CA Teaching Credential?

April 5, 2012 9:10 AM

Do you have experience getting a California teaching credential as a private school teacher? How different is it from the typical university-based credential path? Any pitfalls to watch out for? How easy/hard is it?

My partner has been a private school teacher (single subject) for almost four years now, and is trying to decide between enrolling in a university-based credential program, or pushing to use the private school experience instead. All the different requirements for the credential are making our head spin, so it almost seems worth having the university hand-hold her through the process.

posted by one_bean to Education (4 answers total)

Wow, I hadn't even known there were different processes. Interesting. So after a little Google-fu and looking at the single subject checklist, it covers the same things she'd ostensibly learn/do in a traditional university CA credential program. Personally, I find graduate-level education classes incredibly hit-or-miss, very much depending upon the professor and how often they go into classrooms (i.e. practical experience). Student teaching was definitely the most educational bit of my program, which won't help your wife--she's already doing it.

Which bits specifically on the application are confusing? Most of these requirements are covered by coursework/transcripts, test scores, or teacher evaluations.

Can she stick it out without a credential for two more years and skip university all together--why is she seeking to get one? I'm STILL paying off my credential, and I haven't been a classroom teacher for three years now. If she feels she has knowledge gaps (instructional supports for ELLs and kids with special needs, technology, etc.), I suspect she'd be better off taking continuing ed classes at the local university. There are internship programs for working teachers, but the site says for 1st-2nd year teachers only (although who knows? Ask the university)...honestly though, I can't imagine trying to do classes on top of full-time teaching. Full-time teaching is two jobs in itself!

All assumptions based on my outdated experience getting a single subject credential at SF State back in the early 2000's. I'm still in/around schools a lot, though and just finishing up a masters in ed.
posted by smirkette at 10:04 AM on April 5, 2012

This is the leaflet you need to read. She qualifies for the alternative route for completion. I think it is worth not spending the extra money on going to credentialing program but that is up to you two.
posted by andendau at 10:08 AM on April 5, 2012

Response by poster: I might be moving for a job, so the choice would be for her to stick around for a year in her current position, or come with me and start in a credential program. Thanks for the links to the lists, etc. - I guess we're wondering, in particular, how stringent all the requirements are for private school teachers (e.g., the two years of performance evaluations - how closely do they look at those?)
posted by one_bean at 10:49 AM on April 5, 2012

If she wants to be certified by the state, they will be very stringent. She can, however, continue to teach at private schools that don't require a credential.

Per the CA Dept. of Ed,

Must private school teachers possess a valid California teaching credential?

No. EC Section 48222 specifies only that private school teachers be “…persons capable of teaching”. However, many private school teachers do possess current California teaching credentials. An NPS (defined in #10, above) that accepts public school students with individualized education programs must have appropriately qualified and credentialed staff.

posted by smirkette at 3:03 PM on April 5, 2012