California Educator Exam and Performance Assessment Fee Waiver 

The California State Budget included the approval of the California Educator Exam and Performance Assessment fee waivers. This means that most California Educator Exam and Performance Assessment fees are now waived for eligible candidates as of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 or until funds are used. For eligible candidates who register for an exam or performance assessment beginning July 1, 2022, refunds will be automatically provided at a future date, subject to approval by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. You must have a valid California mailing address, less than 2 unexcused absences from a scheduled appointment, and no more than 5 concurrent registrations to qualify for waived fees. Your fee waiver eligibility will be revoked if you are absent from two test appointments in which you used fee waivers to pay the assessment registration fees. If you lose your eligibility for this reason and need to test again, you will need to pay your registration fees using a credit, debit, or check card to test in the future.

Waived fees are now available in the registration system for the following California assessments and examinations:

Performance Assessments

• California Administrator Performance Assessment (CalAPA)
• California Teaching Performance Assessment (CalTPA)
• Education Specialist California Teaching Performance Assessment (EdSp CalTPA)

Examinations

• California Basic Educational Skills Test™ (CBEST)
• California Preliminary Administrative Credential Examination (CPACE)
• California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET)
• California Teacher of English Learners (CTEL)
• Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA)

Fees will be automatically waived for eligible candidates when they register for a performance assessment.

For more information about waived fees, eligible exams and assessments, and individual eligibility requirements, please visit the FAQs posted here.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

•  Pearson VUE owned and operated test centers: 

Masks are required any time the CDC rates the area as “high” COVID-19 community level.  The CDC classification is updated weekly.  To find out if a mask will be required at your appointment that is scheduled at a Pearson VUE owned and operated test center, check the requirements for your test center on Pearson’s COVID-19 webpage.

•  Pearson VUE partner centers:

 Mask requirements may be stated on your appointment reminder email, or you may call the test center directly to verify their requirements.

 Vaccination Status

• In compliance with federal, state, local, or tribal guidelines, some test centers may require proof of vaccination status.

Candidates who are unwilling to comply with mask or proof of vaccination status requirements at any test center will be refused testing.  Refunds will not be issued.