Credential Completion

Credential Recommendation and Next Steps

You have completed your program. Now take the final steps toward receiving your California credential.

The credential completion process guides you from finishing your program requirements through credential recommendation and final approval by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Find step-by-step application guidance, required documents, credential-specific checklists and important processing information to help you prepare your request and avoid delays. Once your credential is issued, you can also explore resources for verifying your credential, planning future requirements and taking your next step into the education profession.

Applying for Your Credential

Information and resources for credential program completers.

Steps to Apply for Credential Program Completers

Upon completion of your credential program, submit a Credential Recommendation Request to the San Francisco State University Credentials Office.

Step 1: Confirm Completion of Requirements. Wait until final grades have been posted and complete all applicable credential requirements.

Step 2: Review the Credential Application Guide. Read the guide for step-by-step instructions before submitting your request.

Step 3: Complete the Credential Recommendation Request. Open the Qualtrics form and answer all questions carefully. Your answers determine which requirements appear for your credential type.

Step 4: Upload Required Documents and Submit. Review the requirements displayed for your credential type and provide/upload all required supporting documents before submitting.

Step 5: Complete the CTC Process. After the Credential Analyst verifies your requirements and submits the recommendation, follow the email instructions from CTC to finalize your credential.

Credential Recommendation Request (Qualtrics)

Processing Time & Important Information

  • Processing generally takes 4–6 weeks.
  • Processing does not begin until final grades are available on official transcripts.
  • Incomplete requests cannot be processed.

Credential Application Resources

  • Credential Application Guide — detailed application instructions.
  • U.S. Constitution Requirement Flyer — information for credential types where applicable.
  • CPR Requirement Flyer — certification information for credential types where applicable.

Questions about credential requirements or evaluations: credinfo@sfsu.edu

Credential Application Checklists for Program Completers

Review the checklist for your credential type to identify required documents and prepare for your Credential Recommendation Request

Copy of valid prerequisite teaching credential

Letter of completion of the Adapted PE Program issued by the Adapted PE advisor

California Administrator Performance Assessment (CalAPA)

Credential Approved Program (CAP) form

Credential fee

Valid credential

Offer of employment (preliminary credential only)

Verification of experience

  • Verify at least five years of successful full-time experience in public schools or private schools of equivalent status. Qualifying experience may include teaching, pupil personnel work, librarianship, health services, or clinical or rehabilitative services. “Full-time service” means service for at least a minimum day for three-fourths of the total days in the school year. Substitute or part-time service does not apply.

Credential Approved Program (CAP) form

Credential fee

  • California Teaching Performance Assessment (CalTPA)

CPR course for infants, children, and adults

Credential Approved Program (CAP) form

Credential fee

CSU exit survey: https://www.csuexitsurvey.org/

Subject matter competence

  • Degree major match
  • CSET exam; submit a copy of the official exam score
  • Subject Matter Domains Evaluation
  • Combination of coursework and CSET exam; submit the coursework approval and exam score report

U.S. Constitution requirement

  • Bachelor’s degree from a CSU campus
  • If the bachelor’s degree is not from a CSU campus, coursework from an accredited community college or four-year college or university, completed with a grade of C− or better, Credit, or Pass
  • Acceptable coursework titles include:
    • American Government
    • U.S. Government
    • Constitutional Law
    • U.S. History to 1865, or a time period that covers ratification of the U.S. Constitution
    • Both U.S. History I and U.S. History II

If the coursework does not have one of these titles, request an evaluation from the office.

  • AP credit for U.S. History or U.S. Government posted on a college transcript
  • U.S. Constitution exam offered at a Commission-approved college or agency

Technology level requirement (met through the Student Teaching Seminar course).

California Teaching Performance Assessment (CalTPA)

Literacy requirement

Credential fee

Subject matter competence

  • Bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, with a major in one of these fields:
    • Child Development
    • Child and Adolescent Development
    • Human Development
    • Early Childhood Education
    • Child and Family Studies
    • Early Childhood Studies
    • Family Science
    • Human Development and Family Science
    • Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies
  • Completion of 24 semester units or 36 quarter units of non-remedial, degree-applicable coursework at a regionally accredited institution of higher education in early childhood education and/or child development.

U.S. Constitution requirement

  • Bachelor’s degree from a CSU campus.
  • If the bachelor’s degree is not from a CSU campus, coursework from an accredited community college or four-year college or university, completed with a grade of C− or better, Credit, or Pass.
  • Acceptable coursework titles include:
    • American Government
    • U.S. Government
    • Constitutional Law
    • U.S. History to 1865, or a time period that covers ratification of the U.S. Constitution
    • Both U.S. History I and U.S. History II

If the coursework does not have one of these titles, request an evaluation from the office.

  • AP credit for U.S. History or U.S. Government posted on a college transcript
  • U.S. Constitution exam offered at a Commission-approved college or agency

Credential Approved Program (CAP) form

Credential fee

Fingerprint clearance

  • Certificate of Clearance document
  • Valid California credential or permit, such as a 30-Day Substitute Permit

Verification of Standards (PPS School Social Work only)

Master’s degree

Credential Approved Program (CAP) form

Credential fee

Registered nurse license

Valid credential

Verification of experience

  • Verify two years of successful experience as a school nurse.

Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA)

CPR course for infants, children, and adults

Credential Approved Program (CAP) form

Credential fee

Exit survey: https://www.csuexitsurvey.org/

Subject matter competence

  • Degree major match
  • CSET exam; submit a copy of the official exam score
  • Subject Matter Domains Evaluation
  • Combination of coursework and CSET exam; submit the coursework approval and exam score report.

U.S. Constitution requirement

  • Bachelor’s degree from a CSU campus
  • If the bachelor’s degree is not from a CSU campus, coursework from an accredited community college or four-year college or university, completed with a grade of C− or better, Credit, or Pass.
  • Acceptable coursework titles include:
    • American Government
    • U.S. Government
    • Constitutional Law
    • U.S. History to 1865, or a time period that covers ratification of the U.S. Constitution
    • Both U.S. History I and U.S. History II

If the coursework does not have one of these titles, request an evaluation from the office.

  • AP credit for U.S. History or U.S. Government posted on a college transcript
  • U.S. Constitution exam offered at a Commission-approved college or agency

Technology level requirement (met through the SED 720 course)

California Teaching Performance Assessment (CalTPA)

CPR course for infants, children, and adults

Credential Approved Program (CAP) form

Credential fee

Exit survey: https://www.csuexitsurvey.org/

Health education requirement

  • Health Education Module Certificate issued by the Department of Special Education
  • Official transcript if the course was completed outside of SFSU

Subject matter competence (does not apply to ECSE credentials)

  • Degree major match
  • CSET exam; submit a copy of the official exam score
  • Subject Matter Domains Evaluation
  • Combination of coursework and CSET exam; submit the coursework approval and exam score report.

U.S. Constitution requirement

  • Bachelor’s degree from a CSU campus.
  • If the bachelor’s degree is not from a CSU campus, coursework from an accredited community college or four-year college or university, completed with a grade of C− or better, Credit, or Pass.
  • Acceptable coursework titles include:
    • American Government
    • U.S. Government
    • Constitutional Law
    • U.S. History to 1865, or a time period that covers ratification of the U.S. Constitution
    • Both U.S. History I and U.S. History II

If the coursework does not have one of these titles, request an evaluation from the office.

  • AP credit for U.S. History or U.S. Government posted on a college transcript
  • U.S. Constitution exam offered at a Commission-approved college or agency

Credential fee

Master’s degree

Once You’ve Earned Your Credential: Looking Ahead

  • Verify Your Credential: View your issued credential and expiration date through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). 
  • Explore Career Opportunities: Search for teaching and other education-related positions on EDJOIN.  
  • Plan for Your Next Steps: Review renewal or advancement requirements. If your credential requires Induction to earn a Clear Credential, inquire about enrollment in an approved Induction Program through your employing school district.