CBEST®

Qualifying U.S. military members may have funding options through Pearson VUE.

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you need to take the CBEST:

• Are you applying for a first teaching credential or services credential?
• Have you obtained an initial credential but have not completed the basic skills requirement at the request of a California employing agency?
• Are you applying for the issuance or renewal of an Emergency Permit (e.g. for a 30-day substitute teaching permit)?
• Did your school district or other California agency request that you fulfill the basic skills requirement?
• Are you applying for admission to a CTC-accredited teacher preparation program (and you don’t already have a valid California teaching credential for which a baccalaureate degree is required)?
• Are you applying for admission to a CTC-accredited services credential program?
• Have you been or are you currently a student taking courses for college credit to pursue a career in education?

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you may not need to take the CBEST:

• Are you applying for a renewal, reissuance, or upgrading of an existing nonemergency credential, certificate, or permit?
• Are you applying for a credential to teach adults in an apprenticeship program?
• Are you applying for a permit to teach in a children’s center?
• Are you applying for a credential to teach a designated subject that does not require a baccalaureate degree, including the 30-Day Substitute Designated Subjects Vocational Education Permit?
• Are you applying for a credential to provide health services (unless the document also authorizes teaching)?
• Are you applying for a credential to teach an American Indian language only?
• Are you applying for any added authorization to a teaching credential? (Note: This exemption does not apply to individuals who hold a credential to teach that did not require a baccalaureate degree and for whom the teaching authorization sought requires this degree.)
• Are you applying for a Certificate of Clearance (required for practice teaching)?
• Are you applying for an Eminence Credential?

If you are still uncertain about your eligibility to test, please contact the CTC for approval to test.

If you are still uncertain about your eligibility to test, please contact AEPA for approval to test.

You may be eligible for testing accommodations if you have one or more disability, one or more health conditions, if English is not your primary language, or if you are nursing/breastfeeding.

If you are approved to receive testing accommodations, you may be directed to a specific testing center that can provide you with the environment and support you need.

If you are a nursing mother who needs to bring in specialized equipment or storage materials, be aware that children will not be allowed in the testing center or into the secure testing room. Nursing mothers will not be able to leave the test center once testing has begun, and time taken for breaks is considered part of the available testing time.

If you are visually impaired, braille testing materials will be available, and you will be allowed to have a medical device in the testing room (if needed).

To request testing accommodations:

• Schedule your test appointment.
• Register for the CBEST and ensure you have identified your intent to receive testing accommodations (Don’t schedule a testing appointment yet).
• Complete and submit the applicable Alternative Testing Arrangement Request Form.
• Submit any other required documentation (listed under Required Documentation).
• Check for and follow instructions from the email confirming your testing accommodations (This should come in 1-3 weeks after request is received).
• Schedule your test appointment

Create a study plan. Try to make a study time schedule and stick to it. Create the study plan several weeks before the test to ensure you have plenty of time to prepare.

See the following example of a general study plan:

• Choose one section to focus on at a time (Math, Reading, Writing).
• Take the practice test.
• Use results of the practice test to identify areas for improvement.
• Use our online test prep resources to prepare and improve.
• Take the practice test again to see improvement.

To prepare for the writing section of the CBEST, search for some sample prompts and responses and then get writing. The CTC site includes a CBEST Practice Writing Test with a detailed scoring rubric and sample responses for each score. Read as many past prompts as possible to familiarize yourself with what will be asked and expected of you.You can also review these Constructed Response Questions or the Teach Us Constructed Response Document.

CBEST locations can be found here. You have a choice between two testing options: computer-based at a test center or testing remotely online.

• Computer-based tests: Administered at a specific test center. The CBEST is administered as three separate sections. Computer-based testing is on a priority basis (first come, first served, with limited seating). You will need to make an appointment. Check appointment availability.
• Online-proctored test: Administered remotely as three separate sections. Read more about online proctoring, including important policies and requirements.
  • Each month there is a one-week testing window, and you need to make an appointment with an online proctor.

If you are considering an online-proctored test, take the system test before you register. This will determine if your equipment is eligible for online proctoring.

You can retake the CBEST as many times as you need. The highest scores from all attempts from each section of the test will be used to calculate your final CBEST score. You can re-test on the sections in which you scored lower than a 41. You may also re-test on sections where you made a 41 or higher to give you a better chance of earning a total of 123.

You’ll need to complete the registration process again and wait 45 days before retaking a subtest. We recommend preparing for your exam with this test prep course to help you get the results you want.