Subject Matter Competency & Basic Skills Resources

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

AB 130 expanded the available options to allow candidates to meet the Subject Matter Requirement through successful completion of an academic major in the subject they will teach. Utilize the table below to determine eligibility.

Additions added June 30, 2023, in Program Sponsor Alert 24-03:

1. For the single subject area World Language: English Language Development, an academic degree major in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) or Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).

2. For the single subject area of Home Economics, an academic degree major in family and consumer science.

3. For the single subject area of Mathematics, an academic degree major in statistics.

4. For the single subject area of Science: Biological Science, an academic degree major in biology, biological engineering, or biochemistry. PROGRAM SPONSOR ALERT 23-04: Approval of Regulations Regarding Demonstration of Subject Matter Competence Page 3

5. For the single subject area of Science: Chemistry, an academic degree major in chemical engineering or biochemistry.

6. For the single subject area of Science: Geoscience, an academic degree major in geology or earth science.

7. For the single subject area of Science: Physics, an academic degree major in mechanical or structural engineering.

8. For the single subject area of Science: Foundational-Level Science, an academic degree major in any type of engineering or any degree major offered by a college or university science department.

Please email soe@calpoly.edu if you would like additional clarification of approved degrees.

Coursework

AB 130 allows candidates to use qualifying coursework to meet the domains of the CSET subtests. Candidates can determine if they are eligible for this option by requesting a SMC Evaluation.

• Candidates are only eligible to request Cal Poly SMC Evaluations if they are affiliated with Cal Poly, including candidates who: 

  • Completed an undergraduate degree at Cal Poly and are applying to enroll in an Educator Preparation Program at Cal Poly* OR,

  • Completed an undergraduate degree at another institution and are applying to enroll in an Educator Preparation Program at Cal Poly 

• Cal Poly SMC Evaluations can be requested by emailing the SOE Credential Office at soe@calpoly.edu. 

*We are unable to accept requests from Cal Poly undergrads who are not attending a Cal Poly credential program. 

• See AB-130 Coded Correspondence for additional information.
• Find more information about the Subject Matter Domains for each content area in the CTC's Domains of the Subject Matter Requirement document.

CSET Exams

Successful passing of all the CSET subtests specific to your credential objective. 

• Verification of Subject Matter Competence by Examination for

  • Multiple Subject Candidates

  • Single Subject Candidates

Exams + Coursework

This option allows for some subtests to be met by coursework and some to be met by passing the CSET. For example, a candidate may meet Multiple Subjects CSET Subtest I with qualifying coursework, and meet Subtests II & III by passing the exams. Candidates should start by requesting a SMC Evaluation of their coursework to determine which subtests they meet with coursework. The Credential Office will then provide them with instructions on which subtests the candidate needs to take.

• Candidates are only eligible to request Cal Poly SMC Evaluations if they are affiliated with Cal Poly, including candidates who: 

  • Completed an undergraduate degree at Cal Poly and are applying to enroll in an Educator Preparation Program at Cal Poly* OR,

  • Completed an undergraduate degree at another institution and are applying to enroll in an Educator Preparation Program at Cal Poly 

• Cal Poly SMC Evaluations can be requested by emailing the SOE Credential Office at soe@calpoly.edu.

*We are unable to accept requests from Cal Poly undergrads who are not attending a Cal Poly credential program. 

• (See, AB-130 Coded Correspondence for additional information)

Subject Matter Preparation Program

Completion of a subject matter program approved by the commission.

Pearson Exam Preparation Materials

• Agriculture
• English
• Mathematics
• Multiple Subjects 
• Science
• Social Science
• CBEST 

Study.com

Prepare for your CSET/CBEST Exams - all in one place! The STEM Teach Scholarship will reimburse you up to two months of use on Study.com. Click here to learn more about the STEM Teach Scholarship.

Check out what a student has to say about their experience using Study.com to prep for the CSET by clicking here! 

• Teacher Certification
• CSET & CBEST 

Test Prep Review

Test Prep Review contains prep material for many different CSET/CBEST tests and information on each of those tests. Below are links to practice tests.

• General Mathematics Practice Test

• Science Practice Questions

• CBEST Math

• CBEST Writing

• CBEST Reading

Teachers Test Prep

Teachers Test Prep - Create an online account through Teachers Test Prep to take the online CSET practice tests and get a complete diagnostic in the areas that you need to work on.

• Mathematics Prep Page
• Science Prep Page
• Social Science Prep Page
• English Prep Page
• Writing Skills Prep Page

UCI Open

The University of California Irvine has CSET preparation materials set up in canvas study modules with practice questions.

• Math Subtest I Prep
• Math Subtest II Prep
• Math Subtest III Prep
• Science Subtest I - Astronomy, Dynamic Processes of the Earth, Earth Resources, Electricity, and Magnetism, Optics and Waves
• Science Subtest II - Ecology, Genetics and Evolution, Structure, and Properties of Matter (Chemistry)

Youtube.com

• CBEST Test Prep Videos
• CSET Test Prep Videos

Amazon.com

• CBEST Test Prep 
• CSET Test Prep