Things you need to know if you want to teach high school
To become a secondary education teacher in California you will need to earn a Single Subject Credential. Prior to enrolling in a credential program, you will need to complete a bachelor’s degree, fulfill your basic skills requirement and demonstrate subject matter competency. In other words, you have to demonstrate that you know the subject that you will be teaching. Currently, you have TWO ways of demonstrating this:
By completing the state approved subject matter preparation program (SMPP) in the subject that you want to teach. Typically you would also get a bachelor’s degree in that subject. For example, if you wanted to teach English, you could get a Bachelor’s degree in English and complete an English subject matter preparation program.
OR
- By passing the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) in your specific subject area. For example, if you wanted to teach History, you would need to pass the CSET: Social Science Examination