California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Information

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing is an agency in the Executive Branch of California State Government. It was created in 1970 by the Ryan Act and is the oldest of the autonomous state standards boards in the nation. The major purpose of the agency is to serve as a state standards board for educator preparation for the public schools of California, the licensing and credentialing of professional educators in the State, the enforcement of professional practices of educators, and the discipline of credential holders in the State of California. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing consists of nineteen Members, fifteen voting Members and four ex-officio, non-voting Members. The Governor appoints fourteen voting Commissioners and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction or his/her designee serves as the fifteenth voting Member. The four ex-officio Members are selected one each by the major elements of the California higher education constituency: Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities; Regents of the University of California; the California State University; and California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. The Governor-appointed Commissioners consist of six classroom teachers, one school administrator, one school board member, one school counselor or services credential holder, one higher education faculty member from an institution for teacher education, and four public members. Governor appointed Commissioners are typically appointed to four-year terms, and serve as volunteers in unpaid positions.