Certificate of Clearance

Under state law, applicants must obtain a Certificate of Clearance to be admitted to the Teacher Preparation Program. This process involves a fingerprint scan and background check by the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Follow these instructions to complete the clearance process:

  1. Print out three "Request for Live Scan Service" forms.
  2. Take the completed forms to a Live Scan location, where your fingerprints will be scanned and submitted to the DOJ and FBI. The total cost is typically about $70, depending upon the location.
  3. Apply online for a Certificate of Clearance with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. After filling out the application and paying the commission's $29.50 online application fee, print out a copy of your payment confirmation.
  4. Bring a copy of your payment confirmation to the Graduate Admissions Office to complete the clearance process.

If you have any questions about this process, please contact Melinda Soto at (562) 944-0351, ext. 5679, or by e-mail at .