How I Transferred My Teaching Certificates from New York to California
Teacher certification requirements in the U.S. can vary between states, making it challenging to transfer credentials.
Both New York and California have rigorous standards, and since I’ve earned certifications in both, I want to share my journey to help other teachers navigate this process with a little less stress.
Becoming Certified in New York (2016)
I majored in Early Childhood Education (Birth - Grade 2) and Childhood Education (Grade 1-6) in college, later completing my master’s degree in Bilingual Education (Mandarin Chinese). Through my college’s certification pathway and passing all the required exams, I earned initial certificates in these three areas by the time I graduated.
After graduation, I began teaching as a dual-language Mandarin teacher in a New York City public school. By my fourth year, I applied for my Professional Certificates in Early Childhood, Childhood Education, and the Mandarin Chinese Bilingual Extension and got approved.
Transferring My Certification to California
When I moved to California in 2021, I was offered a teaching job, on the condition that I obtain my California multiple-subject teaching credential before school started in September.
Here’s how I approached the process:
Start with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) Website
Visit the CTC’s Out-of-State application page and select the certification and grade level that apply to you. Review the minimum requirements to make sure you qualify.Prepare and Submit Required Documents
Application and Fee: Complete the application and pay the $100 processing fee.
Submit Transcripts: These must be the original college-issued documents (not photocopies). They don’t have to be sealed in the original envelope, but it’s best to submit them with all other documents at the same time.
Out-of-State Certification: Provide a copy of your New York Professional Certificate (Note: you must hold a professional-level credential from another state or U.S. territory to qualify for California teaching or services certification based on out-of-state preparation).
BCLAD: To earn my BCLAD (Bilingual, Cross-cultural, Language, and Academic Development) authorization in California, I submitted my New York Bilingual Extension certificate for review. This authorization allows me to legally teach English Learners in a public school using Chinese.
Fingerprinting: Complete fingerprinting as required.
Once these steps are completed, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) issues a Preliminary Credential.
Additional Requirements for the Clear Credential
To transition from a Preliminary to a Clear Credential, submit the following:
Basic Skills Requirement: Proof of passing an accepted out-of-state examination or take California’s Basic Skills test within a year.
Teaching Experience Verification: Submit two years of full-time teaching experience verified by your employer, along with performance evaluations.
Since I had prior teaching experience, I submitted my observation reports from NYC DOE and my transcripts as evidence of coursework completion.
Three months later, I received my California Clear Teaching Credential!
I hope this guide helps other educators who are going through the cross-state certification process. You’ve got this!