Are you renewing your teaching credential in the near future? There is some important information that you need to know in order to make the process go smoothly. When filling out the required forms there is a section on Personal and Professional Fitness where one has to respond to a series of questions either "yes" or "no". Sounds simple enough right? Unfortunately this could not be farther from the truth. If you truthfully answer "no" to all of the questions then there is not a problem. However, if you answer "yes" the application states that you must give a full explanation of the circumstances on a separate piece of paper. This is where a problem may occur. In fact most of the recent problems that have been encountered have been specifically with question "b." In question "b" the applicant is asked if they have ever "been convicted, including a conviction based on a plea of no contest, of any felony or misdemeanor in California or any other place." The question further states that the applicant must "disclose their conviction even if the case was dismissed pursuant to Penal Code Section 1203.4." Penal Code Section 1203.4 allows for an individual to withdraw their plea of "guilty" and enter a plea of "not guilty" if allowed by a court after fulfilling their conditions of probation.

Many questions have come about from members when answering question "b." One would be under the belief that if they were convicted of a felony or misdemeanor before the age of 18 then they are not required to disclose this. This belief is false because the question asks if you have EVER been convicted so that information would have to be disclosed as well. Have you ever been a victim of identity theft? Our recommendation is that you check your police record to see if there is anything on your record that was caused by the person who stole your identity.

Our recommendation to anyone who is renewing a credential is to begin looking at the renewal application at least 6 months to a year before you actually need to send in the application. If you will be answering "yes" to any questions in the Personal and Professional Fitness section it is recommended that you contact your Primary Contact Staff person to seek a referral to a GLS attorney for advice and assistance BEFORE renewing.

If you submit the application, you may find that the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) places a hold on your credential while they ask you for specific court documents to help them in their investigation. This delay in the approval of your application may cause your credential to expire during the processing. Without a valid credential, the district will be required to remove you from the classroom. If you begin the process before your actual renewal date, the attorney can advise you on the documents you should submit with your application in order to avoid such a delay. Also, by starting early, you should have time to work with the attorney to clear up any additional issues which might arise, while your currently valid credential allows you to remain in the classroom.