California Teacher Certification
Complete guide to teacher certification in California. Find required exams, registration info, salary data, and practice tests.
Exams159
Salary range$47k–$95k
🎯94%
👩🏫150,000+
📝250+
🗺️50
⭐4.9/5
🛡️100% refund
Certification Requirements in California
Bachelor's degree, approved teacher preparation program, passing CBEST and CSET exam scores, US Constitution coursework, CPR certification, TB clearance, fingerprint clearance.
Exam Costs & Test Day Information
Registration & Fees
Most teacher certification exams in California cost between $90–$200 per attempt, depending on the exam board (Praxis, NBPTS, AACRAO, etc.). Fees typically cover the exam, score report, and official score verification sent to your state certification board.
Register through the official exam provider's website. Many providers offer discounted test registration during certain times of year or for bulk registrations from teacher preparation programs.
Test Day & Format
Exams are offered year-round at testing centers throughout California. Most tests are computer-based and can be scheduled on your preferred date. Plan for 2–4 hours total (including check-in and breaks).
Bring a valid government-issued ID and arrive 15 minutes early. No calculators, notes, or unauthorized materials are permitted in the testing room.
Certification Area Requirements
General education teaching credential for grades K-6
Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001)
PRAXIS | Code: 5001
80 questions • 150 min
Required Score: 220
Practice Test →Complete Exam Requirements
Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001)
PRAXIS | Code: 5001 • 80 questions • 150 min
Multiple Subject (Elementary)
Required Score
220
Nat: 157
Elementary Education: Mathematics Subtest (5003)
PRAXIS | Code: 5003 • 40 questions • 60 min
Single Subject (Secondary)
Required Score
220
Nat: 157
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018)
PRAXIS | Code: 5018 • 80 questions • 120 min
Single Subject (Secondary)
Required Score
170
Nat: 157
English Language Arts: Content Knowledge (5038)
PRAXIS | Code: 5038 • 130 questions • 150 min
Single Subject (Secondary)
Required Score
170
Nat: 167
English to Speakers of Other Languages / ESOL (5362)
PRAXIS | Code: 5362 • 120 questions • 150 min
Special Education
Required Score
158
Nat: 155
Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (5354)
PRAXIS | Code: 5354 • 100 questions • 120 min
Special Education
Required Score
158
Nat: 155
All Available Exams in California
159 exams across 4 exam series.
CSETCSET
NBPTS Middle Childhood / Generalist
60 questions·Pass: 275
NBPTS Exceptional Needs Specialist
60 questions·Pass: 275
NBPTS Generalist: Early Childhood
60 questions·Pass: 275
NBPTS Reading-Language Arts: Early & Middle Childhood
60 questions·Pass: 275
NBPTS English Language Arts: Adolescence & Young Adulthood
60 questions·Pass: 275
NBPTS Mathematics: Early Adolescence
60 questions·Pass: 275
ParaProParaPro Assessment
PRAXISPraxis
Core Academic Skills: Mathematics (5733)
56 questions·Pass: 150
Algebra I (5162)
60 questions·Pass: 157
Braille Proficiency (0633)
56 questions·Pass: 200
Early Childhood: Reading, Language Arts & Social Studies (5027)
90 questions·Pass: 157
Biology: Content Knowledge (5236)
150 questions·Pass: 152
Art: Content and Analysis (5135)
90 questions·Pass: 157
PLT: Grades K–6 (5622)
70 questions·Pass: 161
Communication and Literacy: Reading (5714)
55 questions·Pass: 227
PLT: Grades 7–12 (5624)
70 questions·Pass: 161
Audiology (5343)
120 questions·Pass: 162
Technology and Engineering Education (5053)
120 questions·Pass: 152
Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (5017)
80 questions·Pass: 157
PA Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Mathematics (5158)
80 questions·Pass: 157
Social Studies (5581)
130 questions·Pass: 155
ParaPro Assessment (1755)
90 questions·Pass: 461
Sociology (5952)
80 questions·Pass: 152
Physics (5266)
125 questions·Pass: 152
Geometry (5163)
60 questions·Pass: 157
Music: Vocal and General Knowledge (5116)
90 questions·Pass: 152
Middle School Social Studies (5589)
90 questions·Pass: 149
Special Education: Core Knowledge and Severe to Profound Applications (5545)
120 questions·Pass: 155
Social Studies: Content and Interpretation (5086)
90 questions·Pass: 155
Special Education: Teaching Students with Intellectual Disabilities (5322)
100 questions·Pass: 153
Elementary Education Fundamentals: Social Studies (8004)
77 questions·Pass: 157
Early Childhood Education: Foundational Knowledge (5533)
60 questions·Pass: 157
Education of Young Children (5024)
120 questions·Pass: 157
Elementary Education Fundamentals: Teaching Reading (8006)
80 questions·Pass: 157
Government/Political Science (5931)
80 questions·Pass: 152
Family and Consumer Sciences (5122)
120 questions·Pass: 152
PA Grades 4–8 Core Assessment: Pedagogy, ELA & Social Studies, Math & Science (5152)
180 questions·Pass: 157
World and U.S. History: Content Knowledge (5941)
120 questions·Pass: 155
Elementary Education: Social Studies (7004)
35 questions·Pass: 157
Marketing Education (5561)
100 questions·Pass: 152
Special Education: Teaching Speech to Students with Language Impairments (5881)
100 questions·Pass: 153
Elementary Education Fundamentals: Reading and Language Arts (8002)
55 questions·Pass: 157
Special Education: Teaching Students with Behavioral Disorders/Emotional Disturbances (5372)
100 questions·Pass: 153
Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (5023)
100 questions·Pass: 157
Music: Content Knowledge (5113)
90 questions·Pass: 152
Elementary Education: Reading and Language Arts CKT (7812)
55 questions·Pass: 157
Elementary Education Fundamentals: Science (8005)
74 questions·Pass: 157
Spanish: World Language (5195)
120 questions·Pass: 157
Early Childhood Education: Foundational Knowledge and Content (5534)
90 questions·Pass: 157
PA Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Social Studies (5157)
80 questions·Pass: 157
Elementary Education: Teaching Reading (7002)
55 questions·Pass: 157
Chinese (Mandarin): World Language (5665)
120 questions·Pass: 157
STEM for the Elementary Grades (5036)
60 questions·Pass: 157
Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle (5901)
115 questions·Pass: 157
Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081)
130 questions·Pass: 155
Elementary Education: Science (7005)
35 questions·Pass: 157
Earth and Space Sciences (5572)
125 questions·Pass: 152
Reading Specialist (5302)
120 questions·Pass: 162
School Superintendent Assessment (6991)
120 questions·Pass: 163
Elementary Education: Mathematics CKT (7813)
45 questions·Pass: 157
Japanese: World Language (5661)
120 questions·Pass: 157
Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)
120 questions·Pass: 153
Psychology (5391)
90 questions·Pass: 152
Elementary Education Assessment (5006)
180 questions·Pass: 157
Speech-Language Pathology (5331)
132 questions·Pass: 162
Computer Science (5652)
100 questions·Pass: 157
Special Education: Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students (5272)
100 questions·Pass: 153
Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (7001)
160 questions·Pass: 157
Physical Education: Content and Design (5095)
120 questions·Pass: 152
Health and Physical Education: Content Knowledge (5857)
120 questions·Pass: 152
Early Childhood Assessment (5026)
80 questions·Pass: 157
Elementary Education Assessment (5006)
90 questions·Pass: 157
Early Childhood Education (5025)
100 questions·Pass: 157
Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205)
80 questions·Pass: 157
Middle School English Language Arts (5047)
90 questions·Pass: 163
Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle — Social Studies (5904)
35 questions·Pass: 157
Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (5354)
100 questions·Pass: 155
World Languages Pedagogy (5841)
90 questions·Pass: 157
English Language Arts: Content Knowledge (5038)
130 questions·Pass: 167
Middle School Mathematics (5164)
55 questions·Pass: 165
PA Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: English Language Arts (5156)
80 questions·Pass: 157
Citizenship Education: Content Knowledge (5087)
90 questions·Pass: 155
Geography (5921)
80 questions·Pass: 152
Elementary Education Fundamentals: Mathematics (8003)
40 questions·Pass: 157
Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle — Science (5905)
35 questions·Pass: 157
Special Education: Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities (5383)
100 questions·Pass: 153
Communication and Literacy: Writing (5724)
40 questions·Pass: 220
English Language Arts: Content and Analysis (5039)
80 questions·Pass: 157
Speech Communication: Content Knowledge (5221)
80 questions·Pass: 152
Gifted Education (5358)
100 questions·Pass: 153
PA Grades 4–8 Core Assessment: Mathematics and Science (5155)
70 questions·Pass: 157
School Psychologist (5403)
150 questions·Pass: 147
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching (7811)
180 questions·Pass: 157
Theatre (5641)
80 questions·Pass: 152
Health Education (5551)
120 questions·Pass: 152
Core Combined (5752)
164 questions·Pass: 468
Physical Science (5485)
125 questions·Pass: 152
Middle School Social Studies (5089)
90 questions·Pass: 149
Latin (5601)
120 questions·Pass: 157
School Leaders Licensure Assessment (6990)
100 questions·Pass: 163
Business Education: Content Knowledge (5101)
120 questions·Pass: 152
Elementary Education: Social Studies CKT (7815)
40 questions·Pass: 157
Pre-Kindergarten Education (5531)
60 questions·Pass: 157
Chemistry: Content Knowledge (5246)
125 questions·Pass: 152
Physical Education: Content Knowledge (5091)
120 questions·Pass: 152
Elementary Education: Mathematics Subtest (5003)
40 questions·Pass: 157
Elementary Education Assessment: Mathematics and Science (5008)
45 questions·Pass: 157
Music: Instrumental and General Knowledge (5115)
90 questions·Pass: 152
Special Education: Severe to Profound (5547)
100 questions·Pass: 153
Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle — Mathematics (5903)
40 questions·Pass: 157
Communication and Literacy Combined (5753)
110 questions·Pass: 470
Special Education: Early Childhood/Early Intervention (5692)
100 questions·Pass: 153
Health Occupations (5052)
100 questions·Pass: 152
Elementary Education: Mathematics (7003)
40 questions·Pass: 157
Elementary Education: Math Specialist (5037)
60 questions·Pass: 157
Speech and Theatre (5222)
80 questions·Pass: 152
Elementary Education: Science Subtest (5005)
30 questions·Pass: 157
Middle School Science (5442)
90 questions·Pass: 150
Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision (5412)
120 questions·Pass: 163
Economics (5911)
110 questions·Pass: 152
School Librarian (5312)
120 questions·Pass: 157
Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (5282)
100 questions·Pass: 153
General Science: Content Knowledge (5436)
135 questions·Pass: 152
Elementary Education: Social Studies Subtest (5004)
30 questions·Pass: 157
PA Grades 4–8 Core Assessment: Pedagogy (5153)
60 questions·Pass: 157
PA Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Science (5159)
80 questions·Pass: 157
Family and Consumer Sciences (5123)
120 questions·Pass: 152
German: World Language (5183)
120 questions·Pass: 157
Elementary Education: Reading and Language Arts Subtest (5002)
50 questions·Pass: 157
French: World Language (5174)
120 questions·Pass: 157
Russian: World Language (5671)
120 questions·Pass: 157
Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications (5543)
120 questions·Pass: 155
Elementary Education: Science CKT (7814)
40 questions·Pass: 157
Journalism (5224)
100 questions·Pass: 152
Music: Content and Instruction (5114)
90 questions·Pass: 152
Teaching Reading: K–12 (5206)
80 questions·Pass: 157
School Counselor (5422)
120 questions·Pass: 157
Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (5511)
100 questions·Pass: 152
Core Academic Skills: Writing (5723)
40 questions·Pass: 162
Core Academic Skills: Reading (5713)
56 questions·Pass: 156
Early Childhood: Mathematics and Science (5028)
40 questions·Pass: 157
Elementary Education Assessment: Reading, Language Arts & Social Studies (5007)
55 questions·Pass: 157
Art: Content Knowledge (5134)
90 questions·Pass: 157
Agriculture (5701)
120 questions·Pass: 147
PLT: Grades 5–9 (5623)
70 questions·Pass: 161
Mathematics: Content Knowledge (5165)
60 questions·Pass: 160
PA Grades 4–8 Core Assessment: English Language Arts and Social Studies (5154)
70 questions·Pass: 157
PLT: Early Childhood (5621)
70 questions·Pass: 161
PLT: PreK–12 (5625)
70 questions·Pass: 161
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018)
80 questions·Pass: 157
Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001)
80 questions·Pass: 157
English to Speakers of Other Languages / ESOL (5362)
120 questions·Pass: 155
California Teaching Certification — FAQ
How do I get a teaching certificate in California?
Bachelor's degree, approved teacher preparation program, passing CBEST and CSET exam scores, US Constitution coursework, CPR certification, TB clearance, fingerprint clearance.
What exams do I need to pass to teach in California?
California requires 159 exam(s) across multiple certification areas. Browse the full list on this page to find the tests relevant to your subject and grade level.
How much do teacher certification exams cost in California?
Exam fees vary by test. Most certification exams cost between $90 and $200 per attempt. Check the individual exam pages for specific pricing.