Open the "Search for a Credential for a Public School Teacher" page on the CTC website (see References 1). You can use this search tool to check on credentials for a licensed California public school teacher.
Enter the first and last name of the teacher. You may enter the last name only. However, the results will return credential information for all California public school teachers with that same last name. Click the "Search" button to see the results.
Click on the teacher's name in the search results. The results then show a "Document Title" column with the credentials for that teacher's license. This database also has information on the expiration date and status of each credential and any revocations or current suspensions. You may click on each listed credential to get additional credential-related information. The "Glossary" page also gives an explanation of each type of credential for searchers who are unfamiliar with the CTC terminology (see Resources).
Contact CTC Info Services at [email protected] for additional inquiries about credentials. The database for public teachers includes only credentials issued after 1989. Contact Info Services if you need information going back that far. You may also contact the CTC Division of Professional Practices at [email protected] to ask about disciplinary actions against a California teacher. CTC also accepts questions about credentials or misconduct at 888-921-2682.
Access the "Search for a Teacher's Application Status and Credentials Held" CTC web page (see References 2). This database permits application status and credential searches for California private school teachers. However, CTC provides this database for only employers, teacher applicants and authorized government agencies. Parents or other interested parties need to get relevant information or assistance from an authorized party to check on California teaching credentials of a private school teacher.
Enter the social security number and birth date of the teacher. The search tool requires both of these fields. Click the "Search" button to view the application status or credential history of the applicant or teacher.
Contact Info Services or the Division of Professional Practices if you still need more information after running a search. This database for private school teachers, like the public-school database, contains only credentials issued after 1989.