Basic Skills Requirement FAQ
Can courses completed with “Pass” or “Credit” be used toward meeting this requirement?
Yes, courses in which “Pass” or “Credit” was earned in lieu of a letter grade may be used toward meeting the Basic Skills Requirement.
Can I use courses taken in my teaching credential program to meet the basic skills requirement?
Courses where credits do not apply toward the requirements for an Associate degree, Baccalaureate degree, or higher degree cannot be used to meet the basic skills requirement.
Can a candidate use the same course to meet both the Reading and Writing requirements?
Yes. To qualify, the individual will need to get a letter from the registrar or the relevant department academic chair where the course was completed confirming that the course includes the study of reading and writing as outlined in the criteria. Most likely, the department chair letter would come from the English Department, as that subject generally includes content in both reading and writing.
I completed a course that is less than three semester units, can I combine two courses to meet the unit requirement? For example, what if I completed a four-quarter unit course, which equates to 2.67 semester units?
Yes. If a course was less than three semester units then you can still meet the requirement by completing a second course to make up for the missing units
What is the minimum acceptable score for each subtest of the CBEST if I want to use two CBEST scores to mix and match with coursework?
The minimum score for a subtest that will be used to mix and match BSR requirements is 41. The option to satisfy BSR with a subtest score as low as 37 is only available when candidates have taken all three CBEST subtests to meet the BSR and the total CBEST score for all three subtests combined is a minimum of 123.
I was admitted into the credential program without the BSR, will the Credential Office check my transcripts to see if I meet the requirement under this new option?
Yes, the new option will apply to all applications regardless of when they were admitted. A Credential analyst will evaluate your transcripts and determine if you meet the requirement. An updated Credential Progress Report will be sent to you via email with the evaluation results.
Can a candidate who took courses at a college or university outside of the United States use those courses to meet the Basic Skills Requirement?
Yes, as long as the candidate has obtained an evaluation from a Commission approved foreign transcript evaluating agency showing that the coursework is equivalent to courses taken at a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States. Additionally, courses covering the reading and writing components must demonstrate proficiency in the English language.
Subject Matter Requirement FAQ
Is it true that CSET is no longer required to get a teaching credential or does SSU still require you to pass the CSET if you want to join the credential program?
This is incorrect; subject matter is still required for admission and to obtain a teaching credential. Previously, to meet the Subject Matter Requirement, candidates must have either received a passing score on the applicable CSET examination or completed a Commission-approved subject matter waiver program. AB 130 expands the available options to allow candidates to meet the Subject Matter Requirement through coursework or a combination of exam and coursework.
What degree majors are acceptable for Single Subject credential candidates who wish to meet the subject matter requirement via degree major?
At this time, the degree major must correspond to the authorization to be listed on a Single Subject Credential. For example, a degree authorization in English would qualify to cover the subject matter competency or Single Subject credential in English. The law as written requires that the degree major exactly align with the subject area of the credential, meaning that a candidate who is completing a Single Subject credential program in Science: Biological Science would need to have earned a degree in Biology or Biological Science. A degree in Environmental Biology would not be acceptable for this purpose.
What if a candidate’s degree is in a closely related subject, but is not in the exact subject of the single subject credential they seek?
The current statutory language does not provide leeway for the acceptance of closely related subjects; the match must be exact. The Commission has begun work on emergency regulations that would expand the degree majors that could meet the Subject Matter Requirement through subsumed subjects or through evaluation of the coursework taken to complete the degree. These regulations would clarify that the subsumed subjects as outlined in Title 5 section 80005 would be acceptable degree majors for meeting subject matter. This flexibility is not available until and unless it is approved by the Office of Administrative Law.
According to the list of approved subjects I must have a degree in World Language to teach a foreign language, is this correct?
The degree major must be in the language to be taught regardless of any mention of World Language. For example, a degree major in Spanish will meet the subject matter requirement for the Single Subject: Spanish credential.
My degree major is in Kinesiology, does this meet the subject matter for physical education?
No, a degree major in Kinesiology alone will not satisfy the requirement. The degree must list Physical Education. For example, Kinesiology: Physical Education will satisfy the subject matter requirement.
My undergraduate degree major is in Liberal Studies however, I also have a Mater's degree in Music. Can I use my Master's degree major to satisfy the subject matter requirement to teach Music?
Yes, Ed. Code Section 44259 states the degree major must be a BA or higher, so a Master's degree in Music will meet the requirement.
For the coursework option in which the preparation program reviews the course content a candidate has taken against the domains of the applicable Subject Matter Requirements, can a Commission-approved preparation program evaluate a candidate’s coursework for the subject matter domains now?
Programs should not begin to evaluate coursework until the Commission has completed the process of promulgating regulations that will clarify and make specific the criteria for evaluation for example; who should do the evaluation and what the credit and/or letter grade requirements are. The Commission is working to finalize those emergency regulations now that the new Subject Matter Requirement provisions are in effect and will provide additional guidance in the coming weeks to programs that wish to compete these coursework evaluations.