Subject Matter

Requirements

FOR All teacher candidates

All teacher candidates must meet the Subject Matter Requirement before they will be able to participate in clinical practice, apply for an Intern Teaching Credential, and/or apply for their Preliminary Teaching Credential.

Applicants for a credential can satisfy the subject matter requirement by the following routes:

Completion of a Commission-approved subject matter program
Passing the required exam
Completion of coursework at one or more regionally-accredited institutions of higher education that addresses each of the subject matter domains for the desired content area (see AB 130 TK-12 Education Trailer Bill 2021)
Completion of a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally-accredited institution of higher education in the relevant content area (see AB 130 TK-12 Education Trailer Bill 2021)
Completion of a combination of coursework and exams in the relevant content area (see AB 130 TK-12 Education Trailer Bill 2021)

If you have questions about the Subject Matter Requirement, please feel free to contact your Credential Analyst.

Multiple Subject Candidates

Available options for Multiple Subject candidates to prove subject matter competency:

Complete a CTC-approved Elementary Subject Matter Waiver Program - verified with a Subject Matter Waiver Letter
Passage of CSET subtests 101, 214 and 225
A Bachelor's degree or higher in Liberal Studies, Liberal Arts, or Elementary Education. For the use of possible Interdisciplinary majors, please see the AB 130 TK-12 Education Trailer Bill 2021 for more information)
To explore the possibility of meeting the Subject Matter Requirement by either coursework or a combination of exams and coursework, please see the AB 130 TK-12 Education Trailer Bill 2021 for more information.

Single Subject Candidates

Available options for Single Subject candidates to prove subject matter competency:

Complete a CTC-approved Subject Matter Waiver Program - verified with a Subject Matter Waiver Letter
Passage of CSET subtests in the area of choice
A degree major in Art, Business, English, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Science (including Biology, Chemistry, Geoscience, Earth and Space Science, or Physics), Social Science, or World Language from a regionally accredited college or university may be used to meet the Subject Matter Requirement. Please note that the degree major title must be a direct match to the subjects named in Education Code section 44257(a) and to the Single Subject area the candidate is pursuing.
To explore the possibility of meeting the Subject Matter Requirement by either coursework or a combination of exams and coursework, please see the AB 130 TK-12 Education Trailer Bill 2021 for more information.

Special Education Candidates

Teacher candidates in our Education Specialist credential programs can use any of the above methods listed for Multiple Subject or Single Subject subject matter requirements.
It is even possible for candidates in an Education Specialist program to use an exact degree major subject match for subjects in which CTC offers a Single Subject Credential but in which APU does not offer the Single Subject (Secondary) program (e.g., Agriculture, Dance, Health Science, Home Economics, Industrial and Technology Education, Theater).
- While this is now allowed by the CTC, please note that meeting SMR in a non-core subject area, may limit placement options for clinical practice and marketability for employment for Education Specialist candidates. We provide this information without endorsing it specifically, and encourage candidates to contact their preferred districts to see what that district specifically requires.

Subject Matter Waiver Letter

If a bachelor’s degree was completed at a California institution within a CTC-approved Subject Matter Program, you may qualify for a Subject Matter Waiver, which will verify subject matter competency and alleviate the need to pass CSET exams. The subject-matter waiver letter must be obtained from the college or university where the bachelor’s degree was completed and must be signed by the Credential Analyst or CTC-approved signer. APU's Department of Teacher Education will accept a Subject Matter Waiver letter from another institution in the areas of Art, Business, English, Math, Music, Physical Education, Science, Social Science, or World Language.

Azusa Pacific University’s CTC-Approved Subject Matter Programs

Subject Matter Waivers are not guaranteed, but an APU student may meet subject matter requirements if their bachelor’s degree is from an APU CTC-approved program:

Obtaining an APU Subject Matter Evaluation

Once a BA degree has been posted, it is the responsibility of the undergraduate student to initiate this process. Contact your Credential Analyst who will begin the subject matter evaluation request process. The Credential Analyst will make a request from the APU undergraduate academic department, who will complete a transcript evaluation. When this has been completed, the Credential Analyst will write an official Subject Matter Waiver letter that states the student has met the subject matter requirement. This letter can be used for future applications to a teacher preparation program and for teacher credentialing purposes. This process can take 4 - 6 weeks to complete.

Subject Matter Waiver Letter from Outside APU

If you completed your undergraduate coursework at a California university other than APU, please contact that university’s Credential Office to determine whether you qualify for a Subject Matter Waiver Letter. APU will only accept a Subject Matter Waiver Letter if it is on letterhead from a California College or University and signed by a Credential Analyst.

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