Frequently Asked Questions

Credential Help and Answers

Find clear answers to common questions about admissions, credential requirements, applications and next steps.

Whether you are just getting started or working through the final stages of your credential, this FAQ brings together information to help you move forward with confidence. Explore answers about program admissions, credential applications, required documents, timelines and support services so you can better understand what to expect and where to go when you need help.

Admissions and Application

The Graduate College of Education (GCOE) prepares educators, clinicians, and leaders to serve students
and families in the Bay Area and beyond. Its work is grounded in social justice, equity, access, and change
for good. The GCOE offers undergraduate, credential, master's, and doctoral programs.

The GCOE coordinates credential programs across SF State. Options include Multiple Subject, Single
Subject, the PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential, Education Specialist, and
services credentials (Administrative Services, Clinical or Rehabilitative Services, Speech, Language and
Hearing Sciences, Pupil Personnel Services and School Nurse). The college also offers traditional and
intern pathways, bilingual authorizations, and credentials or programs through other SF State colleges.
Review the current credential program list before choosing a pathway.

The Multiple Subject Credential prepares teachers for self-contained elementary classrooms, typically in
grades TK-6. The Single Subject Credential prepares teachers for a specific subject in middle and high
school settings. SFSU's Single Subject areas include Art, English, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education,
Science, Social Science, and World Languages.

SFSU offers preliminary Education Specialist pathways in Early Childhood Special Education, Extensive
Support Needs, Mild to Moderate Support Needs, and Visual Impairments. Program details and
requirements vary by area.

For information about the M.A. in Educational Leadership and Preliminary Administrative Services
Credential, email the ELSIT Department at elsit@sfsu.edu.

The CTC is California's state agency responsible for educator -preparation standards, program
accreditation, and issuing credentials and permits. SFSU provides the coursework, fieldwork, advising, and
credential programs approved by the CTC. After students complete the program and requirements, SFSU
verifies completion and recommends them to the CTC, which processes and issues the credential.

Application deadlines vary by program and academic term. According to the current GCOE deadline
page, key application deadlines include:

  • February 15: Fall Single Subject Credential
  • March 1: Fall Multiple Subject Credential [Fall-Spring-Fall]
  • March 1: Summer Start Multiple Subject Credential [Summer-Fall-Spring]
  • April 1: Fall Special Education Credential options
  • April 1: Summer Start Pre-K Early Childhood Education Credential Program [Summer-Fall-Spring]
  • August 1: Fall Single Subject Intern Program
  • November 1: Spring Special Education Credential options
  • November 15: Spring Single Subject options
  • December 15: Fall Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Please refer to the official GCOE application deadline page to verify the most up-to-date deadline for
your chosen program and term before submitting your application.

The Cal State Apply graduate/post-baccalaureate application currently lists a $70 university application
fee. Fees and requirements can change, so confirm the current amount in Cal State Apply and on the
program page.

Tuition and mandatory fees vary by program, unit load, and residency. For current amounts, review the
SFSU Bursar's Office tuition and fees page.

Yes. The GCOE lists scholarship opportunities for Credentials, Undergraduate, Master's, Doctoral, and
other education students. Eligibility, award amounts, deadlines, and application requirements vary. Review
the GCOE Scholarships page and the SFSU Academic Works scholarship site for current opportunities and
application instructions.

Begin with the appropriate SFSU program page and then submit the university application through Cal State
Apply. The GCOE's How to Apply page links to program requirements, required documents, and
department-specific application instructions. Some programs also require a separate program-processing
step or fee.

Credential applicants generally submit the university application through Cal State Apply, and the
documents required by their Credential Program. The exact sequence and program-selection name depend
on the pathway. Use the department's current application instructions rather than relying on a prior
application or another CSU campus process.

Yes. SFSU offers an Undergraduate Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) in which students earn a
Bachelor's degree and a preliminary teaching credential in four years. Current ITEP options include Early
Childhood Special Education, PK-3 Early Childhood Education, and Physical Education. ITEP students
apply through the Undergraduate pathway and complete the credential prerequisites while earning the
degree. SFSU also offers Graduate or Post-Baccalaureate credential pathways, including Multiple Subject,
Single Subject, and Education Specialist programs. Those pathways generally require a Bachelor's degree
before enrollment, so applicants should use the program-specific graduate application instructions.

Minimum GPA requirements vary by program and whether you are applying to a Credential Only or
Credential-plus-Master's Pathway. For example, the current Multiple Subject and Single Subject pages list
2.50 overall or 2.75 in the last 60 semester units (or 90 quarter units) for Credential Only applicants, while Credential-plus-Master's applicants generally need a 3.0 GPA. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee
admission.

Requirements are program specific. Applicants may need to demonstrate subject matter competency,
early field experience, and other professional or state requirements. Review the current checklist for your
credential area before submitting an application.

Depending on the program, applicants need transcripts, proof of degree, a statement of purpose, a resume
or CV, letters of recommendation, early field experience documentation, subject -matter evidence,
tuberculosis clearance, and fingerprint clearance or a Certificate of Clearance. The required document list
differs by program.

Applicants may meet the subject matter requirement through an approved subject matter program, qualifying coursework or degree major, or an applicable examination route, depending on the credential area. SFSU directs applicants to the current California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and program specific guidance. Confirm the approved option for your credential area and application term.

Credential applicants should review the SFSU Certificate of Clearance instructions and the requirements for their program. The Single Subject application checklist, for example, includes fingerprint clearance through Live Scan and a Certificate of Clearance. Requirements and timing can vary, so complete the process early enough for your application to be reviewed.

The amount and setting depend on the credential. The current Multiple Subject, Single Subject, and PK-3 materials describe a minimum of 20 hours of early field experience, with the setting aligned to the credential area. Use the official SFSU form and follow the program's instructions for documenting t he experience.

Yes, eligible candidates may apply to an intern pathway. SFSU's intern programs are for employed teachers who are, or will be, the teacher of record and who meet credential and program requirements. The intern program does not place candidates in jobs.

The timeline depends on the credential and pathways. SFSU describes a one-year summer-start or a three-semester option for the Multiple Subject Credential. The Single Subject Credential can be completed in two or three semesters. Intern, bilingual, Credential-plus-Master's, and Special-Education pathways may follow different schedules.

Course schedules vary depending on department and term. Some GCOE programs offer late-afternoon or evening courses, and some include online or hybrid sessions. Fieldwork and student teaching require scheduled participation in schools or other professional settings. Confirm the current schedule with the department before planning a work schedule.

Attend a program information session. Information sessions explain coursework, field experiences, student teaching, pathways, and timelines. Program staff can also clarify placement expectations and required documentation.

The review process varies. Initial review of applications are done after the program application deadline for completeness of the application. You will be notified if there are missing documents. Applications will then later be reviewed by the academic department. Applicants who meet minimum qualifications may be invited to an interview, and applicants recommended for admission will be notified of the department’s recommendation. Official admission notification is determined by the Division of Graduate Studies and appears in the SFSU Student Portal. Monitor the email address and portal connected to your application.

For program-specific questions, applicants should contact the appropriate GCOE academic department. The Academic Programs page lists Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Equity, Leadership Studies, and Instructional Technologies, and the Ed.D. Educational Leadership program. For credential admissions, pre-admission advising, and application processing, contact the Credential and Graduate Services Center at credinfo@sfsu.edu.

Start with the GCOE website at https://gcoe.sfsu.edu/. Useful pages include Credential Programs, How to Apply, GCOE Admission Deadlines, and the Credential and Graduate Services Center. Program pages and department sites are the final authority for current requirements, deadlines, fees, and schedules.

Official SFSU Resources