Credential Programs
Credential Admission Requirements
Apply to the Credential Program at Fresno State
Application Process
Completed applications are processed in the order that they are received. Applicants meeting all admission requirements will be admitted on a first come, first served basis, space permitting.
We highly recommend that you submit your application as early as possible.
Please review all steps below, or click the following links to navigate to each step in the application process.
- Before You Begin: Review the Application Windows
- Step 1: Initial Eligibility and Prerequisites
- Step 2: Cal State Apply
- Step 3: Program Application
- Step 4: Program Application Attachments
If you are a current credential holder who would like to add on another credential, please navigate to the section at the bottom of this webpage.
Application Windows
| Traditional Programs | Spring 2026 | Summer 2026 | Fall 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
N/A | N/A | Oct. 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026 |
|
Sept. 2, 2025 to Nov. 1, 2025 |
N/A | Oct. 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026 |
|
N/A | Feb. 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026 |
N/A |
| Residency Programs | Spring 2026 | Summer 2026 | Fall 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
N/A | N/A | Oct. 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026 |
|
N/A | Feb. 1, 2026 to May 1, 2026 |
N/A |
| ITEP Programs (Undergrads Only) | Spring 2026 | Summer 2026 | Fall 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sept. 2, 2025 to Nov. 1, 2025 |
N/A | Oct. 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026 |
|
N/A | N/A | Oct. 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026 |
How to Apply
Step 1: Initial Eligibility and Prerequisites
Eligibility Requirements
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited university or at least 60 semester
units towards a blended Liberal Studies degree or integrated program at Fresno State.
View more information on the eligibility requirements for Liberal Studies - ITEP.
- An overall GPA of 2.5 or higher. If you do not meet this requirement, we will check to see if you have a 2.5 or higher for the last 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of coursework. If you do not meet either requirement, you may submit a GPA Consideration Request with your application.
Prerequisite Courses (C or higher)
- SPED 120: Required for Dual and Education Specialist. It can be completed prior to the start of or during the first semester of our program.
- MATH 10B or Equivalent: Required for applicants to FTRP Multiple Subject with a Supplementary Authorization in Math.
- Liberal Studies - ITEP Only: View lower-division coursework requirements.
Step 2: Cal State Apply
All applicants must first apply to Fresno State for the semester that they intend to start the Credential Program. A nonrefundable fee of $70 will be due at the end of the application.
You do not need to apply to Cal State if:
- You are a current Fresno State graduate student.
- You are a current Fresno State undergraduate Liberal Studies, Ag or Math ITEP student who intends to blend their Credential into their bachelor's program.
Liberal Studies - ITEP Only: You will apply to the undergraduate Liberal Studies program on Cal State Apply; however,
you will not apply to the Credential Program on Cal State Apply because you are part of an integrated
program.
If you need further guidance to determine whether a Cal State Application is required
of you, it is recommended that you make an appointment with Kremen's Center for Advising and Student Services prior to applying.
Step 3: Program Application
After submitting your Cal State Application, our Program Application will be available on your Fresno State Portal within three days under Student Self Service > My Admissions and Program Applications > Credential Program App. Paper applications will not be accepted.
- You must have a Student ID Number in order to access the application.
- If you attended Fresno State many years ago, you may need to have Technology Services reactivate your account: 559.278.5000.
- If you did not attend Fresno State in prior years, it can take up to 2 weeks to be issued a Student ID Number. Please contact the Credential Admissions Analyst to see if this process can be expedited: hjamison@csufresno.edu.
- Additional instructions on how to navigate the Program Application.
Step 4: Program Application Attachments
On the second page of the Program Application, you will attach the following documents. If you are reapplying and cannot detach a document, please contact the Credential Admissions Analyst: hjamison@csufresno.edu.
Subject Matter Requirements (attach one option)
Review the Subject Matter Requirements Table to determine if you meet Subject Matter by degree. If you do meet by degree, please attach:
- A Transcript
If you do not meet SMR by degree, please attach:
- CSET Scores (not applicable to PK-3)
- A written request for a Coursework Evaluation or an SMR clearance email from Kremen
Effective Fall 2025, applicants who would like a Coursework Evaluation must apply first before coursework will be evaluated. We recommend that applicants review our Coursework Evaluation Worksheets before applying to see if they might be missing any course domain areas. If the applicant finds that they might need an additional course, they can reach out to our Center for Advising and Student Services for assistance.
For further clarification on how to meet Subject Matter, please review the Subject Matter Requirements page below.
Admission Interview Form
Please follow these instructions:
1) For all programs except Liberal Studies ITEP: Before applying to Fresno State, click your faculty interviewer's calendar below to schedule
an appointment. BAP candidates will need to schedule with a credential interviewer
and a BAP interviewer. Liberal Studies ITEP applicants will be contacted directly
for scheduling.
2) Submit an Admission Interview Form to your faculty interviewer at least 24 hours ahead
of your appointment by clicking here. Please note that within this form, you will be asked to write a Personal Narrative,
and you will be asked if you have completed at least 20 hours of field experience
in a PK through 12th grade level.
3) BAP Applicants Only: Submit a BAP Interview Form to your faculty interviewer at least 24 hours ahead of
your appointment by clicking here.
- Traditional Single Subject and Visalia Residency Interviews (all areas except Ag): Dr. Imelda Basurto's Calendar
- Single Subject Ag Interviews: Please email Dr. Sharon Freeman directly to schedule at sfreeman@csufresno.edu.
- Traditional Multiple Subject Interviews and BAP Spanish Option Interviews: Dr. Nadia Hoover's Calendar
- Traditional PK-3 Interviews: Dr. Pei-Ying Wu's Calendar
- Traditional Education Specialist/Dual Interviews: Dr. Michael Mahoney's Calendar
- Traditional Education Specialist/Dual Interviews: Dr. Janeth Aleman-Tovar's Calendar
- Traditional Education Specialist/Dual Interviews: Dr. Kristina Rios's Calendar
- Clovis Residency - Education Specialist/Traditional Education Specialist/Dual Interviews: Dr. Kimberly Coy's Calendar
- Fresno Residency: Please complete the district's application to secure an interview
- Madera Residency - Multiple Subject No Option Interviews: Dr. Heather Horsley's Calendar
- Madera Residency - Multiple Subject BAP Spanish Interviews: Prof. Gladys Villanueva's Calendar
- Rural Residency - Multiple Subject Interviews: Prof. Christina Macias's Calendar
- Sanger Residency - Multiple Subject Interviews: Dr. Steven Hart's Calendar
Certificate of Clearance
- Please note that the clearance process can take 8 to 10 weeks to complete.
- Live Scan forms or receipts will not be accepted.
- Please utilize the instructions below on how to complete this process.
TB Risk Assessment
- Please have your healthcare provider fill out Page 1 and 3 of the form below.
- We will not accept any other documents unless you have a memo from the Fresno State Health Center. You can download this memo from your Student Center after your appointment.
- The form below is print only.
Mandated Reporter Training
- Multiple Subject, Dual, Education Specialist and Single Subject: Complete the General and School Personnel Trainings and attach your School Personnel Certificate.
- PK-3: Complete the General, Childcare Providers and School Personnel Trainings and attach your Childcare Providers and School Personnel Certificates. You will need to combine the two documents into one file or attach one of them to the "Special Circumstances" slot.
- Please note that the website below may charge $7.99 for the Certificate download.
Two Recommendation Forms
Please click the red button below and provide two references with the form link. Once your reference has completed the form, an email confirmation will be sent to you. Please download the PDF within the email and attach it to your application.
- If your reference completed your form, and you did not receive results, please contact the Credential Admissions Analyst: hjamison@csufresno.edu.
- Your faculty interviewer should not be your reference.
- Recommendations are valid for one year from the date that they were originally submitted.
- FTRP Residency Only: Please attach your acceptance email from FTRP as proof that they received your recommendation letters.
U.S. Constitution Requirement and Transcripts
- Attach unofficial transcripts from every college that you have attended. We will verify that you have taken a U.S. Constitution course and received a C or better in the course. These courses meet the U.S. Constitution Requirement.
- If you have not taken an approved U.S. Constitution course, you may take one of these exams to clear our requirement, and you will need to attach your Certificate
of Completion to your application:
- Notre Dame de Namur: usconstitutionexam.com.
- Bulldog Testing Center: academics.fresnostate.edu/bulldogtestingcenter/.
Advising Plan
- An advising appointment is not required for this step. Please click your credential area below and attach a blank Advising Plan that is specific to the program/cohort that you are applying for:
Are you a current Credential holder who wants to add another Credential?
- To add on a Multiple Subject or another Single Subject Credential, please complete this form and email it along with any attachments to the Credential Admissions Analyst: hjamison@csufresno.edu.
- To add on an Education Specialist, Dual or PK-3 Credential, please apply to the program using the standard steps above.
- To add on a Single Subject Credential, please complete this form and email it along with any attachments to the Credential Admissions Analyst: hjamison@csufresno.edu.
- To add on a PK-3 Credential, please apply directly to the CCTC. When you open the link, please scroll to the heading titled "Adding a PK-3 Credential for Existing Credential Holders."
- To add on an Education Specialist Credential, please complete the following steps below and email your documents to the Credential
Admissions Analyst: hjamison@csufresno.edu:
- Cal State Application
- Program Application
- Admission Interview. Click here to schedule an interview with Dr. Mahoney, and send him the form ahead of your appointment: mwmm@csufresno.edu.
- A Copy of your Preliminary or Professional (Clear) Credential
- TB Risk Assessment
- Mandated Reporter Training for School Personnel
- Advising Plan
- Unofficial Transcripts
- To add on a Multiple Subject, Single Subject or PK-3 Credential, please apply to the program using the standard steps above.
- To add on a second Education Specialist Credential (MM or ESN), complete the following steps below and email your documents to the Credential Admissions
Analyst: hjamison@csufresno.edu:
- Cal State Application
- Program Application
- Admission Interview. Click here to schedule an interview with Dr. Mahoney, and send him the form ahead of your appointment: mwmm@csufresno.edu.
- A Copy of your Preliminary or Professional (Clear) Credential
- TB Risk Assessment
- Mandated Reporter Training for School Personnel
- Advising Plan
- Unofficial Transcripts
- To add on a Single Subject Credential, please complete this form and email it along with any attachments to the Credential Admissions Analyst: hjamison@csufresno.edu.
- To add on a PK-3 Credential, please apply directly to the CCTC. When you open the link, please scroll to the heading titled "Adding a PK-3 Credential for Existing Credential Holders."
- To add on a Multiple Subject, Single Subject, Education Specialist or Dual Credential, please apply to the program using the standard steps above.
Questions?
If you need help navigating the process, please contact our Center for Advising and Student Services: kremenschool@csufresno.edu or 559.278.0300.