C
alifornia Education Code (Section 44252) requires that teachers, administrators, and other school
practitioners demonstrate adequate proficiency, in English, of three basic skills: reading, math-
ematics, and writing. Administered by National Evaluation Systems, Inc. (NES®), the California
Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST®) was created to assess and verify these skills. The CBEST is not a meas-
urement of teaching abilities or skills, but is rather a tool for measuring proficiency in the more basic, necessary
skills as indicated above—skills employed by all school practitioners at the elementary, secondary, and adult edu-
cation levels.
By law, the CBEST provides separate scores in each of these three areas, and acceptable scores must be
achieved in each area to meet the requirements of this code relative to credentialing and employment in Cali-
fornia—and Oregon.
In July 1984, the CBEST guideline was adopted by the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commis-
sion (TSPC). Within six months, satisfactory CBEST scores were made mandatory for initial licensure in Ore-
gon as a teacher, personnel specialist, or administrator. The CBEST test requirement is additional to other
licensing requirements as set forth in the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS, Chapter 342), and the Oregon Rules for
CHAPTER
What is the
CBEST?
CHAPTER SUMMARY
This chapter provides the Who, What, When, Where, and How of the
CBEST—those all-important details such as: who has to take it, what
it’s used for and what it’s like, when and where it’s given, how it’s
scored, and how to register.
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Licensure of Teachers, Personnel Specialists, and
Administrators (OAR, Chapter 584).

Who Must Take the CBEST?
California
In California, you are required to take the CBEST if

You can document five years of full-time, licensed
employment in public schools in another state.
■
You already hold one type of Oregon license and
are a first-time applicant for a license of a differ-
ent type. For example, an Oregon-licensed
teacher who applies for an initial personnel spe-
cialist license does not need CBEST scores.
■
You give evidence of passing scores on Praxis I, or
the NTE Core Battery Test of Communication
Skills and General Knowledge.

Who is Exempt from the
CBEST?
California
In California, you are exempt from taking the CBEST
for the following kinds of employment:
■
Instructor of adults in an apprenticeship program
■
Teacher in a children’s center or a development
center
■
Teacher in any subject for which a bachelor’s
degree is not required
■
Provider of health services, unless you are also
required to teach
■

validity of the initial credential.
Oregon
In Oregon, you may be granted a two-year (24-month)
exemption from the CBEST requirement if you have
not yet passed the CBEST, but are otherwise qualified
for licensure.
The CBEST waiver is only granted upon request
of the employing school superintendent or school
board in the event that (1) attempts were made to hire
a properly licensed educator, but were unsuccessful,
and that (2) the position is necessary for the school to
operate normally. However, exemption can be granted
without district request to candidates from states with
reciprocral agreements in Oregon—such an exemp-
tion is nonrenewable. For further licensure, passing
scores on the CBEST must be presented by the candi-
date.

What is the CBEST Like?
What Sorts of Questions Does
the CBEST Ask?
The CBEST exam is comprised of three separate sec-
tions: (1) Reading, which consists of 50 multiple-
choice questions; (2) Mathematics, consisting of 50
multiple-choice questions; and (3) Writing, which
consists of two essay subjects.
Questions in the Reading section are derived
from two important skill areas: critical thinking/argu-
ment analysis, and research/comprehension. Drawn
from a variety of fields, such as humanities, the social

assertions with specific, relevant details and examples.
The key to success here is to stay specific—do not
digress! For more detailed information on what it takes
to write a fantastic essay, see the section on Writing in
the CBEST Mini-Course (Chapter 4). The criteria for
scoring the CBEST essays is found at the end of Chap-
ter 5; many tips for successfully writing a “4” (Pass)
essay are also found there.
How Long Does the CBEST Take?
When you take the CBEST, you have a total of four
hours in which to complete the three separate sections.
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WHAT IS THE CBEST?
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You do not need to complete all three sections in one
four-hour sitting. (The exception to this rule is the
CBEST Writing section. The essays cannot be split up;
both essays in the section must be completed at one
sitting. They cannot be administered separately.) You
may choose to concentrate on one or two sections at
any given test administration, reregister, and then work
solely on a third section at a later date. If you choose
this latter option, take note that regardless of the num-
ber of sections you are taking at any given sitting—
even just one—the entire test fee is required, and you
will be required to reregister each time.
If you choose to do the whole test in one four-
hour sitting, be aware that you don’t have to do the sec-
tions in any particular order. The test is not timed

Calculators
■
Dictionaries
■
Cellular phones or other communication devices
■
Alarm watches
■
Visitors
Bringing any prohibited materials to a test adminis-
tration may result in your score(s) being voided. If you
have questions or require more detailed information
on the day of the test, call CBEST at (916) 928-4001,
from 7:30
A
.
M
. to 3:30
P
.
M
. PST (Pacific standard time).
What is a Passing Score?
To pass the CBEST, you must pass all three sections of
the CBEST. Raw scores can range from 1–50, which are
then converted to scaled scores ranging from 20–80.
The passing scaled score on each section of the test is
41. You must achieve a minimum total score of 123 for
the three sections to pass (the sum of the Reading,
Writing, and Mathematics scaled scores).

score can help you reach the total score required to
pass the entire CBEST.
Once the entire CBEST has been passed, you will
never have to take it again. You only need to pass the
entire CBEST once to qualify for the initial issuance or
future renewal of any teaching credential.

How Do I Register for the
CBEST?
When is the Test Given?
The CBEST is offered six times a year, once every two
months, at various locations throughout California
and Oregon. It is usually given on the first or second
Saturday of the months of February, April, June,
August, October, and December.
How Do I Register?
There are three periods of registration: Regular, Late,
and Emergency; and three registration options: mail,
phone, and Internet.
For Regular Registration, you should register at
least one month prior to the applicable test date. You
can register either by mail or the Internet; phone reg-
istration is not available for this option. If registering
by mail, applications must be postmarked by the Reg-
ular Registration deadline, or received by the Late Reg-
istration deadline. If registering online, applications
should be completed by 5:00
P
.
M

Emergency Registration deadline. If registering online,
your application must be finished by 5:00
P
.
M
. PST on
the Emergency Registration deadline. Emergency Reg-
istration is limited to ten test areas in California, and
one in Oregon.
Alternative testing arrangements can be made for
either religious reasons or for special needs accommo-
dations. All requests for alternative testing arrange-
ments must be postmarked by the Regular Registration
deadline for the test date applied for. Be advised that
registration deadlines are strictly enforced—and there
are NO exceptions!
Whom Do I Contact with
Questions?
For any questions, or more detailed information
regarding registration procedures, test dates, or loca-
tions, contact:
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WHAT IS THE CBEST?
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