CSET® Multiple Subject

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 CSET:

• Are you seeking certification only?
• Are you a full-time teacher candidate in California seeking their teaching credential?
  • A candidate should take the CSET exam that corresponds to the subject area they wish to teach.

You may not need to take the CSET if any of the following apply to you:

• You are applying for a renewal, reissuance, or upgrading of an existing nonemergency credential, certificate, or permit.
• You are applying for a credential to teach adults in an apprenticeship program.
• You are applying for a permit to teach in a children’s center.
• You are 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.
• You are applying for a credential to provide health services (unless the document also authorizes teaching).
• You are applying for a credential to teach an American Indian language only.
• You are 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).
• You are applying for a Certificate of Clearance (required for practice teaching).
• You are applying for an Eminence Credential.

If you are still uncertain about your eligibility to test, please contact the CTC 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:

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

CSET 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 CSET Multiple Subject 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 separate sections. Subtest II can only be completed with CBT, but Subtests I and III are available for online proctoring. 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.

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.
• 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 math sections of the CSET, search for some sample practice problems. The CTC site includes a CSET sample questions and responses with a detailed scoring rubric. Read as many past questions 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.

You can retake the CSET as many times as you need. The highest scores from all attempts from each section of the test will be used to calculate the final CSET score.

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