What California says
How this move starts
California has separate out-of-state pathways for Multiple Subject, Single Subject and Education Specialist credentials, with distinct experience and National Board branches.
Where the state decides
The source license area identifies the California credential family; less than two years, two or more years and National Board certification can lead to different requirements, while career-technical credentials require review by an approved Designated Subjects program.
No blanket reciprocity claim
What this guide will not guess
A state pair alone cannot settle your exact credential, tests or timeline. Those answers can change with your license type, endorsements, preparation and experience. This page shows the reviewed California rule; the move planner uses your teaching details to narrow the checklist.
Your Texas record
Confirm exactly what you hold
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) provides the official virtual certificate for Texas educators. Search the record for current certificates and certificate history; the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) oversees educator certification.
- •Current, expired and inactive Texas certificates
- •Certificate history when TEA has history attached to the record
- •An official-record date that should show the present date
Compact check
Use the regular out-of-state path
This pair is not currently a two-member compact route. California's out-of-state rules control.
Check compact eligibilityYour likely order
5 reviewed steps
- 01Identify the corresponding California credential family
- 02Match the out-of-state subject or specialty area
- 03Submit degree and out-of-state credential evidence
- 04Complete fingerprint processing
- 05Provide experience and evaluation evidence for the applicable branch
What can change the answer
- 01Less than two years, two-or-more years and National Board certification use different branches
- 02Single Subject areas and Education Specialist specializations must correspond
- 03English learner authorization or other clear-credential requirements may remain
- 04Career-technical credentials do not transfer directly through these teaching-credential routes
The records worth gathering first
Credential mapping
Elementary or self-contained teaching generally maps to Multiple Subject, departmentalized content teaching to Single Subject and special education to an Education Specialist specialization.
Experience branches
The core teaching-credential families publish separate routes for less than two years, two or more years and qualifying National Board certification.
Core evidence
Plan for degree, out-of-state credential, fingerprint and branch-specific experience or evaluation evidence.
Career technical education
California does not directly transfer an out-of-state vocational credential; an approved Designated Subjects program reviews eligibility based on the credential and experience.
Basic application fee
California publishes a $100 basic nonrefundable initial application fee. Online transactions add a $2.65 service fee; fingerprint and any program or document costs are separate.
Texas to California questions
Does a Texas teaching license automatically transfer to California?
No. Your Texas credential is evidence for the application, but California Commission on Teacher Credentialing decides which California license, endorsements, tests and remaining conditions apply.
Can I use the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact from Texas to California?
This is not currently a move between two listed compact member states. Use California's regular out-of-state pathway unless the destination agency tells you a different route applies.
What should I gather before applying in California?
Start with your current Texas license record, exact endorsements, preparation transcripts, experience verification and test history. Then follow the evidence requests in California's application.
What does the TeachPassport move planner include?
It uses your credential, experience, subjects, grades and destination to prepare likely steps, reusable worksheets and official links. You can use it without an account or save the move.
Official sources
State material only