Secondary Education - Information, Eligibility & Application

To become a middle school or high school teacher you will need a Single Subject Credential.

The Secondary Education Credential Program at Cal Poly Humboldt is a two semester course of study starting each Fall semester and concluding after the Spring semester. By completing our 38-unit professional education program, candidates can obtain a Single Subject Preliminary Credential from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, qualifying them for secondary education teaching positions, primarily in grades 7-12.

The coursework in the Fall semester prepares student teachers for full-time fieldwork in the Spring semester. Student teachers take on teaching responsibilities in the spring and stay at their school site placement until the end of the public school semester in June.

1. Bachelor’s Degree
   If you have not yet obtained a bachelor's degree visit our undergraduate pathway programs page.
2. GPA 2.67 overall or 2.75 for the last 60 semester units.
   A low-GPA appeals process is available. Please contact Keshnee Naidoo for more details at kmn67@humboldt.edu.

1. Application Window: October 1, 2024 - March 16, 2025 (priority deadline March 1, 2025)
2. Apply to Cal Poly Humboldt with Cal State Apply (CSU) - Choose "Fall 2025" and "Single Subject Credential Program"
3. The "Single Subject Credential Program" is listed as an in-person program. Once you start an application, you can designate which format (in person for Humboldt County residents or online/intern if you are interested in the intern option/live in a rural area of CA).

View all these requirements and more in our program and application requirements PDF: SED Program & Application Requirements (PDF)

Prioritize the subject matter proficiency requirement as it is the most time intensive requirement and is the most likely to be delayed!

1. "Letters of Recommendation" (due by March 16th)

To be considered for admission, you will need to request 2 digital letters of recommendation to be submitted directly to Cal State Apply. Contact your potential references prior to entering their information into Cal State Apply. Academic and professional recommendation letters are both acceptable. It might be more pertinent for you to ask a professor to give you a recommendation if you are applying to the credential program right out of school. Whereas, if you've already been in the workforce for several years, having a professional colleague give you a recommendation might be more relevant. Once you have saved an electronic recommendation to Cal State Apply, an email request will automatically be sent to the recommender on your behalf. Please advise your recommender to look for this email in their inbox, as well as their spam or junk-mail folder, as emails do occasionally get filtered out. The recommenders will rate you on various scales as well as provide a short typed recommendation through the link. 

2. Apply for Certificate of Clearance (due by June 30 if admitted)

This process can take up to 6 weeks so apply early! You cannot reuse fingerprints for the Certificate of Clearance.

3. Subject Matter Competency (due by June 30 if admitted)

• There are multiple ways to meet this requirement.
• Typically met through CSET or qualifying undergraduate major.
• Can be met through a transcript review once all official transcripts are sent to Cal Poly Humboldt admissions (digital is preferred) - apply early if taking this route!
• If taking the CSET, at least one subtest must be attempted by June 30, 2025. All CSET subtests must be passed by August 1st. (Testing dates at Cal Poly Humboldt testing center are very limited in June and July!)

4. 45 hours of Early Fieldwork (due by interview - April)

• Observe a California Credentialed teacher for a minimum of 45 hours and use the Early Fieldwork form for documentation.
• Suggested to be grade level specific (secondary level) and in your subject area.
• Must be in a contained classroom (not an after school program or summer camp).
• Observation has to be of a California credentialed teacher.
• Course fulfilling this requirement offered at Cal Poly Humboldt: SED 210/410
• Experience as a substitute teacher can count for half of the hours
• Experience as an instructional aide in a credentialed teacher's classroom at the secondary level can count for all of the hours

5. US Constitution Courses (due by Aug 1 if admitted):

• All CSU graduates have already met this requirement.
• You may have met this requirement through your undergraduate degree by taking a course that specifically covers the principles and provisions of the US Constitution. If you did not, a test is required. If you are not a CSU graduate, contact Keshnee Naidoo, the Program Coordinator, at kmn67@humboldt.edu for information on how you will fulfill this requirement.

6. Valid CPR Certification (due by Aug 1 if admitted): 

• must be adult, child, AND infant
• must be either American Heart Association or Red Cross
• must be an in person or blended format (must have some in person component)
• must be valid while in program

7. Heath Verification (due by Aug 1 if admitted):

• recent TB screening/negative TB test
• proof of MMR immunization or MMR antibody blood titer test

View all these requirements and more in our application requirements PDF: SED Program & Application Requirements (PDF)

Local/In-Person
This one-year format includes fieldwork in the classroom of a credentialed teacher in Humboldt County, with courses completed in-person at Cal Poly Humboldt. This format is for those residing between Ferndale and Trinidad. The program begins in the Fall and is completed after Spring semester.

Distance/Online
This one-year format allows you to complete fieldwork in the classroom of a credentialed teacher in your local area while attending courses synchronously via Zoom. There is no requirement to visit Cal Poly Humboldt at any time during the program. We are committed to offering educational opportunities to individuals living in remote areas of California, where access to other teacher preparation programs is limited. The program begins in the Fall and is completed after Spring semester.

Intern
This two-year format requires employment (halftime or above) at a public school as a teacher in your desired subject area. Hiring processes at school sites are negotiated between the candidate and the school’s administration, and Cal Poly Humboldt cannot assist or engage with the employment decisions of the district. Once employment is secured, the School of Education can assist in advising and enrollment. The Intern program’s coursework is extended over a two-year period starting in the Fall Semester. For more information, visit Single Subject - Intern Program.

If you have questions about the program or application process, please contact our Program Coordinator, Keshnee Naidoo at kmn67@humboldt.edu or keshnee.naidoo@humboldt.edu.

• Art
• Biology
• Chemistry
• English
• Geoscience
• Industrial Technology
• Math
• Music
• Physical Education
• Physics
• History/Social Science
• World Languages

The following undergraduate programs, offered by other Cal Poly Humboldt academic departments, allow you to waive the subject matter exams--a requirement for the Secondary Education Credential Program. 

Visit the corresponding department website below for more information:

• Art Education
• English/Language Arts Education
• Mathematics Education
• Music Education
• Physical Education
• History Education
• Spanish Education  

*Please note that some of the above are concentrations. 

Tuition and costs information for the 2024-2025 academic year can be found on the Cost of Attendance page by scrolling down to the table titled "Teaching Credential: Cost of Attendance 2024-2025". Financial Aid information specific to credential students can be found on the Financial Aid: Just for Credential Students page. Information about scholarships for School of Education students can be found on the School of Education Scholarships page.

After meeting basic credential requirements, you’ll be recommended for a preliminary credential through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), which is valid for five years. Within the first three years of being hired as an educator, you will be required to participate in an induction program to clear your credential.

Prepares physical education teachers to work with preschool and school-aged children and youth with disabilities.

Find out more about this program