Bilingual Authorization

California Education Code Sections 44253.3 and 44253.4 require the CTC to issue authorizations that allow the holder to provide specialized instruction to English learners (EL). The new authorizations are the Bilingual Authorization and the English Learner Authorization.

Bilingual Authorizations are available for the following languages:

  • Arabic
  • Armenian
  • Cantonese
  • Farsi
  • Filipino
  • French
  • German
  • Hebrew
  • Hindi
  • Hmong
  • Japanese
  • Khmer
  • Korean
  • Mandarin
  • Portuguese (see "Requirements for a Bilingual Authorization in Portuguese")
  • Punjabi
  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • Vietnamese

About the English Learner Authorization. With the implementation of Assembly Bill 1871, effective July 1, 2009, either an English Learner Authorization may be added to the selected valid prerequisite credential or a CLAD™ Certificate issued when minimum requirements have been met.

The English Learner Authorization and CLAD Certificate authorize two services.

  1. Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English (in the subjects, grade levels, and programs authorized by the prerequisite credential or permit)
  2. Instruction for English Language Development (in grades 12 and below, including preschool, and in classes organized primarily for adults)

The English Learner Authorization and CLAD Certificate also cover classes authorized by other valid, nonemergency credentials held, as specified in Education Code Section 44253.3.

For information about earning an English Learner Authorization or a CLAD Certificate, refer to the CTC's website at https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl628c.pdf link opens in a new window.

Testing program transition information. Effective fall 2007, specific CSET: World Languages subtests replaced Tests 4, 5, and 6 of the BCLAD Examinations as the required assessments for individuals who wish to use the exam route to earn a Bilingual Authorization. Individuals who wish to use the exam route and have not yet passed any BCLAD test will need to take the appropriate CSET: World Languages subtests, as indicated in "Requirements for a Bilingual Authorization" below.

Candidates who have previously passed one or more tests of the BCLAD Examinations will be able to use their BCLAD Examinations scores within the applicable period of score validity to meet requirements for a Bilingual Authorization. The period of score validity for the BCLAD Examinations is seven years; the period of score validity for the examinations of the CSET is ten years. Candidates may combine scores from the BCLAD Examinations and the CSET: World Languages as necessary to meet Bilingual Authorization requirements.

Candidates who have not yet passed one or more tests of the BCLAD Examinations must pass the appropriate CSET subtests as indicated in the table below.

BCLAD Test Not Yet Passed CSET Subtest to Take
BCLAD Test 4: Methodology for Primary-Language Instruction CSET: World Languages Subtest IV (250)
(assesses the methodology of bilingual education)
BCLAD Test 5: The Culture of Emphasis CSET: World Languages Subtest V
(assesses bilingual cultural knowledge)
Armenian CSET: Armenian Subtest V (252)
Chinese CSET: Chinese Subtest V (253)
(This test is for both the Cantonese and Mandarin authorizations.)
Filipino CSET: Filipino Subtest V (255)
Hebrew CSET: Hebrew Subtest V (266)
Hindi CSET: Hindi Subtest V (267)
Hmong CSET: Hmong Subtest V (259)
Khmer CSET: Khmer Subtest V (261)
Korean CSET: Korean Subtest V (262)
Latino CSET: Spanish Subtest V (258)
Punjabi CSET: Punjabi Subtest V (263)
Vietnamese CSET: Vietnamese Subtest V (265)
BCLAD Test 6: The Language of Emphasis (Test 6 consists of four components: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing. If you have passed some but not all four components, you must pass the entire CSET subtest.) CSET: World Languages Subtest II or III
(assesses language and communication skills)
Armenian CSET: Armenian Subtest II (195)
Cantonese CSET: Cantonese Subtest III (204)
Filipino CSET: Filipino Subtest II (191)
Hmong CSET: Hmong Subtest II (199)
Khmer CSET: Khmer Subtest II (201)
Korean CSET: Korean Subtest III (162)
Mandarin CSET: Mandarin Subtest III (165)
Punjabi CSET: Punjabi Subtest III (168)
Spanish CSET: Spanish Subtest III (147)
Vietnamese CSET: Vietnamese Subtest III (171)

For more information, refer to the CTC's Coded Correspondence 06-0024, available from the CTC's website at www.ctc.ca.gov/notices/coded-2006.html link opens in a new window.

Requirements for a Bilingual Authorization. To earn a Bilingual Authorization, you must

  1. have an appropriate prerequisite credential or permit;
  2. satisfy one of the following:
    • have passed within the last ten years all three California Teacher of English Learners® (CTEL®) Examination subtests (see the CTEL certification requirements)
    • have passed within the last seven years CLAD/BCLAD Tests 1, 2, and 3 (these tests are no longer given)
    • hold an LDS Certificate or a Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential with CLAD Emphasis
    • hold or verify eligibility for a CLAD Certificate, a Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential with an English Learner Authorization, or an Education Specialist Teaching Credential with an English Learner Authorization
    • successfully completed a CTC-approved CTEL program
  3. have passing scores from within the last ten years on the appropriate CSET subtests, as identified below (if you have already passed Test 4, 5, or 6 of the BCLAD Examinations, see the testing program transition information above); and
  4. successfully complete a CTC-approved Bilingual program.

The CSET subtests required for Bilingual Authorization candidates are listed by language in the table below.

  • In all cases, the first subtest listed (Subtest I, Subtest II, or Subtest III, depending on the language) assesses language and communication skills. Please note that the language and communication skills subtest that can be used toward a Bilingual Authorization is the same language and communication skills subtest that can be used toward a Single Subject Teaching Credential in a world language.
  • Subtest IV does not focus on any specific language (the same test applies to all languages) and assesses the methodology of bilingual education.
  • Subtest V assesses bilingual cultural knowledge (the same test is used for Cantonese and Mandarin).
Bilingual Authorization Area CSET Subtests Required
Arabic Arabic Subtest II* (193)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Arabic Subtest V (251)
Armenian Armenian Subtest II* (195)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Armenian Subtest V (252)
Cantonese Cantonese Subtest III* (204)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Chinese Subtest V (253)
Farsi Farsi Subtest II* (197)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Farsi Subtest V (254)
Filipino Filipino Subtest II* (191)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Filipino Subtest V (255)
French French Subtest III* (150)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
French Subtest V (256)
German German Subtest III* (153)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
German Subtest V (257)
Hebrew Hebrew Subtest I* (301)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Hebrew Subtest V (266)
Hindi Hindi Subtest I* (304)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Hindi Subtest V (267)
Hmong Hmong Subtest II* (199)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Hmong Subtest V (259)
Japanese Japanese Subtest III* (159)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Japanese Subtest V (260)
Khmer Khmer Subtest II* (201)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Khmer Subtest V (261)
Korean Korean Subtest III* (162)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Korean Subtest V (262)
Mandarin Mandarin Subtest III* (165)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Chinese Subtest V (253)
Punjabi Punjabi Subtest III* (168)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Punjabi Subtest V (263)
Russian Russian Subtest III* (156)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Russian Subtest V (264)
Spanish Spanish Subtest III* (147)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Spanish Subtest V (258)
Vietnamese Vietnamese Subtest III* (171)
World Languages Subtest IV (250)
Vietnamese Subtest V (265)

*For Bilingual Authorization only, passage of this subtest is not required if (1) you hold a valid, nonemergency Single Subject or Standard Secondary Teaching Credential with a major in the language authorized by the Bilingual Authorization you are seeking or (2) you hold a three-year or higher degree from a foreign institution in which all instruction is delivered in the language authorized by the Bilingual Authorization you are seeking and the institution is equivalent in status to a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the United States.

Requirements for a Bilingual Authorization in Portuguese. To earn a Bilingual Authorization in Portuguese, you must

  1. have an appropriate prerequisite credential or permit;
  2. satisfy one of the following:
    • have passed within the last ten years all three California Teacher of English Learners® (CTEL®) Examination subtests (see the CTEL certification requirements);
    • have passed within the last seven years CLAD/BCLAD Tests 1, 2, and 3 (these tests are no longer given);
    • hold an LDS Certificate or a Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential with CLAD Emphasis;
    • hold or verify eligibility for a CLAD Certificate, a Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential with an English Learner Authorization, or an Education Specialist Instruction Credential with an English Learner Authorization;
    • successfully completed a CTC-approved CTEL program;
  3. have passing scores from within the last ten years on CSET: World Languages Subtest IV or from within the last seven years on BCLAD Test 4 (this test is no longer given);
  4. have passing scores from within the last seven years on the two Portuguese culture and language tests previously administered by the Merced County Office of Education. California State University Stanislaus is now the approved assessor agency for Portuguese. For information about test dates and registration for the Portuguese culture and the language assessments, contact:
  5. Elmano Costa, Ed.D.
    Center for Portuguese Studies
    California State University Stanislaus
    One University Circle
    Turlock, CA 95382

    Email: ecosta@csustan.edu
    Phone: (209) 667-3638
    Fax: (209) 667-3358
  6. successfully complete a CTC-approved Bilingual program.