• Certification By:
  • Examination
  • Completing an Approved Subject Matter Competency
  • Completing Post-Graduate Coursework
• Class requirements

There are three different paths to meet the requirements for subject matter competency in chemistry:

• Certification by examination (passing CSET/SSAT exams in general science and chemistry)
• Certification by completing an approved subject matter competency program (the equivalent of SFSU’s B.A. Chemistry degree program plus several additional science courses)
• Certification by completing post-graduate coursework

If you are a holder of a Single Subject, Standard Secondary, or Special Secondary Teaching Credential, you may have "Chemistry" added to your credential as a supplementary authorization by meeting the following requirement: 20 semester units (including at least 10 upper division semester units) of non-remedial course work in chemistry, completed at a regionally accredited community college, college, or university.  A grade of C or higher is required in every course used to meet this requirement.

For more info, please contact the Department’s teaching credential advisor:
Dr. Pete Palmer
Phone: 415-338-7717
E-mail: Dr. Palmer

Students may elect to demonstrate competency by achieving passing scores in a series of exams.  The California Subject Examinations for Teachers/Single Subject Assessments for Teaching (CSET/SSAT) organization maintains the CSET web site that includes exam dates, contents, and sample questions.  The CTC also maintains a web site with information about these exams, including the current examination schedule, at www.ctc.ca.gov/profserv/examinfo/singlesubject.html.  The required exams and passing standards are:

CSET Exam 118, Science Subtest I: General Science, with score of ³ 220 out of 300
CSET Exam 119, Science Subtest II: General Science, with score of ³ 220 out of 300
CSET Exam 121, Science Subtest III: Chemistry, with score of ³ 220 out of 300

Students must complete the equivalent of SFSU’s B.A. Chemistry program plus the following additional science breadth courses.

• BIOL 230 and BIOL 240
• ASTR 115/116
• GEOL 110
• METR 302
• GEOL 310(this course can be taken instead of GEOL 110 and METR 302)

Note that an overall GPA of 2.75 is required in the courses used to fulfill these requirements.  The College of Education requires the subject matter competency to be completed or that passing scores be achieved on the CSET prior to admission to the credential program.  See the College of Education single subject program webpage for more details.

If you believe you have complete all of this coursework or their equivalents, list your courses on the Subject Matter Competency Review form, and bring this form and your transcripts to a chemistry advisor to have this evaluated. Students who feel that the course requirements are onerous should consider electing the examination option.

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC website) approved a specialized and limited credential in Chemistry.  This teaching certification is valid only for the designated discipline; that is, the person would not be able to teach general science, integrated science, or introductory science.  There are three different paths to meet the requirements for a specialized certificate in chemistry:

1. Completion of a post-baccalaureate degree (i.e., M.S. or Ph.D.) from a regionally-accredited institution in the requested area, or in a closely related area deemed equivalent by the Commission.
2. Completion of a baccalaureate degree (B.A. or B.S.) and 30 semester-units or 45 quarter-units of postgraduate coursework in the science area requested, or in a closely related area deemed equivalent by the Commission
3. Achieving passing scores on CSET Test #121 - Science Subtest III: Chemistry, and CSET Test #125 - Science Subtest IV: Chemistry (Specialized).  The official CSET Web site, which includes test guides, internet registration, and more information can be found at www.cset.nesinc.com.

The closely related areas for the chemistry (specialized) certificate are Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Quantitative Analysis/Qualitative Analysis, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Nuclear Chemistry, and Physical Science-Chemistry.  The degree and postgraduate coursework must be from a regionally-accredited institution, and each course applicable to the science area requested shall have a grade of "B" or better, "pass," or "credit."