California Teaching Performance Assessment (CalTPA)

Examination and Performance Assessment Fee Waiver/Reimbursement for Candidates
The 2023-23 California State Budget includes $24 million to continue to provide either a fee waiver or a fee reimbursement to candidates for examinations and performance assessments. Eligible individuals can now register for the examinations (CBEST, CSET, CTEL, RICA, CPACE) and performance assessments (CalAPA, CalTPA, EdSp CalTPA, edTPA) with fees being automatically waived.

Reimbursements for previous registrants who paid during registration:   Individuals who have already registered and paid for examinations and performance assessments will receive reimbursement.

For more information: California Exam and Assessment Fee Waiver FAQ's

You must complete the registration process while funds remain or no later than June 30, 2024, but your test appointment date can be up to one year from your original registration date.

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June, 2024 Reminder: 

The Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA) was suspended for Preliminary Multiple or Single Subject credential candidates enrolled in 2019-20, 2020-21, or 2021-22 who met the following four requirements: 1) were placed or employed in a local educational agency impacted by school site closures related to COVID-19; 2) were in the process of completing the teaching performance assessment; 3) were unable to complete the teaching performance assessment due solely to school closures; and 4) completed all other preliminary teaching credential requirements to earn their Preliminary teaching credential by the end of the preparation program’s 2019-20, 2020-21, or 2021-22 academic year. The suspension ended on August 31, 2022. Candidates issued a Preliminary teaching credential based on the Updated: September 23, 2021 suspension must take and pass a Commission-approved TPA, in addition to meeting all other requirements, prior to being recommended for a Clear teaching credential.

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Resources:

• CTC CalTPA Program & Candidate Supports YouTube Playlists

• CTC CalTPA Information

• CTC CalTPA Webinars

Questions?

• • Please contact CalTPA@ctc.ca.gov 

  • Guidelines for Completing the CalTPA in an Online Setting

  • Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) Test Prep Resources

RICA ~ Reading Instruction Competence Assessment

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing requires that all teacher candidates pass the RICA prior to being recommended for their preliminary credential. Click here to find out about the RICA.

The Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) was suspended for Preliminary Multiple Subject and Education Specialist candidates who between March 19, 2020, and December 31, 2021, were or are unable to complete the RICA due to COVID-19 related testing center closures. Candidates issued a Preliminary teaching credential based on the suspension must take and pass the RICA, in addition to meeting all other requirements, prior to being recommended for a Clear teaching credential.  

PLEASE NOTE:

The Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) is being retired and will no longer be offered after June 30, 2025. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) has adopted a transition plan for the RICA Written Examination and RICA Video Performance Assessment pursuant to the Commission's work to implement Senate Bill 488 (Chap. 678, Stats. 2021), commonly referred to as SB 488. This means that the RICA Written Examination and RICA Video Performance Assessment will no longer be offered after June 30, 2025.

As per Senate Bill 488 , by July 1, 2025, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing must ensure that an approved teaching performance assessment assesses all candidates, including intern candidates, for a preliminary multiple subject credential and a preliminary education specialist credential for competence in instruction in literacy, including, but not limited to, evidence-based methods of teaching foundational reading skills, as specified.

If you are a teacher that needs to take RICA to clear your credential, it may be beneficial to prioritize passing the full assessment prior to its sunset date. Teachers who are required to take the RICA, and do not pass it by then, will need to take a new Literacy Assessment. For more information, please visit the CTC website.

The CTC will continue to provide updates as they become available. In the meantime, it is recommended you complete any remaining RICA requirements you may have before June 30, 2025.

More information may be found in PSA 23-03  on the CTC's Program Sponsor Alerts webpage .

CTC RICA support resources:

• Links to the RICA preparation materials available on the Examinations website here.

Some of these are very helpful to understanding how the exam is structured, what is covered, sample questions, the weighting given to various topics, and what the score represents (available on the Test Results Explanation).

• RICA Examination Preparation

San Diego COE with Point Loma Nazarene University: A free RICA prep course for candidates who have not passed the RICA at https://www.sdcoe.net/human-resources/teacher-prep/Pages/RICA-Preparation.aspx to enroll at no cost.