IMPORTANT NOTE: It is highly advisable that you consult with one of our academic advisors to determine your specific requirements for the preliminary credential based on your specific background, education and circumstances. Please call our office at (805) 437-1320 to speak with an advisor or to make an advisement appointment.

1. Application for Credential: Please complete Sections 1, 3 (attach any supporting documentation/explanation for any question you answer “yes”) and sign/date under Oath and Affidavit on the last page.
2. Request for Live Scan (fingerprints) Service: Contact your local school district or police station and check to see if they do live scan fingerprints for applying for a teaching credential. Please note: A fee will be required.
3. Proof of meeting US Constitution requirement by either college coursework or exam (official transcript or exam results).
   1. If you have a bachelor’s degree issued from a California State University (CSU), this will also meet this requirement.
   2. If you need to meet this requirement, there are several exam options available:
      • UCLA Extension US Constitution exam
      • California Lutheran University US Constitition class/exam
      • Notre Dame De Namur Online US Constitution exam
      • Cuesta College American Constitution test (San Luis Obispo County)
4. Money order or cashier’s check for $55.00 made payable to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (or CTC) for the credential application fee.
5. Check for $75.00 payable to the Ventura County Office of Education (or VCOE) for our advisement/processing/recommendation fees. This one-time fee also covers the application fee to the Ventura County DSC Level I and Level II Program.
6. FOR NON-ACADEMIC SUBJECT AREAS - verification of experience and/or education in the subject area can be met by any ONE of the following:
   1. High school diploma or G.E.D. AND letter(s) verifying five years of full-time (or 7500 hours over 5 or more years) work experience in the subject area (please note that teaching experience does not meet this requirement). Letters should be on letterhead and verify that the individual was/is employed with the employer; state beginning and ending dates of employment; whether the job was full-time or part-time (if part-time, must give accounting of hours); complete description of job duties; signed by employer (include job title of person signing and contact information). Click here to see sample work experience verification letters.
   2. Bachelor's Degree and 20 semester units (or 10 upper division semester units) in the subject area. Submission of official college transcripts required.
   3. One (1) year of subject-related experience AND 96 semester units of college coursework, including a minimum of 16 semester units in the subject area. Submission of letter(s) verifying experience (see "a" above) and official college transcripts.
   4. Two (2) years of subject-related experience AND 72 semester units of college coursework, including a minimum of 12 semester units in the subject area. Submission of letter(s) verifying experience (see "a" above) and official college transcripts.
   5. Three (3) years of subject-related experience AND 48 semester units of college coursework, including a minimum of 8 semester units in the subject area. Submission of letter(s) verifying experience (see "a" above) and official college transcripts.
   6. Four (4) years of subject-related experience AND 24 semester units of college coursework, including a minimum of 4 semester units in the subject area. Submission of letter(s) verifying experience (see "a" above) and official college transcripts
7. FOR ACADEMIC SUBJECT AREAS: must meet ALL of the following requirements:
   1. Bachelor's Degree or higher. Submission of official transcripts required.
   2. California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) exam passing score results or card. For more information about the CBEST exam, go to www.cbest.nesinc.com.
   3. Semester units as follows:
      • For English as a Second Language (ESL) - 20 semester units in any one or any combination of the following coursework: Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), English, Language other than English, Linquistics, Bilingual/bicultural studies, Teaching Reading, Speech
      • For Elementary and Secondary Basic Skills - 20 semester units with at least 3 units in four of the following areas: English, Math, Science, Social Science, Fine Arts, Language other than English
      • For Individual Subjects (Language other than English, English, Fine Arts, Life Science including General Science, Math, Physical Science including General Science, Social Sciences) - 20 semester units in the subject to be taught.

Once you have completed and gathered all of the above necessary documents and are ready to apply for the credential:

1. Possess a Preliminary DSC Adult Ed Credential and obtain written verification from your employing school district (ESD) that you taught at least four terms on the preliminary credential (a minimum of one course in each of four terms within the five-year period of validity of your preliminary credential. Two of these terms must be with one ESD.) Please have your school district complete their own letter (on district letterhead) or a Verification of Experience form. Note: subbing does not meet this requirement.
2. Verification of completion of a Commission-approved DSC Adult Ed Level 1 program in the first two years of your preliminary DSC Adult Ed Credential. Please note that failure to complete a Level 1 program by the end of the first two years of your credential will deem the credential inactive and you will be unauthorized to teach under this credential until this requirements is fulfilled.
3. Verification of Completion of a Commission-approved DSC Adult Ed Level 2 Program by the five-year expiration date of your preliminary credential.
4. Official transcript of a health education course (at least 1 semester unit) which covers nutrition and substance abuse.
   1. If you need to meet this requirement, we usually offer a 1-day Saturday Health course each school year. To register, please download the DSC Adult Ed Registration brochure located under the "Links and Forms" section on the Ventura COE DSC Program Home Page.
      1. If you already completed the Ventura COE Health course, you must request a transcript from California Lutheran University's website.
5. Copy of front and back of CPR card/certificate covering Adult, Child and Infant (or Adult/Pediatric) certification (same standards as American Red Cross or American Heart Association).
1. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) will accept online CPR training through www.cprtoday.com toward credential requirements. Please note that online CPR training is generally not acceptable if needed for school employment purposes.
6. Application for Credential: Please complete Sections 1, 3 (attach any supporting documentation/explanation for any question you answer “yes”) and sign/date under Oath and Affidavit on the last page.
7. Money order or cashier’s check for $55.00 made payable to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (or CTC) for the credential application fee.