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Home > Credential Program > Frequently Asked Questions -- General Questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GENERAL QUESTIONS
GENERAL QUESTIONS
DO I NEED A DESIGNATED SUBJECTS TEACHING CREDENTIAL PACKET?
Yes. Designated Subjects Credential types are listed below:
- Career Technical Education
- Adult
- First Time Applicant
- Hold a Previous Credential
- Supervision and Coordination
- Hold a Designated Subjects Credential
- Clear Credential Application Packet
- In order to move from a preliminary to a clear credential, you need to demonstrate that you have completed the coursework and teaching experience requirements
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IN WHAT ORDER DO I TAKE THE COURSEWORK AND HOW DO I FIND OUT WHAT EACH COURSE COVERS?
The coursework needs to be taken in the following order:
- Level 1 within the first two years of obtaining the credential
- Level 2 for full-time credentials and before the credential is cleared
- Health education class before the credential is cleared
- Infant, Child and Adult CPR certification before the credential is cleared
Information regarding the coursework may be found in the Class Schedule Flyer. The flyer includes information such as:
- Location
- Cost
- When to pay for class
- Units through University of San Diego
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I LOST MY CREDENTIAL. HOW DO I GET A DUPLICATE COPY?
All credential documents issued on or after September 1, 2008 will be available on the Commission's website in a view and print format. |
HOW DO I CHANGE MY NAME?
Complete the Declaration of Name Change Application form (41-NC) [PDF] and return it with a check or money order in the amount of $27.50, payable to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing or CTC. Mail your application to P.O. Box 944270, Sacramento, CA 94244-2700. Please be sure to include your new and former last names, current address, and your social security number on the application form for verification purposes. Only one application and fee is necessary to change your name on your complete credential file. The best way is to wait for your "to
clear" or renewal date. If you are ready "to clear", show the new name on Form 41-4 in the "Applicant's Full Legal Name" section, and the former name in the "All Former/Maiden Names" section. This form is in the "Clear" credential application packet requested from LACOE Credential Services 562-922-6798. If you are "renewing" online, update your personal information on the appropriate screen. Either of these last two methods does not require an additional fee for name change. |
| HOW DO I CHANGE MY ADDRESS WITH CTC AND YOUR OFFICE?
You can send your change of address via e-mail to credentials@ctc.ca.gov, or by postal mail to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, P.O. Box 944270, Sacramento, CA 94244-2700. Please be sure to include your new and former address, last name, and your social security number in your correspondence for verification purposes. You can also change your address with the Los Angeles County Office of Education by calling 562.922.6798. |
WHERE CAN I GET INFORMATION ON NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (NCLB) IN CALIFORNIA?
The State Board of Education and the California Department of Education's NCLB Resource Guide can be found at www.cde.ca.gov/nclb/sr/tq/. The Guide was developed to respond to questions about the NCLB requirements for a highly qualified teacher. Questions may also be addressed to the California Department of Education's NCLB Office at 916-319-0884. |
| I AM MOVING TO ANOTHER STATE. WILL THAT STATE ACCEPT MY CALIFORNIA CREDENTIALS?
You will need to contact the state's credential or education agency to ask whether they will accept California's credentials. Each state's credential requirements may differ. |
| DO I HAVE TO BE LICENSED TO TEACH IN CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
Yes. Elementary and Secondary public school teachers must be certified by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing in order to be employed in a California public school. Once an individual completes all Credential Requirements for certification in California, he or she may apply for and receive a California teaching credential |
ADULT EDUCATION
HOW DO I CALCULATE COURSE WORK TO MEET THE FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THE ADULT EDUCATION CREDENTIAL?
See the chart below for the conversion of education for the five years of experience.
- + 5 years
High school diploma or equivalent
- + 4 years
24 semester units of college course work including a minimum of 4 semester units in the subject to be taught
- + 3 years
48 semester units of college course work including a minimum of 8 semester units in the subject to be taught
- + 2 years
72 semester units of college course work including a minimum of 12 semester units in the subject to be taught
- + 1 year
96 semester units of college course work including a minimum of 16 semester units in the subject to be taught
- + 0 year
Bachelor's or higher degree completed at a regionally-accredited college or university with 20 semester units or 10 upper division semester units in the subject to be taught
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HOW DO I OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKET FOR THE DESIGNATED SUBJECTS ADULT EDUCATION OR CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION CREDENTIAL?
You may obtain an application packet for a Designated Subjects Adult Education or Career Technical Education credential by logging onto our website at www.lacorop.org . In this website you will be able to download an application packet by "clicking"
on what's new and then "click" on credential application packets and then choose the appropriate application. Once you have the application on the screen, you may save and/or print the form. Fill out the application once it is printed and mail to the address on the bottom of the first page of the application. If you are experiencing difficulty with the website you may contact us at (562) 922-6798. |
HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE DESIGNATED SUBJECTS ADULT EDUCATION OR CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION CREDENTIAL?
Once you have an application packet, please follow the check list on the front cover of the packet to ensure that you have included the applicable fees, application forms, work verification letters, official transcripts, and completed live scan forms required to complete the application packet. Please mail in your packet to the LACOROP Credential Services Office. The mailing address is located on the bottom of the front cover of the application packet.
If you have any questions about completing the packet, please contact the LACOROP Credentials Services Unit at (562) 922-6798, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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WHAT IS THE PROCESS AFTER I HAVE MAILED IN MY APPLICATION PACKET FOR THE DESIGNATED SUBJECTS ADULT EDUCATION OR CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION CREDENTIAL?
Once our office receives your application packet, the credential analyst that is assigned to review your application receives it and logs it in. The standard review time is 30 working days from receipt of the application packet. After the credential analyst reviews your application packet, if there is any additional information or documentation required to process your credential, the analyst will contact you. Otherwise, two copies of a recommendation letter will be mailed to you. This notifies the applicant that LACOROP, an approved Local Education Agency (LEA), is recommending them for the Designated Subjects Adult Education or Career Technical Education credential. The original recommendation letter along with your original application packet documents are then mailed to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) in Sacramento. It generally takes 4-6 months for the CTC to review the application packet and issue the actual credential.
The letter of recommendation can be used by the applicant to begin teaching on a provisional basis until the CTC approves the credential. The decision to accept the recommendation letter on a provisional basis is at the discretion of the employing school district.
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HOW CAN I EXPEDITE THE REVIEW OF MY APPLICATION PACKET IF I ALREADY HAVE A TEACHING JOB OFFER PENDING?
The Credential Services Unit offers an appointment service for those applicants that are seeking to expedite the review of their credential application packet. There is an additional $60 per hour appointment fee payable via money order or cashier's
check to LACOE. These appointments are recommended for applicants that have an urgent situation such as pending employment offer that will begin in less than 30 days or a credential that is expiring in less than 30 days.
To schedule an appointment, please contact the LACOROP Credential Services Unit at (562) 922-6798, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED THAT THE COMMISSION ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING (CTC) HAS RECEIVED MY CREDENTIAL APPLICATION?
If you have already received a letter of recommendation from LACOROP, allow approximately 30 working days for the CTC to notify you via e-mail that your application packet has been received. The e-mail will also state that you can view your credential within 48 hours on the CTC website. This means that you will be able to view your name on the website and that your application is pending evaluation. It does not mean your credential will be issued within 48 hours. Please allow for approximately 3-4 months before your credential is issued by the CTC. The website to check status of your credential once the CTC has e-mailed you is: www.ctc.ca.gov.
If you have any questions regarding the status of the approval of your credential, and the CTC has already received your application packet, you may contact the CTC via e-mail at credentials@ctc.ca.gov or call Monday - Friday afternoons only from 1:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. at (888) 921-2682.
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CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION
HOW DO I CALCULATE COURSE WORK TO MEET THE 1000 HOURS REQUIRED FOR THE FULL-TIME CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION CREDENTIAL?
One year equals a minimum of 1,000 clock hours and the experience may be full or part time, paid or unpaid. Forty-eight (48) semester units of postsecondary vocational training related to the subject named on the credential may be substituted for a maximum of two of the five years of the required experience. The experience must be verified by official transcript and may be made on a pro rata basis up to the two-year maximum.
At least one year of the required work experience must be within the three years immediately preceding the issuance of the preliminary credential. Teaching experience is not generally accepted as work experience; however, for the purpose of meeting the recency requirement, any of the following, or a combination of the following, may be cumulated to total 1,000 clock hours: work experience, college-level related course work, non-college related course work, occupational internship, and vocational teaching experience.
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U.S. CONSTITUTION EXAM
DO I NEED THE U.S. CONSTITUTION TEST TO QUALIFY FOR MY CREDENTIAL?
The Constitution exam needs to be taken if the candidate has not completed a college course that covers the information on the U.S. constitution. If candidate has taken a course, proof of course completion via an official, original transcript is required.The U.S. Constitution requirement must be met for the preliminary Adult Education Credential and the clear CTE Credential.
- Cost of test:
$80 payable to LACOE
- Scheduling of test:
Call 562.922.6798 or e-mail "ROPCredentials@lacoe.edu"
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HOW OFTEN IS THE U.S. CONSTITUTION EXAM OFFERED?
The U.S. Constitution exam is currently offered Monday thru Thursday between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. The candidate may bring in their money order or cashier's
check for $80 fee on the same day as the exam. The cashier's check or money order is to be made payable to LACOE. To prepare for the exam prior to enrolling for the exam the candidate can log onto www.nccs.net to study. Once the candidate has had an opportunity to study, they may contact 562.922.6798
to schedule to take the test. |
| IF I FAIL THE EXAM, DO I HAVE TO PAY TO TAKE IT OVER AGAIN?
No. You have within six months of receipt of payment of the test fee to retake the exam at no charge. |
| HOW LONG DOES THE EXAM TAKE?
There is no set time limit for taking the exam. The exam usually takes approximately one hour to complete. |
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