If you are a National University student and have a question or concern regarding your credential program please contact our Student Services Coordinator by call 1-866-NU ACCESS, ext. 8300. 

If you would like to talk to National University about enrolling in a credential program please contact 1-800-NAT-UNIV and ask for the Admissions Department in your area.

Admission Requirements
Students seeking a California Credential at National University must possess a conferred or completed bachelor's degree, with a minimum 2.5 GPA from a regionally accredited U.S. university.

Students with international degrees who do not hold a U.S.-approved bachelor's degree must receive an evaluation from a CCTC-approved international evaluation agency before being admitted to the University and starting the first course.

Students seeking entry into the Multiple or Single Subject Teacher Education or Special Education Credential program who hold a California Emergency Teaching Permit are reminded that National University cannot issue a CL-469 if the student has not taken nine quarter units between issuance and expiration dates of the emergency permit.

Admission Process
In addition to the admission requirements listed in the "General Admission Procedures" section of this catalog, applicants to all of National University's credential programs must proceed through the following admissions procedure:

Stage 1: Students meet with an admission advisor and complete an admissions packet. Students who meet the listed criteria are admitted on a "provisional" basis with an estimated program of study.

Graduate students, see "Graduate Admission Standards."

Stage 2: All credential students must attend a Faculty/Credential Advisement  orientation seminar and complete a candidate statement within 30 days of starting their first course or pre-requisite course. The candidate statement must be reviewed and signed by the faculty advisor for admission to the School of Education.

Stage 3: Students must complete the credential packet and return this to the credential advisor within 30 days to avoid matriculation or scheduling errors. Candidates enrolled in both master's degree and credential programs are matriculated after the credential packet is returned to the credential advisor.

Students are not eligible for financial aid until the matriculation is complete.

Students transferring from a teacher education program at another university must provide a letter of good standing. A maximum of 13.5 quarter units may be accepted for unit credit and/or course content.

Students must obtain a Certificate of Clearance from the California Commission of Teacher Certification before entering schools for fieldwork.

Program Advisement
All students will be assigned a faculty advisor at the required Faculty/Credential Advisement orientation that is required for admission to the School of Education. Students are expected to meet periodically with the faculty advisor and credential advisor throughout the program.

Credential Residency Requirements
Credential candidates must complete a minimum of 31.5 quarter units in residence at National University to be recommended for a credential to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Courses taken online are considered to be in-residence.
The resident requirement does not apply to candidates in the following programs:

  • CLAD certificate
  • Level II Special Education
  • California Reading Certificate
  • Early Childhood Special Education Certificate
  • Professional (Tier II) Administrative Services Credential
  • An additional credential if one is previously held

All credential programs must be completed with a GPA of 3.0 ("D" and "F" grades are not accepted).

Students who are absent for a period of 12 months or more must re-enroll and re-matriculate under a new catalog.

All credential courses are valid for seven years.

The Student Agreement
To ensure that graduates of National University's teaching and services credential programs are able to meet the legal requirements of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC), all applicants for admission to education credential programs must enter into a student agreement. A copy of the student agreement is contained in the credential information packet that is available from a credential advisor in the advisement orientation meeting.

  • The student agreement gives National University the right to suspend or terminate the student's participation in the credential program upon a showing that the student has:
    committed acts or engaged in conduct that could constitute grounds for denial of a credential;
  • failed to demonstrate the requisite skills and qualifications to satisfy the requirements for a credential; or
  • demonstrated other qualities or behaviors enumerated in the student agreement inconsistent with National University's recommendation of the student for an education credential. The student agreement also authorizes National University to release to the Commission all pertinent information pertaining to the student's qualification or fitness for a credential.

Student Assistance, Notice of Need to Improve, and Dismissal from School of Education Programs
National University is committed to maintaining quality standards throughout its credential and masters programs and to graduating competent professional educators. As required by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC), National University identifies and assists students who need special assistance, and retains in its programs only those students who are suited for entry to or advancement in the education profession. The CCTC is charged by the State with evaluating the moral character and fitness of all persons who wish to teach or perform certified services in California public schools. Every person who is an applicant for, or who now holds, any credential, certificate, permit, or license authorizing service in California public schools is answerable to the CCTC and the Committee on Credentials for his or her fitness-related conduct. California's Laws and Rules Pertaining to the Discipline of Professional Certificated Personnel (2002), available on the CCTC website at www.ctc.ca.gov, address legal, ethical, and behavioral standards to which all such persons must adhere.

If a student is identified as being deficient or needing assistance to meet program standards at any point during his or her program, the student's instructor of record during coursework or University supervisor during a fieldwork assignment will issue the student a Professional Performance Evaluation form.  The form will indicate one of three possible actions that the instructor/supervisor intends to recommend to the lead faculty in the program:

  1. The student is identified as needing improvement in designated areas. A plan of improvement, with an expected date of completion, is attached to the form. The student will be permitted to continue taking classes or continue in his/her fieldwork assignment while completing the plan.
  2. The student is identified as needing improvement in designated areas. A plan of improvement, with an expected date of completion, is attached to the form. The student receives a failing grade in the class or an unsatisfactory grade in the fieldwork assignment. The student will not be permitted to continue taking classes or continue in his/her fieldwork assignment until the plan is completed and the class or fieldwork assignment is re-taken, at the student's expense.
  3. The student is identified as being unsuited for the education profession and is recommended for dismissal from the program.

Upon receiving a Professional Performance Evaluation form, the student will meet with his/her instructor of record or University supervisor, along with the regional lead faculty and/or the lead supervisor. This Faculty Assistance Team will discuss any recommended plan of improvement with the student and will later meet with the student to evaluate the student's performance of the expectations listed on the plan.

If the candidate is allowed to continue in the program and receives a second unsatisfactory grade in a practicum or student teaching assignment, the student will be recommended for dismissal from the program. The process for a hearing and appeal, upon recommendation for dismissal from a program, is outlined in the Academic Dismissal Procedure under the Academic Information for Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

Credential Candidate Placement File Service
When requested, the School of Education provides a placement file service for credential candidates. A placement file contains a standardized resume form, two student teacher evaluations and three letters of recommendation. Placement files are prepared and sent to school districts upon written authorization from the student.

State of California Requirements for Multiple and Single Subject Teacher Credential Programs

In California, the multiple subject credential authorizes the holder to teach in a self-contained classroom, typically in grades K-8. The single subject credential authorizes the holder to teach in a departmentalized situation, typically at the junior high or high school level. The multiple subject credential and the single subject credential will carry an AB 1059 authorization to teach English learners both in the general education classroom and in designated classes.

The BCLAD (BCLAD) credential authorizes teachers to teach academic subjects to English Learners in their primary language and in English.

All initial multiple subject and single subject credentials are granted as preliminary credentials under Commission SB 2042 standards.

  1. Candidates for the multiple subject and single subject credentials who complete their teacher preparation through a Commission-approved program in California must be recommended for the credential by their college or university. Teachers who completed their professional preparation outside of California must apply directly to the commission for their initial credentials.
  2. Candidates with six or more years of accredited private school experience may apply directly to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) under SB 57 by submitting application form 41-4, fingerprint clearance materials, transcripts, other requested materials and current applicable fees. See CCTC website at www.ctc.ca.gov/credentialinfo/credinfo.html or call 888-921-2682 (toll free).

Candidates with three or more years of accredited private school experience may be able to waive student teaching under SB 57. See a credential advisor for details.

3.  In order to be recommended for a California Preliminary Teaching Credential by National University, students must have:

  • Proof of a conferred bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education (IHE) or an international degree of U.S. equivalence
  • Successful completion of the NU admission process
  • Successful completion of the teacher education program within seven years.
  • Proof of passing with grade of "C" or better coursework or an examination covering the U.S. Constitution
  • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended on file at National University
  • Proof of passage of CBEST (highly recommended prior to admission. Must be taken at first available date after enrollment)
  • Proof of meeting the subject matter competency requirement.  Single subject teacher candidates may meet subject matter either by passing the appropriate Commission-approved examinations or by obtaining a subject matter equivalency letter from a regionally accredited CCTC-approved program verifying completion of the appropriate subject matter program. Multiple subject teacher candidates who enroll in a teacher preparation program on or after July 1, 2004, must demonstrate subject matter competency by passing a Commission-approved examination, currently the California Subject Examination for Teachers:  Multiple Subjects (CSET). 
  • Completion of a minimum of 31.5 TED or 36 BCLAD quarter units in residence
  • Maintenance of a GPA of 3.0 in credential program coursework, ("D" and "F" grades are not accepted).
  • Successful completion of the exit process, including portfolio requirements  
  • Proof of passing the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA). (Initial Multiple
  • Subject and Education Specialist teacher candidates only)
  • CPR certification for Infant, Child, and Adult (must be valid when candidate applies for teaching credential)

Note: A letter of completion is issued from the processing center in San Diego following receipt of all documents in San Diego.