sub Permit.
Applicants must upload evidence of a Certificate of Clearance (COC) with their application. You can apply for a Certificate of Clearance from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). This document will be emailed to you after you submit an application to CTC, pay a fee, and complete a DOJ and FBI background check.
How to Apply for your Certificate of Clearance (COC).
5. Negative TB test results, which can include a TB skin test, risk assessment questionnaire, or chest x-ray.
The document must show your name and the date the test was read. TB test must be completed in the US only. Test results are valid for 4 years and must remain valid throughout the program. If you have previously tested positive, you must complete the Risk Assessment Questionnaire
6. Proof of overview attendance
Proof of overview attendance via a screenshot of the follow-up email received after attending the overview.
7. Program application fee receipt
The program application fee receipt is separate from the Cal State Apply fee. COE Payment Portal Link
8. Basic Skills Requirement (BSR)
As of 6/29/24, a Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education meets this requirement. For more information, please visit Basic Skills Requirement information.
9. Subject Matter Requirement (SMR)
You must submit documentation that verifies that you have the demonstrated subject matter competence to teach multiple subjects. There are different ways you can meet this requirement. For more information, please visit the Subject Matter Information page.
10. Three Recommendations (2 faculty, 1 child/youth experience) are required for both the credential only and combined program.
"Faculty" are professors who taught the applicant in a college-level course. "Child/Youth" recommenders are individuals who have observed applicant working with children or youth in a formal setting. Applicants must provide recommenders' names and contact information in the CSU Apply portal. CSU Apply will send recommenders a link to a form that they must complete.
Credential only applicants: Applicants applying to the credentialonly program who graduated over 4 years prior to the term they intend to begin the program are eligible to have a recommendation completed by an alternative to faculty, such as a supervisor or employer.
Combined applicants: Applicants applying to the combined program must submit two faculty recommendations and 1 child/youth recommendation.
11. CPR certification that includes Child/Infant (Pediatric) and adult modules and meets the criteria of the American Heart Association (AHA) or the American Red Cross (ARC).
CPR in-person or online are allowed. CPR online must follow the guidelines set by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association in order to be acceptable. CPR certification must remain valid until completion of the program. Here is more CPR info with location options.
12. Proof of U.S. Constitution completion, whether through a passed college course with a C or higher, AP Government or U.S. History exam, or the U.S. Constitution exam.
Graduation from a CSU fulfills this requirement. Non-CSU students may need to fulfill this requirement on their own. Here is more information on the U.S. Constitution exam.
U.S. Constitution Requirement Exam Information
| College/University |
Fee/Book |
Additional Information |
| CSU San Bernardino 5500 University Parkway San Bernardino, CA 92407 (909) 537-5038 or (909) 537-5976 |
$175 - U.S. Constitution online preparation module and exam. This option included the online module review, one attempt on the exam, and scoring of the exam attempt $100 - U.S. Constitution Challenge Exam Only. Includes one exam attempt and the scoring of the exam attempt. Recommended Text: American Government (eighth edition), by James Q. Wilson and John J. Dilulio, Jr.(Chapters 2 and 11), and The Founding of the Democratic Republic by Martin Diamond. (Chapters 2, 3, 4) |
For more detailed registration and testing information, please visit their website For information on scheduling for a specific test option or if you have additional questions that are unanswered on the website, please contact the CSUSB Professional and Continuing Education staff at (909) 537-5976 or email
|
| CSU Dominguez Hills 1000 East Victoria Street Carson, CA 90747 (310) 243-3435 |
The exam fee is $25.00. Parking is $10.00. Recommended Text: an introductory American government and politics textbook (high school or college level) published in the last five years. Chapters related to: the Constitution, Federalism, Congress, President, Courts, and Civil Rights/Liberties should be the focus for review. Twenty-five Lessons in Citizenship
IS
NOT an appropriate text for this exam |
Exam will be offered once per month during the fall and spring academic terms, August through May. Times and dates may vary. For additional information, please visit their website. For any information not answered on their website, please contact the Department of Political Science at CSUDH at (310) 243-3435. |
| Notre Dame de Namur 1500 Ralston Avenue Belmont, California 94002 |
Because the exam is completely online, the cost is $85.00 payable online with credit card, PayPal, or PayPal e-check |
For additional information, please visit their website . For information unanswered on their website, contact: (650) 508-3545 |
13. GPA
For Credential-only, GPA must be at least 2.5 cumulative or 2.75 in the last 60 semester units attempted.
For Combined applicants, minimum GPA is 3.0. The application review process allows us to consider experiences, attributes and other academic metrics as well as the value an applicant would contribute to learning and teaching.
14. JEIE Admission Statement
The JEIE Admission Statement needs to be 2-3 double space pages in length and be in response to one of these prompts.
