How to Apply to the Special Education Credential Programs
Special Education Preliminary Teaching Credential
If you are applying for the Fall 2026 semester, please check back in September for updated application dates. The application opens October 1st each year for fall start.
Important Dates for Spring 2026
| Item | Deadline |
|---|---|
| 1. Cal State Apply Application (opens August 1 each year) |
August 31, 2025 |
| 2. Official Transcripts | September 15, 2025 |
|
3. Program Application & Supplemental Materials |
September 15, 2025 |
Application Instructions
Step 1: Submit Cal State Apply Application to SDSU
SDSU uses the California State University common admission application through the Cal State Apply website.
Step 2: Submit Official Transcripts
After you submit your Cal State Apply application, send Official Transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended to SDSU. Continue to monitor your email account for correspondance from SDSU.
Step 3: Submit the Program Application & Supplemental Materials
In addition to your university application (above), you must complete a Program Application to the Education Specialist Credential Program. This includes uploading supplemental documents that demonstrate you meet all eligibility requirements.
Start Early: Prepare Your Supplemental Materials
Before beginning the application, prepare digital copies (PDF format preferred) of the following required documents:
- Certificate of Clearance or Emergency Teaching Permit (e.g., approval email from the CTC or the certificate)
- Prerequisite Courses (e.g. unofficial transcripts with grades posted)
- Subject Matter Competency (e.g., CSET exam scores or approved subject-matter waiver for your credential area)
- Unofficial Transcripts (from all colleges/universities attended)
- Personal Narrative
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Video
- Credential Application Fee
- Negative TB Test Results (dated within the past 4 years)
Complete the Program Application:
Once your materials are ready, access the Education Specialist Program Application using the appropriate link below.
In the application, you will:
- Answer questions about your bachelor's degree and GPA. Please select the links to determine if you meet the eligibility requirements
- Upload each required document in the designated section
- Certify that all information is accurate and complete
Important Information About Credential Requirements:
- All admission requirements need to be completed prior to admission to SDSU's credential program. Some items can be in progress when you are applying (like prerequisites and your degree), but Subject Matter Competency and the Clearance must be complete before admission.
- Please maintain all your original documents as you may need to submit these again to districts for student teaching and/or employment.
Required Supplemental Materials (Full Details)
Certificate of Clearance or Emergency 30-day Substitute Teaching Permit
All applicants to the Credential Program are required to obtain state and federal background clearance through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) as a condition of admission to the program. We recommend completing this process through the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE).
You must have either of the following clearances granted:
- Certificate of Clearance: Visit SDCOE Certificate of Clearances (select this option if you don't have your degree yet)
- Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit: Visit SDCOE Subsitute Teaching Permits
Please start this process as soon as possible. The clearance must be issued by Sept. 15th for spring admission.
Questions? Contact the CCTC directly using their contact form:
Emergency 30-Day Permit can be done online or in person.
Fingerprinting can be done at any Live Scan location with the required Fingerprinting Form (41-LS) form.
| Certificate of Clearance | Emergency Permit |
| Bachelor's degree can be in progress | Must have earned a Bachelor's degree |
| Requires Live Scan fingerprinting (41-LS Fingerprint Form only) and online application to CCTC | Requires Live Scan fingerprinting (41-LS Fingerprint Form AND Fingerprint Clearinghouse) and online application to CCTC (handled at the San Diego County Office of Education) |
| Valid for 5 years | Must be renewed each year |
| Does NOT allow substitute teaching | Allows you to substitute teach |
| Must be valid throughout our program and when you apply for your credential | Must be valid throughout our program and when you apply for your credential |
Prerequisite Course Requirements
The following courses must be completed within the past 7 years with a grade of "C," "Credit/Pass," or better before entering the program. These courses cannot be taken concurrently with the program (unless you are in the 4 semester program and have completed some of the prerequisites), but may be in progress at the time of application or completed during the summer prior to admission.
- SPED 450: Classroom Adaptations for Special Populations (3 units)
(Note: if you have previously taken SPED 500, that will be accepted in lieu of SPED 450) - SPED 501: Typical & Atypical Learning Processes (3 units)
- SPED 502: Field Experiences in General and Special Education (1 unit)
- SPED 527: SPED in a Pluralistic Society (3 units)
- DLE 915A: Teaching and Learning in the Content Area: ELD/SDAIE (3 units)
- Early Childhood Specialization Only: SPED 528: Young Children with Disabilities and their Families (3 units, can be taken in the first Fall semester)
If you have taken classes that you think are similar to these prerequisites you can petition them by emailing [email protected].
Subject Matter Competency
To be eligible for a California teaching credential, all applicants must demonstrate subject matter competency in their credential area. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) outlines multiple ways to meet this requirement. Please refer to the CCTC Subject Matter Chart Options to understand the available pathways.
Meeting Subject Matter Competency Through Coursework
If you are considering meeting subject matter competency through completed coursework, it is your responsibility to evaluate whether your academic background aligns with the state requirements. To do so:
- Review the Subject Matter Domains for your subject area.
- Carefully compare your completed coursework to the domain expectations listed.
- Once you believe your coursework meets all the domain requirements, you may email [email protected] to request a Subject Matter Course Review Request Form.
Please note: Our admissions team does not provide preliminary transcript advising or course-matching guidance. If you are unsure whether your courses fulfill the subject matter requirements, they likely do not. It is essential that you review the domains carefully and only request a review if you are confident that your coursework meets all listed competencies. You must request an evaluation no later than January 1st for Fall start or August 1st for Spring start.
Early Childhood Specialization Only
Early Childhood applicants must have completed a child development course preferably one that includes child development for young children from birth to age 6 (Please note development and learning for Adolescence/Adulthood is not acceptable).
If your undergraduate degree is in Child and Family Development, Psychology, or Social Work; you automatically meet this requirement. If your degree is in another subject area, then an early childhood course is required.
At SDSU, the approved course(s) would be CFD 375A or CFD 375B. Only one course is required.
Transcripts
This process includes submitting both unoffical and official transcripts.
- Unofficial Transcripts are submitted to Cal State Apply
- Offical Transcripts are submitted to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office after submitting Cal State Apply
Get more details and instructions below:
Please wait to request these official transcripts until after you have submitted the Cal State Apply application, then request that your official transcripts be sent to SDSU, following instructions below under Submitting Your Transcripts. If you send them in before you submit the application, they will take longer to process.
If you attended SDSU for your undergraduate degree, you can skip this step—we have this information already on file.
Submitting Your Transcripts
Transcripts must be sent by the institution
AFTER you submit your Cal State Apply application, have your official transcript(s) sent to SDSU Graduate Admissions. SDSU requires 1 official transcript from all schools attended (except SDSU):
Via email
When requesting an electronic transcript, you can choose San Diego State University on the selection menu or have them emailed to: [email protected].
- SDSU will not accept transcripts emailed from students.
- SDSU accepts electronic transcripts in PDF or EDI format.
Via mail
Have mailed transcripts sent to SDSU Graduate Admissions:
Graduate Admissions
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8225
Information on submitting transcripts can also be found on the Steps to Apply webpage (Step 3).
To upload unofficial transcripts from the institution where you bachelor’s degree was earned:
- Download a digital copy of your unofficial transcript, or scan a paper copy.
- Upload it to the Program Materials section of your Cal State Apply application.
- This requirement applies to all applicants, including current SDSU undergraduates.
- If your degree is still in progress, you must still upload your most recent unofficial transcript for faculty review.
Note: This step is in addition to sending official transcripts to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Uploading unofficial transcripts does not fulfill the official transcript requirement.
Optional: You may also upload unofficial transcripts from community colleges and other institutions attended. Use the "Additional Unofficial Transcript" upload section in the Cal State Apply application to include these.
Personal Narrative
Respond to the following prompt:
Please write a brief (500-word maximum) statement addressing your background and experiences that have contributed to your desire to be a special education teacher as well as the personal and professional factors that you consider to be most important if one is to become an effective and caring special educator.
Two Letters of Recommendation
All applicants must submit at least two letters of recommendation as part of their application. These letters should speak to your readiness to work with school-aged students and come from people who know you in a professional or academic context.
Important! Letters must be submitted by the application deadline. Be sure to ask your recommenders early to give them enough time to respond.
- Choose recommenders who know you in different capacities (e.g., professor, employer, supervising teacher).
Do not submit two letters from the same type of role (e.g., two coaches). - Strong recommendations typically come from:
- University professors or instructors
- Employers or supervisors
- Teachers you’ve worked with or volunteered for
- Family members and friends are not acceptable. Recommenders must clearly state how they know you in their letter.
- Each letter must include the recommender’s email and phone number.
In the Recommendations section of your Cal State Apply application:
- Enter the name and email address of each recommender.
- The system will email them with instructions to upload their letter.
- It is your responsibility to follow up and ensure they complete the process.
Track your requests in the system:
- Requested – You’ve submitted the request; the email has been sent.
- Accepted – Your recommender has agreed but has not uploaded the letter yet.
- Completed – The letter is uploaded and part of your application.
Note: We can only review letters that show as "Completed" in the system.
University or community college instructors may submit a Credential Recommendation Form instead of a traditional letter.
These forms are not sent through Cal State Apply—you must email the form link to your instructor directly.
We do not expect every letter to cover all points, but across your recommendations, reviewers will look for comments on:
- Your qualifications for a teaching career
- Experience in multicultural or diverse settings
- Academic background and educational experiences
- Employment or volunteer experience
- Teaching or leadership roles
- Your potential for success as a teacher
Video
As part of your Cal State Apply application, you’ll need to upload a short video (no longer than 2 minutes) responding to the following prompts:
Video Prompts:
- What is a strength you bring to teaching, and what do you anticipate will be a challenge?
- How have your experiences or interests related to teaching and/or your subject area prepared you for this credential program?
- How do you hope students will be changed by the lessons you create for them?
You’re welcome to be creative, but your responses to the questions are the top priority. Faculty prefer that you appear on camera in the video.
How to Submit Your Video
- Upload your video to YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive.
- Create a shareable link (make sure the privacy settings allow others to view it).
- In your application, paste the full video URL (not hyperlinked text).
Important!
- Do not embed the link in a word (like “Video”) — the system cannot open linked text.
- Be sure the link is public or shareable, or faculty won’t be able to view it.
Credential Application Fee
A $25 application fee is required to submit your application to the preliminary credential program. Payments can be made online through SDSU eCashier.
- Select "view details" next to the Credential Application Fee.
- Select "add to cart."
- Select "checkout."
- Enter the personal information requested and select "continue."
- Enter payment method and select "continue." Continue following directions until payment has been submitted.
- Upload the receipt of payment into the Cal State Apply application (make sure your name and the receipt number are visible).
Tuberculin Clearance - Negative TB Test
Verification of a negative TB test (verification of no presence or active case of TB through PPD or Mantoux test), must be valid and on file throughout the credential program.
- TB tests are valid for 4 years and can be taken at SDSU Student Health Services (for students currently enrolled at SDSU) or through any public health clinic, HMO, or private physician.
- If you receive a positive skin test, then you will need to provide proof that your TB is not active by a doctor’s note or x-ray results.
- You will need to upload proof of negative TB test to the Documents tab in the Program Materials box of the Cal State Apply application.
Please note that after admission to SDSU, SDSU Student Health Services will require you to provide immunization and TB records to them directly. We do not share this information with them.