Test Information and Requirements

California Credential Requirements

For all Credential Applicants 

The California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) was developed to meet requirements of laws relating to credentialing and employment. This test requirement in no way replaces any of the other requirements of subject matter knowledge, professional preparation, and practice teaching or field experience used in the issuance of credentials. The CBEST is designed to test basic reading, mathematics, and writing skills found to be important for the job of an educator; the test is not designed to measure the ability to teach those skills.

For applicants to the Moderate to Severe and Mild to Moderate Credential Programs 

The California Subject Examinations for Teachers® (CSET) have been developed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for prospective teachers who choose to or are required to meet requirements for certification by taking examinations. The CTC contracted the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson to assist in the development, administration, and scoring of the CSET.

Master's Degree Requirements

The Graduate Record Examinations® (GRE) General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking and analytical writing skills. The GRE Subject Tests gauge undergraduate achievement in 8 specific fields of study.