Compliance & Deadlines
CTC 60-Day Requirement
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing requires that within the first 60 days of a candidate’s admission, the institution must complete an assessment of each candidate’s standing in relation to demonstration of the Subject Matter Competency requirement and notify candidates of that standing.
Fieldwork and Credentialing Restrictions
Subject Matter Competency must be met prior to applying for student teaching, internship eligibility, or teacher residency. Proof of meeting Subject Matter Competency must be submitted to the student teaching application and teaching internship eligibility application.
For students taking the CSET exams, they should schedule exams accordingly to ensure test scores are received prior to the designated application deadlines.
View the Computer-Based CSET Test Release Dates >
Learn more about student teaching and internship eligibility >
Pathway to Subject Matter Competency
Step 1: Submit the Intended Subject Matter Competency Plan in your Admissions Application, including supporting documentation (e.g., transcripts, CSET scores, letters).
Step 2: Wait for your official evaluation email from the Office of Licensures and Credentialing (within first 60 days of program).
Step 3: If your evaluation shows you have not yet met Subject Matter Competency, connect with the Office of Licensures and Credentialing to discuss your plan.
Step 4: Take action to fulfill your plan for Subject Matter Competency.
Step 5: If you need a second review, submit the SMC Evaluation Request Form.
Step 6: Save a copy of your evaluation PDF for your records
IMPORTANT: Ensure your competency is confirmed before applying for student teaching/internships
Initial Subject Matter Competency Review
Students complete Intended Subject Matter Competency Plan as part of the Admissions Application Checklist within the admissions application portal. This is a declaration of intention. If admitted, this form does not confirm completion of Subject Matter Competency or eligibility for fieldwork. Upon admittance, all students must receive a formal review by the Office of Licensures and Credentialing and receive written confirmation of Subject Matter Competency for this requirement to be considered satisfied.
All students will be reviewed for the subject matter information input on their Admissions applications. Upon review, students will receive an email with a pdf copy of their evaluation and details on whether they meet Subject Matter Competency via their intended plan or not.
Students must retain a copy of the pdf showing they have met subject matter competency for their records.
Additional Reviews for Subject Matter Competency
Students may need additional reviews to ensure they have met Subject Matter Competency. Students may use the SMC Evaluation Request Form to request an additional evaluation.
This form is only for those who have already been evaluated by the Office of Licensures and Credentialing. Do not submit this form if you have not yet received an initial review. This form is intended for the following:
- Those who were reviewed previously and did not meet Subject Matter Competency
- Those who are requesting to change their subject area
- Those who are requesting to add a subject area for dual credentials
For those who began before Fall 2025 and have never been reviewed for Subject Matter Competency. You may request a review through this page. This group may leave the previous evaluation section blank.
If you are unsure if you have already been reviewed for Subject Matter Competency, please reach out to the Office of Licensures and Credentialing at olc@redlands.edu before proceeding.
Supporting Documentation by Option
Students must provide evidence of meeting Subject Matter Competency in alignment with the information detailed below:
|
Option |
Required Documents |
Where to Submit |
|
CSETs |
CSET Exam Results |
Upload via SMC Evaluation Request Form. |
|
College-Level Coursework |
Official transcripts from all former institutions |
Submit electronically to registrar@redlands.edu. |
|
Degree |
Final transcript with posted degree |
Submit electronically to registrar@redlands.edu. |
|
Subject Matter Program |
Letter from undergraduate subject matter program |
Upload via SMC Evaluation Request Form. |
|
Combination |
Evidence of completed CSET examinations and official transcripts from all former institutions |
Upload via SMC Evaluation Request Form. |
*If submitted at admissions and unchanged, items do not need to be re-submitted.
Options To Meet The Subject Matter Competency Requirement
The California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) is a series of subject matter examinations for prospective teachers who choose to meet the Subject Matter Competency requirement by taking examinations. Computer-based CSET exams are available year-round by appointment.
To pass the CSET in a given subject area, a minimum scaled score of 220 must be achieved on each subtest.
Review CSET Requirements and Register Here.
- Multiple Subject candidates should enroll in all subtests for multiple subject CSET.
- Single Subject candidates should enroll in all subtests for the relevant single subject.
- Education specialist candidates should enroll in any CSETS that qualify a candidate for either the Single Subject credential or Multiple Subject credential.
Subject Matter Competency can be met through the successful completion of a bachelor's degree or higher in the respective subject area if:
- The degree must have been earned at a regionally-accredited institution of higher education.
- The degree major is one of the acceptable degree majors in the credential subject area being sought.
The CTC provides guidance on the Appropriate Degrees to Satisfy Subject Matter Competence webpage. Education specialist candidates should have completion of any of the degree majors that qualify a candidate for either the Single Subject credential or Multiple Subject credential.
For candidates who have degree majors in areas that are in the unacceptable column, this means that these majors are not acceptable under the college degree option. However, some of the college-level coursework taken for the completion of the degree may satisfy some subject matter requirements through the coursework review process.
Note that the University of Redlands is not accredited for the Dance and Theater Single Subject credential areas, however Education Specialist candidates may still meet Subject Matter Competency using the relevant degrees for those content areas.
Completion of a subject matter program offered by a Commission-approved undergraduate institution of higher education satisfies the Subject Matter Competency requirement for that subject.
Students who wish to meet Subject Matter Competency by the subject matter program option must request a letter from their undergraduate subject matter program.
The University of Redlands has a CTC approved subject matter program via the Bachelor of Music in Music Education.
Subject Matter Competency can be met through college-level coursework that they successfully completed at one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education. The CTC provides guidelines on the domains that must be met for candidates to showcase their knowledge of the content area. These guidelines can be found on the Domains of the Subject Matter Requirements webpage. All domains listed under that content area must be met as determined by the Office of Licensures and Credentialing in alignment with these requirements.
Subject Matter Competency does not need to be met in its entirety by one single option. Rather, it can be met through a combination of options, such as examination, subject matter program, and/or college-level coursework, which meet or exceeds the relevant subject matter domains adopted by the CTC in the content area of the credential.