Overview
 The online Reading Certificate Program is designed to help credentialed teachers meet local, state, and federal requirements that ensure that all pupils have fair access to high-quality education with a foundation in reading. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) serves as the approving agency and issuer of the Reading Certificate.
The online Reading Certificate Program represents the first half of the courses required to obtain the CTC-approved Reading and Language Arts Specialist Credential. Completion of the second half of the coursework can be done through UC Irvine Extension’s collaboration with California State University, Long Beach.
What are the requirements to begin the Reading Certificate Program?
- Possess a valid California teaching credential
- Complete a minimum of three years of full-time service in public schools or private schools at the time of recommendation for the Reading Certificate
- Pass the CBEST
- Access to a classroom to participate in Education X300.56 Reading Practicum
To be recommended to the Commission, you must have access to a K-12 learning environment at the time you are enrolled in Education X300.56 to complete the Practicum requirement. The learning environment need not be your own. Examples of an acceptable practicum experience include—but are not limited to:
- A colleague’s classroom in your district or in another district
- An afterschool reading program sponsored by a school district
- Special learning environments, such as those established by grants or that are part of institutes or laboratories
What if I do not meet the requirements?
If you do not meet the requirements for CTC Certification (teaching out of state; working in a private industry; etc), you may still earn a Reading Certificate from UC Irvine Extension. This certificate is issued by UC Irvine Extension. For the UC Irvine Extension Certificate, you must complete all coursework required for the CTC Certificate, including the Practicum. Participants in the UC Irvine Extension-issued Certificate program have a wider variety of options for the Practicum experience. For example:
- Public or private K-12 school not in California
- A postsecondary/community college classroom
- Private tutoring group
- Adult Education classroom
- Classes you are teaching overseas
What courses are required for the program?
Approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Reading Certificate consists of 6 online courses totaling 18 units. All coursework must be completed with a grade of “B” or better.
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How much does it cost?
Each online cousre is $500, making the total cost of tuition $3000.
Transfer Credit
UC Irvine Extension’s Reading Certificate courses represent a track into California State University, Long Beach’s Reading and Language Arts Specialist Credential and/or Master of Arts in Education Specialization in Reading/ Language Arts degree program. For further information regarding the transfer of your completed UC Irvine Extension coursework to California State University, Long Beach, please contact Dr. Joan Theurer, Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Reading at CSULB, at (562) 985-2096 or jtheurer@csulb.edu.
Onsite Courses Available
UC Irvine Extension can provide individual courses, specialized in-services, or the entire Reading Certificate Program onsite at schools, district professional development centers or other venues at reduced costs. Onsite courses cover a number of topics critical to increasing teachers’ skill sets and reading achievement of pupils and can be tailored to unique demands of the school being served. To learn how to bring the Reading Certificate Program to your school district, contact (949) 824-9304 or unex-educate@uci.edu.
Advisory Board/Instructor Committee
- Shannon Chollman, Corona Norco USD
- Lesley Clear, UC Irvine Extension
- Marina Michalski, Anaheim Union High SD
- Diane Shimoda, Anaheim City SD (retired)
- Tammy Steel, Westminster SD
- Tina Witmer, Ascend Leadership & Learning, LLC.
English Proficiency Requirement
All certificate programs at UC Irvine Extension (classroom and online formats) require professional-level English language proficiency in listening and note-taking, reading comprehension and vocabulary, written expression, and oral presentation. If you would like to refine your English language proficiency prior to beginning one of our programs, please see our English Language Programs.
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