Basic Skills Requirement

The California Education Code and Title 5 Regulations specify, in most cases, that applicants for a credential, certificate, or permit to serve in the public schools of California must verify basic skills proficiency before the credential, certificate, or permit will be issued. For Preliminary Teaching Credential candidates, the basic skills requirement must be met prior serving as an intern. However, institutions may require the basic skills requirement prior to program enrollment. Contact the college or university education department for more information. The basic skills requirement may also be required as a condition of employment. Applicants should contact the school district where they are considering employment for more information.

Please see Basic Skills Requirement (CL-667) opens in a new window for more information on meeting the basic skills requirement. In summary, candidates may satisfy the basic skills requirement through one of eight available options:

  1. Pass the CBEST.
  2. Pass all three subtests of CSET: Multiple Subjects plus the CSET: Writing Skills.
  3. Pass the CSU Early Assessment Program or the CSU Placement Examinations.
  4. Achieve qualifying scores on the College Board SAT or ACT examination.
  5. Achieve minimum acceptable scores on the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examinations: a score of 3 or higher on the College Board AP English and a score of 3 or higher on the AP Calculus or the AP Statistics exam.
  6. Pass a basic skills examination from another state.
  7. Meet the basic skills requirement through qualifying coursework in reading, writing, and mathematics.
  8. Meet the basic skills requirement through a combination of applicable courses and qualifying exams.

Sections from different examination options may not be combined; candidates must pass one option in its entirety. However, candidates using only the CSU examinations to meet the basic skills requirement may combine scores from the EAP and the EPT/ELM examinations as long as the candidate passes a section of English and a section of mathematics. Regardless of the option used, once a basic skills examination is passed, the score is valid indefinitely.

Please see Coded Correspondence 15–03 PDF document, dated March 10, 2015, on the CTC website for more information about these different examination options.