What's New

• CSET Preparation courses targeting the January 9, 2010 CSET exam have been posted. Courses begin Saturday, November 14, 2009. Please check the Course Schedule for availability of the CSET Multiple Subjects and Single Subjects preparation courses. If you have any further questions, please call 213-241-4140 and ask to speak with an advisor. 
• The Subject Matter Preparation Program staff will be unable to accept walk-in applications at our Beaudry location.  We will post a schedule for walk-in applications the week prior to the first day of class.  Please check back for walk-in schedule.   

• After Tuesday, November 10, 2009 you will need to bring your applications and money orders to class on  Saturday, November 14, 2009.  Please call our office at (213) 241-4140 to verify that the course(s) in which you wish to enroll is/are still avaliable.  If there is room in the class, you will be enrolled on a first come, first served basus until classes are full. 
• Withdrawing from a CSET examination prior to the exam test date makes you ineligible for any future free preparation courses and test vouchers for that specific CSET subtest.
• 2009-2010 CSET Dates are as follows:

• CSET Test Dates

  September 12, 2009

  November 7, 2009

  January 9, 2010

  March 13, 2010

  May 8, 2010

  July 10, 2010

• Free CSET courses and free CSET exam vouchers are being offered for the January 9, 2010 CSET examination. Teacher eligibility for free services include: - (1) Elementary/Middle School Core teachers with (a) preliminary or clear credentials earned on or after July 1, 2002; (b) Liberal Arts majors; and (c) no subject matter compliance; (2) Provisional Math teachers; and (3) Provisional Science teachers. If you have questions about whether or not you qualify, please call our office Monday - Friday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm at 213-241-4140. Applications are posted on our Web site under Free CSET Courses. Applications containing SMP policy information are now available.
• Beginning Teacher courses satisfying the 15-hour Provisional Internship Permit requirement are posted under Professional Development Courses: 
  • Educational Research & Dissemination (ER&D) - Foundations of Effective Teaching - The completion of any five of the three-hour modules will fulfill this requirement.

Click on the links below to locate the following topics:

Subject Matter Preparation Program Courses

Special Education update

Contact information
Course fees and eligibility for fee subsidy

Which examinations do you take?
2009-2010 Exam administration dates

When you pass your CSET examinations

Course Schedule

>Multiple Subjects test preparation courses
>Single Subjects test preparation courses

>Professional Development Courses:

      Foundations of Effective Teaching

     

Other helpful links:

CSET home page 

L. A. County Office of Education CSET Preparation

The Subject Matter Preparation (SMP) courses are offered to LAUSD teachers, LAUSD teacher applicants, and other LAUSD employees.  The courses provide assistance with the content covered by the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) in multiple subjects and a variety of single subjects.  Preparation classes are organized by subtests and target specific test dates.   We recommend that participants take a maximum of two subtests during the five-hour CSET exam session.   

Courses are typically two to six weeks in duration, held on Saturdays or selected weekday evenings, and precede CSET exam dates.  Course hours vary from three to six hours, depending on the subtest covered. 

By clicking on a particular course, you will generate a PDF application to be completed on your computer.   To enroll in a course, simply print the course application, sign and date both pages of the SMP policy statement, and mail them with your money order.  When we receive the completed application and course fee(s), you will be sent a confirmation of your enrollment.

Due to the differing types of special education authorizations, teachers with questions regarding special education and the corresponding required CSET examinations should call the NCLB unit at (213) 241-2062.

Courses are sponsored by the Subject Matter Preparation Program.  If you have questions after reviewing the information on this site, please contact the program offices at (213) 241-4140 and ask to speak with an advisor.

Our CSET preparation courses are open to any person interested in taking and passing the CSET. Please see course fees below for reduced fee eligibility.

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Eligibility for Reduced Fees

Reduced fee subsidies are available for any current LAUSD employee including prospective teacher candidates with a written employment offer. SMP must be able to verify employment.

Full Fee Payers

• Participants who are not employees of LAUSD must pay the full fee.

Exam Passing Incentives Continue for 2009-2010

The Subject Matter Preparation (SMP) Program provides a CSET passing incentive to LAUSD qualifying contracted teachers. This passing incentive is provided on a one-time basis to any fully contracted provisional LAUSD teachers (no preliminary or fully credentialed teachers) who:

1. Take the CSET in the subject they currently teach;
2. Provide a CSET score report indicating proof of passage of all required CSET subtests; and,
3. Have completed and paid for at least one CSET preparation course offered by SMP.

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Refund Policy

The Subject Matter Preparation (SMP) Program will consider refunds for CSET courses provided the following conditions have been met:

• Proof of payment can be verified; and
• All course materials have been returned in the same condition as they were distributed; and
• A refund request has been made no later that the day of the participant’s first course attendance; or,
• If you fail to attend any classes.

Retake Policy

Effective July 1, 2008 SMP will NO longer:

• Offer free retakes of CSET preparation courses
• Allow participants to make-up missed CSET classes.

Your understanding and support are greatly appreciated.

Rollover Policy

Effective September 2007, you will no longer be eligible to rollover funds from one course to the same course in another session.  However, you may rollover funds from one class to another class within the same session as long as you return all course materials in original condition and tell an advisor during the first class session.   This is only a possibility if the new course is the same cost as the original course you enrolled in. 

Otherwise, your money order will be returned to you.

Registration Policy

CSET Preparation course applications and payment are due no later than the Monday prior to the first class meeting. Applications and/or payment received after this date will not be honored if classes are filled to capacity.  Therefore, we strongly encourage you to register early.  Participants expecting to register as walk-ins on the first day of class or after are in serious risk of being turned away.  There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this policy!

K-8 teachers:   Multiple Subjects CSET

9 -12 teachers:   Single Subject CSET of current subject teaching assignment

Special Education teachers:   K-8, Multiple Subjects; 9-12 Single Subject math, science, or English (See Note below)

Note:  Special Education teachers in grades K-8 must take the CSET multiple subjects exam.  Secondary special education teachers should contact the No Child Left Behind Unit at (213) 241-2062.  You may also visit the NCLB Web site at www.teachinla.com/nclb.html for additional information.

For additional information about the examinations, please visit the CSET Web site at http://www.cset.nesinc.com.

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The good news is that once you pass the CSET in all required subtests in your subject area, you are deemed subject matter competent. However, under the No Child Left Behind mandates, you are NOT YET “highly qualified.” 

To become highly qualified, you must convert to “intern” status by satisfying the following (for LAUSD teachers): 

• Be eligible for continued employment, based upon your site administrator’s recommendation.

• Meet all intern program requirements, including U.S. Constitution, grade point, and any prerequisites, specified by individual programs.

• If applying to a University Intern program, request an “Intern Verification” form which verifies that you are employed as a contract teacher.  You may obtain this form from the Certificated Credentials and Contract Services Unit at Beaudry -- (213) 241-6520 -- or contact the Subject Matter Preparation Program at (213) 241-4140.  This form is not needed for the District Intern Program.

• Prove admission into an approved intern credentialing program.
  • If applying for a District internship, the District Intern Program will assist you in the conversion process.  Contact them at (213) 241-5581.
• For University programs, request a C-19 letter from the University.  The C-19 verifies application for an intern credential.

• Bring your C-19 letter to the Certificated Credentials and Contract Services Unit on the 15th floor of the District offices at 333 S. Beaudry Avenue.  Based upon your C-19, a Credential Analyst will process a change of credential to convert you to intern status.  You will then sign a new contract.

For approved intern programs in the greater Los Angeles area, click here. For listings of credentials offered through each approved intern program, click here.

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The following are the beginning dates for Saturday classes:

Classes are held on Saturdays and selected weekday evenings.  Please check dates below for each course offering. 

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MULTIPLE SUBJECTS (MS) COURSES

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SINGLE SUBJECTS (SS) COURSES

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FREE CSET COURSES and FREE CSET EXAM VOUCHERS

Free CSET Preparation Courses and Free CSET Fees –                                   

The Subject Matter Preparation (SMP) Program will offer CSET preparation courses and fund CSET fees at no cost to the following teachers:

• Elementary/Middle School Core Teachers (Liberal Arts majors) with clear credentials who must meet subject matter competency requirements as mandated by NCLB legislation

• Secondary provisional math or science teachers (does not include those who are obtaining second authorizations in subjects other than the subject currently taught).

CSET preparation courses and CSET fees are offered at no cost under the following conditions:

• Participants must take the corresponding CSET preparation course in order to remain eligible for free CSET registration fees.  The CSET must be taken on the next CSET exam date immediately following the preparation course.

• Participants must attend the first two class meetings of each course in order to remain eligible for free CSET exam registration.

• Withdrawing from a CSET examination prior to the exam test date makes you ineligible for any future free preparation courses and tesst vouchers for that specific CSET subtest.

• Participants must arrive no later than the first hour of the first class meeting or they will be dropped from the course.  After the first hour of a missed class, you will be dropped from any class/classes for which you are enrolled.  Should you fail to attend class during the first class session, you can still attend the class if there is room to enroll.  In order to attend the class, you will need to re-enroll.  This would, however, make you ineligible to receive a voucher to take the CSET examination at no cost for that class.  This class would also count as one of your three free CSET courses.      

• Participants enrolled in a free course who wish to withdraw from the course* must do so in writing no later than the first hour of the first class.  If you drop a class after the first hour, this dropped class will be counted as one of the three courses you are eligible to take at no charge for that specific subtest; and, you will waive your option to the free CSET examination voucher for that test date. In other words, both the course and that exam will be counted as one of your free attempts.  * Elementary/Middle School Core teacher must take a minimum of two CSET preparations to be eligible for the free CSET exam voucher. 

• Participants can miss no more than one hour total of class time during the first two class meetings in order to remain eligible for free test fees.

• Participants taking the CSET Multiple Subjects (Elementary/Middle School Core) prep courses and examinations must enroll in a minimum of two (2) CSET prep courses during the same six-week session and take both the corresponding examinations immediately following the prep courses.  If the participant has already passed two of the three required subtests, then s/he must submit a valid CSET score report as verification.  In such a case, the participant may enroll in the one remaining subtest prep course and then take that exam following the course.

• Participants taking the CSET Single Subject (secondary) prep courses in Math or Science are not required to take more than one preparation course during the same six-week (or seven-week) session.  However, if the participant chooses to take more than one prep course during the same session, s/he is required to take all corresponding examinations immediately following the courses.

• Failure to attend the second class session, of any course, will make you ineligible to receive the CSET voucher for that class. For multiple subject participants, you will also be ineligible to receive a CSET voucher for any other CSET exam for that CSET date. You can continue to take the class at no cost but it will be counted as one of the three free class sessions you are entitled to attend.  If you choose to retake the class immediately following one session, you will need to pay for the class and pay to take the exam(s) and take the exam(s) you need to take for that session plus provide proof of a non-passing score to be eligible to retake the class and receive a CSET test voucher for the following test session.  

• Participants are eligible to take each required CSET prep course three times and attempt each required subtest three times at no cost.

• Participants must show current valid photo identification at the first class meeting before entering the class.

• Participants must sign in (and sign out as required) every class meeting.

• Participants who do not take the examination as registered will forfeit any future vouchers for the subtest they failed to take.

• Continued program funding of free CSET preparation courses and free CSET exam registration fees

CSET Exam Vouchers

In order to receive CSET examination voucher, participants must attend the first two CSET class meetings and miss no more than one hour total of class time.

CSET exam vouchers will be handed out at the end of the second class meeting.  You must complete the CSET registration form at that time and return it to an SMP staff member before leaving class.

If registration form is completed as required and eligibility is verified, the CSET registration forms will be sent to Evaluation Systems of Pearson (ESP) and ESP will forward the admission ticket to the address indicated on the registration form. 

SMP staff will review all CSET registration forms to confirm eligibility and completeness.  Participants are ultimately responsible for incomplete CSET registration forms.  Failure to complete paperwork is cause for denial of voucher for CSET examinations. 

LAUSD must be identified as the CSET exam score report recipient; recipient code 708. 

Those participants required to take two CSET exams will be provided a registration form at the end of the second meeting of the second class provided that attendance requirements have been met for both courses.   Participants must indicate both subtests on one registration form.  If the participant does not satisfy all attendance requirements for all required courses, then the registration form will not be submitted for that participant.  Participant will be notified of ineligibility.

Retakes

Additional course books and materials will not be provided for course retakes.

Participants must provide a valid CSET score report in order to receive a free retake.  If the CSET score report is not available in time to enroll for the subsequent course offering, then the participant has the option of waiting for the next session to enroll for a free retake or the participant may pay for the course.  If the participant chooses to pay the course fee and later finds that s/he has passed the exam for that subtest, no refund will be given.

Participants may not retake a free course for the purpose of earning salary point credit, if they already passed that CSET subtest.  

Make-ups

Participants are not allowed to make up missed class meetings in subsequent courses. 

Participants may not attend another class offered during a different day of the week or different time of day (Saturday classes) for any missed classes.

If any course is taken with the intention of making up any class meeting(s) missed in a previous session, then that course will count as one free retake.

Passing Incentives

Once a participant takes a free course s/he is not eligible for a passing incentive. 

Salary Point Credit Statement

All classes that meet for fifteen (15) hours or more are eligible for salary point credit.

Site Requirements

• No food will be allowed in classrooms. Beverages will be allowed.
• Only those enrolled in CSET preparation courses will be allowed on campus. 
• No children are allowed at CSET preparation. 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES

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