Meeting the Basic Skills Requirement

The Commission on Teacher Credentialing requires all candidates for a Preliminary Teaching Credential to fulfill the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR). For additional information regarding the Basic Skills Requirement, please see the Commission on Teacher Credentialing Basic Skills Requirement webpage.

The Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) must be met for admission to the following Credential programs (MS, SS, SPE-MMSN/EXN, PPS) and can be satisfied by completing one of the following methods:

Pass the CBEST

Individuals only need to pass The California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) once; A total score of 123 is required to pass the CBEST. To pass the CBEST, one must obtain a minimum scaled score of 41 in each of the three sections—reading, writing, and mathematics. However, a score as low as 37 on an individual section is acceptable if the total scaled score is at least 123. For more information, see CTC-CBEST Exam website.

Meet BSR through Coursework

Coursework completed at an accredited college/university in Reading, Writing and Mathematics. The transcripts must show passage of courses in reading, writing, and mathematics as outlined below. Courses must:

Have been taken at a regionally-accredited college or university for credit
Passed with a grade of B or better
Be degree applicable (AA coursework included)
Be at least 3 semester units (or equivalent quarter units).

Professional development or continuing education units or in-service training workshops do not qualify.

Qualifying coursework includes the following:

For reading proficiency: a course in critical thinking, literature, philosophy, reading, rhetoric, or textual analysis.
For writing proficiency: a course in composition, English, rhetoric, written communication, or writing.
For mathematics proficiency: a course in algebra, geometry, mathematics, quantitative reasoning, or statistics.

List of courses that qualify to meet each area of the Basic Skills Requirement at CSUDH and local Community Colleges.(Not an exhaustive list)

Current CSUDH candidates who wish to request an evaluation of their transcripts to meet the Basic Skills Requirement through coursework must submit a BSR Evaluation Request by clicking the button below. Official transcripts for courses used to meet the BSR will need to be attached to request (Unofficial transcripts may be submitted for CSUDH courses). For combination of coursework and exams, attach official transcripts and copy of official exam results. Please allow up 2-4 weeks for an evaluation once the request is submitted.

If you have any questions, concerns, or need assistance, please email BasicSkills@csudh.edu

IMPORTANT: This BSR evaluation form is only valid for admissions and for a credential application in the College of Education at CSU Dominguez Hills. You must follow the guidelines for evaluating your BSR established by other districts, agencies, or credential programs if you are hired for employment or choose to attend elsewhere.

Meet BSR With Coursework and Exam

The Basic Skills Requirement can be met through a combination of applicable courses and qualifying exams. The qualifying coursework must meet the requirements described above and the passing score on individual CBEST sections must be a scaled score of 41. For example, you may meet the math requirement through coursework and have passing CBEST score on reading and writing. Candidates may request a BSR Evaluation by clicking on "Meet the Basic Skills Requirement Through Coursework" above.

Pass the CSU Early AP or CSU Placement Exams

Passing scores on the California State University (CSU) Early Assessment Program (EAP) (English and Mathematics sections) or the CSU Placement Examinations (English Placement Test [EPT] and Entry Level Mathematics [ELM]) are sufficient to meet the basic skills requirement. Passing exam scores remain valid indefinitely for the purpose of meeting the basic skills requirement. See table below for passing scores.

CSU Placement Tests	Math	English
Early Assessment Program (EAP)(taken in Spring of 11th grade)	"College Ready" or "Exempt"	"College Ready" or "Exempt"
Entry Level Match (ELM)	50	N/A
English Placement Test (EPT)	N/A	151

College Board AP Exams

Students who receive a score of 3 or higher on the College Board AP English exam and AP Calculus or AP Statistics exam may also use these exam scores to meet the basic skills requirement. See Table below for how the scores may be applied.

Examination	Math	English
College Board Advanced Placement Examinations	Score of 3 or above on one of the following: AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Statistics	Score of 3 or above on one of the following: AP English Language and Composition AP English Literature and Composition

Pass the CSET: Multiple Subjects Plus Writing Skills Exam

The California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET): Multiple Subjects examination has been modified, adding an assessment of basic writing skills. Passage of the CSET: Writing Skills examination (test #142) can be added to passage of the CSET: Multiple Subjects Examination (subtests #101, 214, & 225) to meet the basic skills requirement. Passing exam scores used to meet the basic skills requirement remain valid indefinitely. For more information, see CTC-Exam website.

Pass a Basic Skills Exam from Another State

The Commission will accept basic skills examinations from other states. A photocopy of the score report or letter from the testing agency verifying passage of the examination must be submitted. There is no recency requirement for the date the examination was passed. See the chart Out-of-State Basic Skills Exams Guide at the end of CTC leaflet for a listing of acceptable examinations from other states.

Achieve Qualifying Score on the SAT or ACT

Previously, individuals having earned a score of 500 or higher on the Critical Reading (previously Verbal) section of the SAT exam combined with a score of 550 or higher on the SAT Mathematics exam are determined to have met the basic skills requirement.

A restructuring of the SAT Suite of Assessments has adjusted the qualifying scores on the revised Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Mathematics examinations required to meet the basic skills requirement. The new scores listed have been deemed by the College Board as equivalent to the scores shown for the examinations as administered prior to this revision. See Appendix Tables 2-3.

An individual having earned a score of 22 or higher on the ACT English exam combined with a score of 23 or higher on the ACT Mathematics exam is determined to have met the basic skills requirement. See Appendix Table 4

Table2

College Board SAT (taken after March 2016)	Math	Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
Qualifying Scores	570	560

Table 3

College Board SAT (taken after March 2016)	Math	Critical Reading (or Verbal)
Qualifying Scores	550	500

Table 4

(ACT)	Math	English
Qualifying Scores	23	22