As you may have heard through a Green Dot email correspondence, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing is changing its standards for programs designated to clear your preliminary credential. Whereas currently, you may enroll in a clear credential program that may be less than a year, beginning in June 2017, all clear credential program must be 2 years to meet the CTC’s new standards.

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As many currently available programs will become non-compliant in June 2017, this will severely shrink the pool of available programs teachers seeking to clear their preliminary credential across the state.

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As this change will complicate the process of clearing your credential in the future, the CTC, GD and AMU all recommend you enroll in a clear credential program THIS year if you need to clear your credential.

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But what should you look for in a clear credential program? AMU wants to provide some advice based on member experiences that seeks to offer the best possible outcome to our members looking to clear their credential.

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Firstly, while upsetting, you will not be able to get out of paying for a clear credential program while you are working within Green Dot. While Green Dot does offer a clear credential program, it will cost your roughly $2,500, and since it is not offered by a university or teacher education institution, you will not receive any university credits for participation in the Green Dot program.

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If finances are an issue, this program may be a good option for you, as Green Dot offers an automated payment plan in which $125 are deducted from your paycheck on a semi-monthly basis for a total of 20 payroll deductions.

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However, there are other programs available to you that make more financial sense. AMU would like to highly encourage members to seek a program THIS year, so you can take advantage of 1 year programs while they are still compliant, as well as program that offers university credits.

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Many clear credential programs hosted by teacher education institutes or universities cost roughly the same amount as Green Dot’s program, are a year or slightly a less than a year in duration, consist of a manageable workload which keep in mind that you are working as an educator full time, and offer university credits which you can use towards a possible salary advancement.

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If you are going to invest +$2,000 to continue teaching, shouldn’t that investment pay off? It makes professional and financial sense. While we do not endorse any clear credential program, many of our members recommend and have found success through UCSD Extensions Clear Credential program.

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Find out more about the program here.

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This is a good starting point in searching for a clear credential program that makes the most sense for you. We also encourage you to ask you colleagues how they cleared their credential, and what they recommend. Find out what’s out there, shop around, and do what’s best for you.

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In relaying this information to you, AMU not only seeks to make you aware of options available to you for clearing your credential outside of Green Dot, but providing options that make the money you will spend to stay in education a worthwhile investment.