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Teaching Credentials College of Education

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Applying to Teaching Credentials

Apply to a Teaching Credential Program

Application for Fall 2026 coming soon.

In order to submit your application, you will need to have completed each of the documents listed in the Application Instructions below. Once you are in Cal State Apply, you will be directed as to how and where to upload your documents.

  • Multiple Subject Teaching Credential Application Instructions
  • Single Subject Teaching Credential Application Instructions
  • Education Specialist: Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Teaching Credential Application Instructions
  • Education Specialist: Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) Teaching Credential Application Instructions
  • Education Specialist: Extensive Support Needs (ESN) Teaching Credential (formerly Moderate/Severe Disabilities) Application Instructions (FULLY ONLINE)
  • Early Childhood Special Education - Added Authorization (ECSE-AA) Teaching Credentials Application Instructions
  • * Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Credential (NEW this Fall 2025, FULLY ONLINE)
  • * PK-3rd Early Childhood Education Instruction Specialist (PK3) Credential (NEW this Fall 2025)
    *Pending CTC approval

Apply to return to Sac State to complete your MAT or MASET

Application for Fall 2026 coming soon

To Apply to RETURN to Sac State to COMPLETE the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or the Master of Arts in Special Education Teaching (MASET), you must:

  • Be a former Sac State student who entered in Fall 2019 or later
  • Completed the Multiple or Single Subject credential, or the Education Specialist credential in ECSE, MMSN, or ESN

If you meet the requirements above, use the Application Instructions and submit your application to return in Cal State Apply  by February 1, 2025.

If you have any questions about the reapplication to the MAT or MASET, please contact Dr. Mae Chaplin  for MAT or Dr. Jean Gonsier-Gerdin for MASET.

Credential Program Information Sessions

Virtual Information Session for Candidates interested in applying to our teacher credentialing programs. (Gen-Ed Information Session Flyer)

Recurring Zoom link

Date: TBD

October 8th 1:00 - 2:30pm

November 5th 1:00 - 2:30pm

December 3rd 1:00 - 2:30pm

Virtual Information Session for Candidates interested in applying to our Special Education Teaching Credential Programs. These Information Sessions are for those interested in learning more about a career working with children and youth with disabilities as an education specialist. Held by our Special Education Teaching Credential Coordinators (Sped Information Session Flyer)

Become an Education Specialist Teacher

RSVP to Virtual Info Sessions HERE

Date: TBD

Virtual Information Sessions for Bilingual Candidates (Hmong, Spanish) interested in applying to our teacher credentialing programs. (Information Session Flyer)

Recurring Zoom link

Date: TBD

October 10th 12:00 - 1:30pm

November 7th 12:00 - 1:30pm

December 11th 3:00 - 4:30pm

Virtual Drop-ins for Assistance with our Application (Q&A).

Recurring Zoom link

Date: TBD

Credential Program Fact Sheets

Sacramento State has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. We consider qualified applicants for our programs without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or ability. Sacramento State is a Hispanic-serving Institution, an Asian American Pacific Islander-serving institution, thoroughly abides by Title IX, and is a caring campus where students of all identities and intersectionalities are welcomed.

The College of Education welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and with diverse experiences. For more information, please read our non-discrimination policy

Pre-requisites for the Credential Programs

If you are interested in completing pre-requisite courses for the preliminary Multiple Subject, Single Subject, Early Childhood, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, PK3, Mild Moderate Support Needs or Extensive Support Needs Special Education Credential Programs, you may enroll without having been accepted to the university or to the credential program. You may take pre-requisite courses through Open University or complete the pre-requisites at another college or university. For more information, explore the links below or see “Who to Contact for Help” in the upper right on this page.

Intern Opportunities for Special Education Programs


Applicant Information: Process for Education Specialist Candidates applying to be an Intern in their 1st Semester

Options for Meeting Subject Matter Competency Requirements

Applicants to teaching credential programs must demonstrate subject matter competence. Please see link #1 below to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) Description of Subject Matter Competence for information about this requirement. Applicants completing their undergraduate majors at Sacramento State may seek guidance from a subject matter advisor (see links #2 and #3 below). All applicants, regardless of institution, may consult the list of degrees that meet the subject matter competence requirement (see link #4 below). All applicants may also submit a request to have their transcripts reviewed for subject matter competence aligned to the credential they seek. Applicants seeking a multiple subject, single subject, or education specialist credentials should submit their request using link #5 below. Those applicants seeking a PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Credential should submit their request using link #6 below. Subject matter competence assessments will be completed within 30 days of receiving the request or within 60 days of admission to the program, whichever occurs sooner.

  1. CTC Description of the Subject Matter Competency Requirement
  2. Subject Matter Program Advisors and Exam Options
  3. Subject Matter Waiver Program Verification Form
  4. Degree Majors that meet the Subject Matter Competency Requirement
  5. SUBJECT MATTER COMPETENCY COURSEWORK EVALUATION REQUEST FORM
  6. PK3 Subject Matter Competency Coursework Evaluation Request Form (Coming soon)

Who to Contact for Help

Please Note

Sacramento State is pleased to consider all eligible applicants for admission into an educator preparation program (e.g., general education teaching, special education teaching, school counseling, school psychology, and educational administration). Accepted applicants who complete all educator preparation program requirements can be recommended for state licensure (e.g., a teaching credential, a school counselor credential). If you are a DACA recipient in an educator preparation program or applying to an educator preparation program and have questions about your ability to obtain work authorization to seek employment as a credentialed educator with the State of California, please contact the Dreamer Resource Center (drc@csus.edu; 916-278-7241) to schedule a free consultation with an immigration attorney to discuss your individual case.

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

We do not discriminate in in the admission process or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender (including pregnancy, sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct including acts of sexual violence such as rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and coercion), gender identity and/or expression (including a transgender identity), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.