Teaching Credential Admissions & Aid

For the 2026-2027 Program – Application Deadline is February 9, 2026 

1. A Completed Application to the program and $35 application fee.  Note: the application is completed online through Sales Force and Watermark/TaskStream (https://login.taskstream.com/signon/ ) – a paid subscription is required for Taskstream.  The application includes three essays. 

2. Evidence of clear Christian testimony and agreement with TMU doctrinal statement 

3. Posted bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with 3.00 minimum cumulative GPA: official transcript required before July 1, 2026. 

4. Prerequisite Coursework (shown on transcript): Completed by July 1, 2026

5. Teaching experience or other leadership experience working with K-12 students. 

6. Three satisfactory recommendations:  one academic reference, one from a teaching supervisor, one from student life/pastor.

7. Fulfillment of Basic Skills Requirement before program enrollment – met by a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, transcript required before July 1, 2026. 

8. Fulfillment of Subject Matter Competency Requirement before program enrollment. Verify Subject Matter Competence by one of the pathways listed on #2 for Single Subject Credentials at https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/Single-Multiple-Subject-Credentials-(CL-560C) or #2 for Multiple Subject Credentials https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/multiple-subject-teaching-credential-(cl-561c) 

9. Evidence of excellent interpersonal and social skills, including dispositions for teaching. 

10. Pass Background Check: be fingerprinted and obtain Certificate of Clearance from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. (A valid 30-Day Sub Permit or other CTC-issued permit will be accepted in lieu of the Certificate of Clearance.) 

11. Pass Tuberculosis Screening:  negative TB test report from medical professional 

12. Satisfactory Admissions Panel Interview (must have complete application on file to be scheduled for interview) 

Candidates may be admitted to the program on probation or with provisions. 

Please see Lori Shanklin, Credential Analyst ( or 661-362-2233) for more information.   

Note: periodically admissions requirements may change as the State of California implements new requirements; check with the Credential Analyst for the most updated requirements.

All students must apply for admission to the Teaching Credential Program even if they are continuing at TMU. Applications must be submitted by creating an account through our Admissions Application portal (link above). There is a $35 application fee in addition to the fee for a TaskStream subscription that you will need to create upon admission to the program.

The fee can be waived by attending an Application Workshop or by scheduling an appointment with the Credential Analyst to work on the application.

The application deadline for the 2026-2027 program is February 9, 2026.

A completed application must consist of ALL the following:

1. Completed application form on Admissions Application

2. Three essays (see Admissions Application for details)

3. Three satisfactory recommendations: one academic, one from a teaching supervisor, and one from a pastor or student life leader (see Admissions Application for instructions on how to obtain/submit recommendations)

4. Official transcript showing:

– Posted bachelor’s degree (degree may be in progress at the time of application but must be posted before July 1, 2026)

– Posted bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a 3.00 minimum cumulative GPA:  official transcript required before July 1, 2026.

5. Three satisfactory recommendations: (1) one academic reference, (2) one from a teaching supervisor, and (3) one from a student life or pastoral leader.

6. Fulfillment of Basic Skills Requirement before program enrollment – met by a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, transcript required before July 1, 2026.

7. Fulfillment of Subject Matter Competency Requirement before program enrollment. Verify Subject Matter Competence by one of the pathways listed on #2 for Single Subject Credentials at https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/Single-Multiple-Subject-Credentials-(CL-560C) or #2 for Multiple Subject Credentials https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/multiple-subject-teaching-credential-(cl-561c) 

8. Evidence of excellent interpersonal and social skills, including dispositions for teaching. 

9. Pass Background Check: be fingerprinted and obtain a Certificate of Clearance from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. (A valid 30-Day Sub Permit will be accepted instead of the Certificate of Clearance.) 

10. Pass Tuberculosis Screening:  negative TB test report from a medical professional. 

11. Satisfactory Admissions Panel Interview (must have a complete application on file to be scheduled for interview)

Candidates may be admitted to the program on probation or with provisions. 

Please get in touch with Lori Shanklin, Credential Analyst ( or 661-362-2233) for more information.   

Note: Admissions requirements are subject to change periodically as the State of California implements new regulations. Please check with the Credential Analyst for the most up-to-date requirements. 

A link to detailed application requirements can be found here.

Acceptance of transfer coursework for the credential programs is determined case-by-case basis. Coursework that has been taken more than five years prior to admission may not be accepted. The candidate may also need to retake courses if methods have changed significantly or if there has been a lapse of time out of the profession. This determination is made at the sole discretion of the TMU credential program. Candidates should provide official transcripts and course descriptions for transfer credit evaluation as part of the admissions process.

TMU Gainful Employment Disclosure Information

Credential program candidates may be eligible for state and federal financial aid programs. Contact the TMU Financial Aid Office for information.

Additionally, TMU offers two scholarships specifically for the Credential Programs. The James Corcoran Scholarship is a program-specific scholarship established to assist qualified candidates in completing a credential program at The Master’s University. Candidates who have demonstrated Christian character, a serious commitment to teaching, and careful financial stewardship are eligible to apply for this scholarship. Applications can be found here.