Article 8. Certificates And Credentials of California Education Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 25. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 8.

Except where such service is provided by a school district pursuant to Section 44332.5, each county or city and county board of education may provide for the registration of any valid certification or other document authorizing the holder thereof to serve in a position requiring certification qualifications as an employee of the county superintendent of schools of such county or city and county or of a school district under the jurisdiction of such county superintendent of schools. Such registration shall authorize the service of the holder as an employee of the county superintendent of schools or of any school district under his jurisdiction in the capacity in which and for the period of time for which the certification or other document is valid.

County boards of education may renew any certificate legally issued by them prior to October 1, 1945, and now in force; provided, that no certificate granted upon a credential issued by the State Board of Education or commission for a limited period shall be renewed or extended unless the credential upon which it was issued has been renewed or extended, and then only for the period of the renewal or extension of the credential.

(a) Except where that service is provided by a school district authorized to register certification documents pursuant to Section 44332.5, each county or city and county board of education may issue temporary certificates for the purpose of authorizing salary payments to certified employees whose credential applications are being processed or to personnel employed in children's centers or other preschool educational programs whose permit applications are being processed. However, the individual must have demonstrated proficiency in basic reading, writing, and mathematic skills pursuant to the requirements of Section 44252.5. The applicant for the temporary certificate shall make a statement under oath that he or she has duly filed an application for a credential or permit together with the required fee and that, to the best of his or her knowledge, no reason exists why a certificate or permit should not be issued. The certificate or permit shall be valid for not more than one calendar year from the date of issuance.
  (b) The county or city and county board of education shall cancel the temporary certificate or permit immediately upon receipt of certification in writing from the commission that the applicant apparently does not possess adequate academic qualifications or apparently has a criminal record that would disqualify the applicant.
  (c) A temporary certificate issued to a permit applicant is not valid beyond the time that the commission either issues or denies the originally requested permit. A temporary certificate issued to a credential applicant is not valid beyond the time that the commission provides written notification to the county or city and county board of education that the applicant apparently does not possess adequate qualifications, that the commission has received facts that may cause denial of the application, or issues or denies the originally requested credential.
  (d) A county or city and county board of education may not issue a temporary certificate to an applicant whose teaching credential is revoked or suspended.

(a) A school district that may issue warrants pursuant to Section 42647 may, at its discretion, provide for the registration of a valid certification or other document authorizing the holder to serve in a position requiring certification qualifications as an employee of the school district.
  (b) During any period when summary criminal history information is not available from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an applicant for an initial credential, certificate, or permit shall not be employed in a position requiring certification qualifications until he or she has met the minimum requirements for a temporary certificate of clearance. A temporary certificate of clearance or a credential, certificate, or permit authorizing service in the public schools shall be issued when the applicant has:
  (1) Made full disclosure of all facts necessary to establish his or her true identity.
  (2) Made a statement under penalty of perjury that he or she has not been convicted of a crime which would constitute grounds for the denial of the credential, permit, or certificate applied for. An applicant shall not be required to disclose, and the Committee of Credentials shall not inquire into or consider, any acts or omissions not related to the applicant's fitness to teach or to perform other duties for which he or she is certificated, or that is related to his or her competence to perform the duties authorized by his or her credential.
  (3) Paid to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing the amount of twelve dollars ($12) or the fees or costs which have been or will be assessed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the issuance of its summary criminal history of the applicant when this information is once again made available to the commission. The fees authorized by this paragraph shall be applicable to all credentials, permits, and certificates which were applied for or issued after October 1, 1981.
  (c) Upon receipt of a statement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation that it has no summary criminal history information on the applicant, or upon receipt of the summary criminal history information and clearance by the Committee of Credentials, a temporary certificate of clearance shall be converted to a regular certificate of clearance.

(a) (1) Before issuing a temporary certificate pursuant to Section 44332, a county or city and county board of education shall obtain a criminal record summary about the applicant from the Department of Justice and shall not issue a temporary certificate if the applicant has been convicted of a violent or serious felony.
  (2) Before issuing a temporary certificate of clearance pursuant to Section 44332.5, a school district shall obtain a criminal record summary about the applicant from the Department of Justice and shall not issue a temporary certificate of clearance if the applicant has been convicted of a violent or serious felony.
  (b) This section applies to any violent or serious offense which, if committed in this state would have been punishable as a violent or serious felony.
  (c) For purposes of this section, a violent felony is any felony listed in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code and a serious felony is any felony listed in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 of the Penal Code.
  (d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person shall not be denied a temporary certificate or a temporary certificate of clearance solely on the basis that he or she has been convicted of a violent or serious felony if the person has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation and pardon pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code.
  (e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person shall not be denied a temporary certificate or a temporary certificate of clearance solely on the basis that the person has been convicted of a serious felony that is not also a violent felony, if that person can prove to the sentencing court of the offense in question, by clear and convincing evidence, that he or she has been rehabilitated for the purposes of school employment for at least one year. If the offense in question occurred outside this state, then the person may seek a finding of rehabilitation from the court in the school district in which he or she is a resident.
  (f) (1) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), a county or city and county board of education may issue a temporary certificate to an employee currently and continuously employed by a school district within the county who is serving under a valid credential and has applied for a renewal of that credential or for an additional credential without obtaining a criminal record summary for that employee.
  (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), a county or city and county board of education may issue a temporary certificate of clearance to an employee currently and continuously employed by a school district within the county who is serving under a valid credential and has applied for a renewal of that credential or for an additional credential without obtaining a criminal record summary for that employee.

The standard for the exchange credential shall be as prescribed by the commission pursuant to Section 44853. This credential shall authorize service in a position requiring certification qualifications as an exchange certified employee for performance of the services specified in the credential. Services for which a license is required by the Business and Professions Code may not be authorized unless the applicant holds such a license.

Except as provided in this code, no certification document shall be granted to any person unless and until he has subscribed to the following oath or affirmation: "I solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America, the Constitution of the State of California, and the laws of the United States and the State of California." The oath or affirmation shall be subscribed and certified or declared, pursuant to Section 2015. 5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and shall be filed with the commission. Any certificated person who is a citizen or subject of any country other than the United States, and who is employed in any capacity in any of the public schools of the state shall, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, subscribe to an oath to support the institutions and policies of the United States during the period of his sojourn within the state. Upon the violation of any of the terms of the oath or affirmation, the commission shall suspend or revoke the credential which has been issued.

The issuance of any teaching credential requires (1) the passing of a satisfactory examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States in a community college, college, or university of recognized merit or (2) the satisfactory completion of two semester units of work on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States in any university or college from which undergraduate credits earned are accepted by the commission as meeting undergraduate credit requirements for credentials issued by the commission or in any publicly supported community college in the state. Public and private institutions in California may be authorized to attest to the individual's satisfaction of this requirement. The requirements of this section do not apply to the designated subjects teaching credential authorizing part-time employment only.

When required by the commission, the application for a certification document or the renewal thereof shall be accompanied by a certificate in such form as shall be prescribed by the commission, from a physician and surgeon licensed under the provisions of the Business and Professions Code or a physician assistant practicing in compliance with Chapter 7.7 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, showing that the applicant is free from any contagious and communicable disease or other disabling disease or defect unfitting the applicant to instruct or associate with children.

No person otherwise qualified shall be denied the right to receive credentials from the commission, to receive training for the purpose of becoming a teacher, or to engage in practice teaching in any school, on the grounds he or she is an individual with a disability; nor shall any school district refuse to engage a teacher on such grounds, provided, that the teacher, with reasonable accommodations, is able to carry out the duties of the position for which he or she applies in the school district. "Disability," as used in this section, means (1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the individual, (2) a record of such an impairment, or (3) being regarded as having such an impairment.

No person otherwise qualified shall be denied the right to receive credentials issued by the commission, to receive training for the purpose of becoming a teacher, or to engage in practice teaching in any school, on the ground he or she is a person with a disability; provided, that the person does not pose a direct threat of substantial harm to the health or safety of other individuals.

(a) The commission shall adopt, in addition to any other regulations authorized by law, regulations requiring every applicant for a credential, or for the renewal of a credential, to submit reasonable evidence of identification and good moral character.
  (b) The adopted rules and regulations shall specify that an applicant shall not be required to disclose, and the Committee of Credentials shall not inquire into or consider, any acts or omissions not related to the applicant's fitness to teach or perform other duties for which he or she is certificated, or which is related to his or her competence to perform the duties authorized by his or her credential.
  (c) The adopted rules and regulations shall also prescribe the notice which shall be supplied to each applicant on the application form, which shall include the following information:
  (1) The offenses which constitute grounds for the mandatory denial or revocation of a credential.
  (2) The offenses for which the commission is authorized to deny or revoke a credential, depending upon the degree of rehabilitation or requalification demonstrated by the applicant.
  (3) The standards under which the commission determines that it shall not investigate or pursue offenses which are not clearly related to an applicant's fitness or competence to teach or perform other certificated services.

Each applicant for a credential, or for the renewal of a credential, shall submit with his application duplicate personal identification cards provided by the commission upon which shall appear the legible fingerprints and a personal description of the applicant. The commission is authorized to, and shall adopt such regulations as may in its judgment be necessary for the administration of this section.

(a) (1) For the purpose of ascertaining the moral character and true identity of the holder of a credential or an applicant for a credential or the renewal of a credential after jurisdiction to commence an initial review pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 44242.5 has been established, the commission is authorized to require the production of information, records, reports, and other data from any public agency. For the purposes of determining whether jurisdiction exists, the commission is also authorized to require the limited production of records as set forth in subdivision (f) of Section 44242.5.
  (2) This information shall be provided to the commission within 30 days of the request.
  (3) The commission shall maintain the confidentiality of this information in accordance with Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of the Civil Code.
  (b) Except for the situation prescribed in subdivision (d), every applicant for a credential or for the renewal of a credential shall be deemed to have given his or her consent for the securing of, and disclosure of, information to the commission for the sole purpose of ascertaining the moral character and true identity of the holder of a credential, the applicant for a credential, or a credential holder applying for the renewal of the credential.
  (c) The Department of Justice shall furnish, upon application of the commission or its authorized representative, all information pertaining to any applicant of whom there is a record in its office except that information which may compromise or prejudice an ongoing criminal investigative matter may be withheld until the matter is completed.
  (d) With the written consent of an applicant for a credential or a credential holder, the commission upon written request of any private school authority, shall release to that private school authority information and other data relative to the identification or fitness of any applicant for a teaching position in the private school so long as not otherwise prohibited by any other provision of law.
  (e) Each application for a credential shall contain notice that the information provided by the applicant is subject to investigation for, and verification of, the applicant's moral character and true identity by means of review of information, records, reports, and other data from any agency or department of the state or any political subdivision of the state, whether chartered by the state or not, secured by the commission for these purposes.

Teachers, principals, supervisors, school librarians, superintendents and assistant superintendents, and other certified personnel who are presently employed in public schools in California shall not be adversely affected by this chapter. However, presently employed personnel and those in preparation shall be permitted to seek initial or renewal certification under the terms of this chapter.

A credential which was issued prior to July 1, 1973, shall remain in force as long as it is valid and continues to be valid under the law and regulations of the commission. The commission may not by regulation invalidate such valid credential unless it issues to the holder thereof, in substitution, a new credential authorized by other sections of this chapter which is no less restrictive than the credential for which it was substituted with respect to the kind of service which it authorizes, and the grades or classes of types of schools in which it authorizes services.

(a) The commission shall issue the appropriate credentials authorized by the law operative, and the rules and regulations of the commission in effect on December 31, 1971, to any person who completed the requirements for such credential prior to September 15, 1974.
  (b) A person may be issued a credential under this section after September 15, 1974, if that person, between December 31, 1971, and September 15, 1974:
  (1) Was engaged in teaching in a foreign country, after such person had completed the requirements of such credential.
  (2) Holds a credential issued under partial fulfillment and was working towards meeting the requirements of that credential and was enrolled in a teacher training institution.
  (3) Was working towards meeting the requirements of such credential and was prevented from completing those requirements because of active military service, illness, or other causes determined by the commission.
  (4) Was accepted into and enrolled in a teacher education curriculum at any institution and would be required to take more than 15 semester-hour units or the equivalent quarter-hour units after September 15, 1974, beyond the requirements necessary to receive such credential, in order to meet the requirements of credentials issued under this chapter.
  (5) Was enrolled in a student-declared degree program at an accredited institution leading to such credential with at least a junior standing as determined by the institution and would be required to take more than 15 semester-hour units or the equivalent quarter-hour units after September 15, 1974, beyond the requirements necessary to receive such credential, in order to meet the requirements of credentials issued under this chapter.
  (c) No credential authorized under this law and rules and regulations in effect on December 31, 1971, shall be issued to any person pursuant to the exceptions specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (b) after September 15, 1976.
  (d) For the purposes of this section, "teacher education curriculum" means any professional education course or sequence of professional education courses required for a credential authorized by the law operative, and the rules and regulations of the commission in effect on December 31, 1971.
  (e) For the purposes of this section, "student-declared degree program" means any student-elected degree objective at an approved institution selected for the purpose of obtaining a credential authorized by the law operative, and the rules and regulations of the commission in effect on December 31, 1971.

The commission may deny any application for the issuance of a credential or for the renewal of a credential made by any applicant who falls under any of the following categories:
  (a) Lacks the qualifications which are prescribed by law or regulations adopted by the commission pursuant thereto.
  (b) Is physically or mentally so disabled as to be rendered unfit to perform the duties authorized by the credential for which he or she applies. However, the mere fact that an applicant has sought or received psychiatric treatment shall not be considered as preliminary evidence of mental disability and shall not provoke special scrutiny of such applicant's qualifications for a credential.
  (c) Is addicted to the use of intoxicating beverages to excess.
  (d) Is addicted to the use of controlled substances.
  (e) Has committed any act involving moral turpitude.
  (f) Has had a certification document revoked.
  (g) Has intentionally practiced or attempted to practice any material deception or fraud in his or her application.
  (h) Fails or refuses to furnish reasonable evidence of identification or good moral character.
  (i) Has been convicted of any offense defined in subdivision 1 of Section 314 of the Penal Code prior to September 7, 1955. Any denial pursuant to subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, shall be based upon reasons related to the applicant's fitness to teach or fitness to perform other duties for which that applicant is certificated, or competence to perform the duties which the credential would authorize the applicant to perform.

(a) The commission shall deny any application for the issuance of a credential or for the renewal of a credential made by any applicant who comes within any of the following classes:
  (1) Has been determined to be a sexual psychopath under the provisions of Article 1 (commencing with Section 6300) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or under similar provisions of law of any other state.
  (2) Has been convicted of any sex offense, as defined in Section 44010.
  (3) Has been convicted of a controlled substance offense, as defined in Section 44011.
  (4) Has been found to be insane through a criminal proceeding by a federal court or a court in this or any other state.
  (b) (1) Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a), no person shall be denied a credential solely on the basis that he or she has been convicted of a crime specified in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) if the person has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation and pardon pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, and if his or her probation has been terminated and the information or accusation has been dismissed pursuant to Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code.
  (2) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall deny the application of any applicant who is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to either of the following:
  (A) Section 290 of the Penal Code.
  (B) A law of any other state or of the United States when the underlying offense, if committed or attempted in this state, would require registration as a sex offender under Section 290 of the Penal Code.
  (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) or subdivision (b), the commission may issue a credential to a person convicted of a controlled substance offense as defined in Section 44011 if the commission determines from the evidence presented that the person has been rehabilitated for at least five years, or has received a certificate of rehabilitation and pardon pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, or if the accusation or information against the person has been dismissed and he or she has been released from all disabilities and penalties resulting from the offense pursuant to Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code.
  (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (4) of subdivision (a), the commission may issue a credential to a person found to be insane through a criminal proceeding by a federal court or a court in this or any other state if the commission determines from the evidence presented that the person has been rehabilitated for at least five years.

(a) The commission shall deny any application for the issuance of a credential made by an applicant who has been convicted of a violent or serious felony or a crime set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 44424 or whose employment has been denied or terminated pursuant to Section 44830.1.
  (b) This section applies to any violent or serious offense which, if committed in this state, would have been punishable as a violent or serious felony.
  (c) For purposes of this section, a violent felony is any felony listed in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code and a serious felony is any felony listed in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 of the Penal Code.
  (d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the commission may, but is not required to, grant a credential to an applicant who has been convicted of a violent or serious felony if the person is eligible for, and has obtained, a certificate of rehabilitation and pardon pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code.

(a) The Commission on Teacher Credentialing shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of all individuals, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 49024, for the purposes of obtaining information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal convictions and state or federal arrests and also information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal arrests for which the Department of Justice establishes that the individual is free on bail or on his or her own recognizance pending trial or appeal.
  (b) When received, the Department of Justice shall forward to the Federal Bureau of Investigation requests for federal summary criminal history information received pursuant to this section. The Department of Justice shall review the information returned from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and compile and disseminate a response to the commission.
  (c) The Department of Justice shall provide a state and federal level response to the commission pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code.
  (d) The commission shall request from the Department of Justice subsequent arrest notification service, as provided pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code, for individuals described in subdivision (a) of Section 49024 of this code.
  (e) The Department of Justice shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the request described in this section.
  (f) (1) If a denial of an application for a certificate is due at least in part to the individual's state or federal criminal history record, the commission shall provide to the individual a copy of his or her criminal history record search response with the notice of the denial.
  (2) The state or federal criminal history record search response shall not be modified or altered from its form or content as provided by the Department of Justice.
  (3) The criminal history record search response shall be provided in such a manner as to protect the confidentiality and privacy of the individual's criminal history record and the criminal history record search response shall not be made available by the commission to any school district or county office of education.
  (4) The commission shall retain a copy of the individual's criminal history record search response, and the date and the address to which it was sent. The commission shall make this information available upon request by the Department of Justice or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The terms of credentials shall be as specified in this article.

Except as otherwise specifically required in this chapter, the commission shall establish regulations pertaining to the expiration dates of initially issued and renewed credentials.

Each credential issued by the commission shall clearly state the kind of service that it authorizes, the grades or classes, or the types of schools in which it authorizes service, and shall have such other content as the commission may prescribe or as may be prescribed by authority of the commission.

(a) Each credential issued shall contain its date of expiration, be issued on a form prescribed by the commission, and bear the signatures of the executive director and the chair of the commission or their facsimile signatures.
  (b) In order to ensure the timely processing of an application for a credential, either electronically or by printed copy, the commission shall process an application within 50 business days of receipt.
  (c) A school district, county office of education, nonpublic school, charter school, or institution of higher education submitting an application for a credential, certificate, permit, or other document shall submit the application to the commission not more than three months after the issuance date of the document requested.
  (d) The processing time set forth in subdivision (b) does not apply to an application subject to a fitness review by the commission pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 44240) of Chapter 2, or an application subject to a fitness review based on allegations of unfitness pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 44420) of Chapter 3.

Whenever the date of expiration of any credential occurs while the person holding the credential is in the active military service of the United States of America or of the State of California, including active service in any uniformed auxiliary of, or to, any branch of such military service created or authorized as such auxiliary by the Congress of the United States of America or by the Legislature of the State of California or in the service of the United States Merchant Marine, or in the full-time paid service of the American Red Cross, during any national emergency declared by the President of the United States of America, or during a war in which the United States of America is engaged, or within six months after such person honorably leaves such service or has been placed on inactive duty, the credential is hereby continued in force until six months after such person honorably leaves such service or has been placed on inactive duty. The holder of a credential so extended shall be entitled to a renewal of the credential prior to its date of expiration as herein fixed, subject to provisions of this code relating to the renewal of credentials.

Whenever satisfactory proof is presented to the commission by any person to whom the commission has granted a credential that has been lost or destroyed, the commission shall issue to him a new credential of the same kind, grade, character, and tenure as that lost or destroyed. For issuance of the new credential the commission shall require a fee to cover the cost of replacement not to exceed the fee for issuance of an original credential pursuant to Section 44235. The revenues from the fee provided for in this section shall not be available for expenditure until appropriated.

Satisfactory proof shall consist of an affidavit by the person, giving the kind of the credential, the date of issue, if possible, and the basis upon which it was issued, together with such other information as the issuing authority may require.

Any oath required of an applicant for a credential may be administered by any of the persons enumerated in Section 60, by such employees of the Department of Education as the Superintendent of Public Instruction may designate, and by such employee of the commission as the commission may designate.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), all credentials regularly issued are valid until revoked, suspended, or expired as provided by law.
  (b) A credential issued under either of the following circumstances is void and shall be deemed to be void from the date it was issued:
  (1) A credential which would not have been issued but for a material deception or fraud committed by an applicant or by another in the applicant's behalf; or
  (2) A credential which the commission had no lawful authority to issue and which would not have been issued but for some material mistake of law or fact by either or both the applicant and the commission.
  (c) A notice that a credential is void pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b) shall be served upon the credential holder at his or her last known address as provided in Section 1013 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Within 30 days thereafter, such notice may be appealed to the commission only on the grounds that there was no fraud, material deception, or error and that the commission had the lawful authority to issue the credential on the facts stated in the application.