Teacher Education Admissions

Application Requirements

• Online Application

  M.Ed. Applicants and Non-Degree Applicants (Credential-Only) 

  Our program requires applicants to submit two applications to complete the admission process. First, the applicant must submit their graduate application. Second, the applicant will be emailed a supplemental application within 1-2 business days after submitting the graduate application. Applicants are required to submit the supplementary application for their applicant file. Please view our application information video here

   

  Application Steps: 

  1. Submit Graduate Application
  2. Application Term: Summer 2026
  3. Select Program:
     • M.Ed. General Education with Teaching Emphasis, plus Multiple or Single Subject Credential
     • M.Ed. in Special Education, plus Education Specialist Credential 
     • Non-Degree Program (Credential-Only)
  4. Application Fee: Pay and submit the non refundable application fee ($135.00 for residents and $155.00 for non-residents)
  5. Submit TEP Credential application (This supplemental application will be emailed to you 1-2 business days after submitting your graduate application)

   

   

• Official Transcript

  Official electronic transcripts are preferred. All official e-transcripts should be emailed directly to creded@ucr.edu

  • M.Ed. Applicants: Submit one (1) official electronic transcript from each institution (this includes UC Riverside). If submitting a hard copy transcript, you will need to submit two hard copy transcripts. 
  • Credential-Only Applicants: Submit one (1) electronic or hard copy official transcript from each institution (this includes UC Riverside)
  • Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.00

  For degrees completed outside United States, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing has approved eight agencies to evaluate foreign transcripts. Official academic records must also be provided to UC Riverside, visit this page for a list of approved records from International Institutions.

• Letters of Recommendation (Due by application deadline)

  M.Ed. Applicants: Submit with online application

  A minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation is required. Letters must be submitted through the online application. You will be asked to provide the name, email address, and current institution of each recommender. Once you list your recommender's information the online application, the system will automatically email your recommender a request for a letter of recommendation. The automated email will provide instructions to each of your recommenders via email. Recommenders may upload letters in .pdf, or .doc file formats.

  TEP recommends that the following should provide the Letters of Recommendation:

  • Two (2) Academic References: Previous professor that can attest to your capacity to do graduate work.
  • One (1) Professional Reference: Supervisor from work experience, internship or teaching experience.

   

  Credential-Only Applicants: Submit with Online Application

  A minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation is required. Letters must be submitted through the online application. You will be asked to provide the name, email address, and current institution of each recommender. Once you list your recommender's information the online application, the system will automatically email your recommender a request for a letter of recommendation. The automated email will provide instructions to each of your recommenders via email. Recommenders may upload letters in .pdf, or .doc file formats.

  TEP recommends that the following should provide the Letters of Recommendation:

  • One (1) Academic Reference: Previous professor that can attest to your capacity to do graduate work.
  • Two (2) Professional References: Supervisor from work experience, internship or teaching experience.

   

• Graduate Statement of Purpose Essay

  Graduate Statement of Purpose (Complete in 2000 words or less)

  Explain your decision to apply, your academic or professional preparation, your motivation, and how UCR’s faculty and resources support your goals.

  
  In your statement, ensure you address the following areas:

  • Academic and/or Professional Background – academic journey (coursework and major areas of study), and relevant experiences (academic, research, or professional) that prepared you for graduate study.
  • Research or Professional Interests – key areas, themes, or problems you want to explore, and how they connect to your field of study.
  • Fit with UCR – how your interests or goals align with UCR’s faculty, programs, labs, or professional resources.
  • Motivation for Graduate Study – what drives you to pursue this degree at this stage of your academic journey or career. Please share any long-term scholarly/professional aspirations.
  • Future Goals & Societal Impact – how your work or this degree will help you address professional, academic, or broader societal needs or contribute to the public good.
  • Contributions to the Academic, Professional, and UCR Community – how you hope to engage through leadership, collaboration, mentorship, or outreach.

  The statement must not exceed 2,000 words.

• Basic Skills Requirement (BSR)

  Bachelor’s Degree as Demonstration of the Basic Skills Requirement: On June 29, 2024, Governor Newsom signed a budget trailer bill, SB 153 (Chap. 38, Statutes of 2024), that allow candidates to use their bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education as demonstration of the basic skills requirement, effective immediately. PSA 24-07

• Subject Matter Competence

  Before you can become a teacher, California requires you to show that you have a strong knowledge of what you plan to teach. This is called Subject Matter Competence (SMC). Watch the video below, then consider which way you will meet this requirement. 

  Option 1: Use Your College Major

  If your undergraduate major aligns with what you want to teach, it may automatically satisfy this requirement. Here's how it works by credential type:

  Multiple Subject | Your major needs to be one of the following:

  • Liberal Studies
  • Liberal Arts
  • Elementary Education

  Single Subject | Your major needs to match the subject you want to teach. UCR accepts the following:

  • English
  • Spanish (World Language)
  • Mathematics — including Applied Mathematics or Statistics
  • Science — Biology, Biochemistry, Biological Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Earth Science, Geology, or Geoscience
  • Social Science (this must be your exact major — related majors do not qualify)

  Education Specialist | Your major should fall within any of the Multiple or Single Subject areas listed above, or one of these fields:

  • Agriculture, Art, Business, Dance, World Language, Health Science, Home Economics, Industrial and Technology Education, Music, Physical Education, or Theater
  • You may see this option referred to as the "AB-130" pathway in other UCR materials — that's just the name of the California law behind it.

  Note: UCR staff will only review your major for approval after you've submitted an application. Any approval is specific to UCR and does not transfer to other universities.

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  Option 2: Pass the CSET Exam

  If your major doesn't match the lists above, you can take a California subject matter exam called the CSET instead.

  • Multiple Subject — Pass all required CSET Multiple Subject subtests
  • Single Subject — Pass the CSET exam for the specific subject you plan to teach (English, Math, Social Science, Spanish, or Science)
  • Education Specialist — Pass any CSET exam approved for Multiple or Single Subject credentials

  You need to have passed at least one subtest by the application deadline

  • Priority deadline: December 5, 2025
  • Final deadline: January 16, 2026

  If you're conditionally admitted, all remaining subtests must be passed by May 22, 2026

  Online proctoring is available for:

  CSET: English (Subtests I–IV)
  CSET: Multiple Subjects (Subtests I and III)
  CSET: Social Science (Subtests I–III)

  The check-in process involves ID verification and a live virtual greeter. Visit the California Educator Credentialing Assessments website for more details.

  Not Sure If Your Major Qualifies? Submit a Coursework Form.

  Multiple Subjects Coursework Form

  Single Subject: Math, English, Social Science, General Science, Biology, Physics, or Chemistry

  If your major doesn't clearly match the lists above, you may be able to have individual courses reviewed for approval. After you submit your application, you can turn in the appropriate form for your credential type. These forms are only reviewed after you've applied, and any approvals apply to UCR only. 

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  Some universities offer a state-approved program specifically designed to satisfy this requirement. If you completed one of these programs, it may count in place of your major or the CSET. Contact UCR's Teacher Education Program to find out if your program qualifies.

• Certificate of Clearance (Due By Application Deadline)
  • Two (2) steps to complete Certificate of Clearance (COC)
    1. Live Scan Fingerprinting (41-LS Form)
    2. Complete CTC Online Application

  • Online Instructions from the CTC: https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/submit-online
  • Live Scan Fingerprinting locations 
  • COC instructions for Out of State applicants

  Certificate of Clearance (COC) needs to be completed by application deadline.  If you are applying for the priority deadline, COC needs to be completed by 12/5/2025. If you are applying for the final deadline, COC needs to be completed by 1/16/2026.

• Student Interview
  • Once your admissions file is complete, an admissions interview will be scheduled. You will also be asked to submit a short writing sample on the day of your interview
  • The admissions interview is a requirement of the application process.  Both admission requirements and the interview are taken into consideration when making admission decisions.   Admissions interviews are scheduled to take place in February 2026.
• Accreditation & License Examination Passage Rates

  

   

   

  The School of Education (SOE) at University of California, Riverside is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). CTC accreditation signals that SOE meets the most rigorous standards of excellence in teacher education and preparation. Read more about our accreditation, teacher certification examination pass rates and Title II reports.