PASC Frequently Asked Questions

The faculty in the PASC Credential/MS Program are veteran educational leaders, and world-renowned scholars and researchers who prepare the region's educators to lead for social justice and equity. When the faculty aren't teaching and advising students, you can find them leading professional development for the state at the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC), and nation at the American Association of Educational Researchers (AERA).

Another crucial reason to choose Cal State East Bay’s PASC program is the significant support our faculty provide to our PASC candidates in preparation for the California Administrator Preparation Assessment (CalAPA).  Our faculty helped design, pilot and score the CalAPA, and we believe that the skills it assesses are fundamental to educational leadership. Our faculty and coaches work closely with every PASC candidate to provide regular feedback on their learning from the Leadership Cycles.

Cal State East Bay’s PASC/MS program is designed to meet the needs and schedules of busy education professionals. Thus, our program is a hybrid program, meaning one class meets once a week in the late afternoon in person, while the other two classes are held online asynchronously. Students take one synchronous class and two asynchronous online classes each semester, or six courses altogether.

Cohorts may be scheduled at a variety of geographic locations in the Bay Area, and depend on sufficient enrollment. Recently, cohorts have been scheduled at the Cal State East Bay Campuses in Hayward and Concord. Students may choose the geographic location that is most convenient for them, however must remain with the same cohort throughout the year.

The Preliminary Administrative Services Credential is designed to be completed in two semesters.

  1. A current clear California teaching or services credential.
  2. A valid California clear or life teaching credential or Pupil Personnel Services Credential, Teacher Librarian Services Credential or Designated Subjects Credential with a baccalaureate degree, or Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credential, School Nurse or Speech Language Pathology Services Credential (see CTC CL-574C, 4/2017).
  3. A minimum of five years full-time K-12 teaching or service experience under a credential as verified by the CTC Verification of Experience Form. The form must be signed by district human resources or a credential personnel.
  4. A minimum 3.0 GPA in university course work
  5. Three recommendation forms; at least one from an administrator.
  6. Statement of purpose
  7. Current Resume

The University Application is submitted through Cal State Apply.

Please carefully read “How to Apply” before submitting your University Application. It is important to note that the university requires official final transcripts from all colleges and universities. This includes all institutions before and after your bachelor’s degree. The Office of Admission does not accept composite transcripts.

The application filing period for fall 2025 is October 1, 2024 to June 1, 2025.

June 1, 2025

We will attempt to retrieve your final transcript; however, you will need to provide it if we are unsuccessful in doing so

Financial aid is available to students who apply for the MS in Educational Leadership program. This is the option you wil choose when applying via Cal State Apply.

 As of Fall 2024 tuition is $4,553.50 per semester. Tuition and fees are subject to change.

For application questions, contact credentials@csueastbay.edu.

For program questions, contact mari.gray@csueastbay.edu.

For those who want to continue on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, an additional two semesters of coursework is required. The class schedule for the MS program mirrors the PASC program schedule; one class meets once a week in person while the other classes meet online asynchronously. Students take one synchronous in person class and two asynchronous online classes. In-person classes for the second year of the MS in Educational Leadership program take place on the Hayward campus.

Yes. It is possible to just complete the PASC credential. You are not required to go on to year two to complete the MS in Educational Leadership.

When you finish the program, you'll qualify for a Certificate of Eligibility for the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential; this is not a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential.

If you have a Certificate of Eligibility and you are being offered a job, your district works with you to apply for a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential.

If you want to remain in the classroom, you can do so without jeopardizing your credential. The Certificate of Eligibility does not expire.

Once you start working under the Preliminary (PASC) Credential, you have 5 years to clear your credential in an induction program. If it isn't cleared within 5 years of the initial use, you will need to re-apply for the PASC because it will expire.

The Administrative Services Credential is for educators who want to be in an administrative role in the K-12 setting. California credentials are tiered: the first tier is the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential and the second is the Clear Administrative Services Credential. Once you complete a state-approved credential program and are working in an administrative position, you are granted the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential from the state. To earn the Clear Administrative Services Credential, you must complete an induction program. To be eligible for the induction program, you must possess a Preliminary Credential and work as an administrator in the K-12 setting. After completing the induction program, you will receive the Clear Administrative Services Credential. The Clear Credential must be renewed every 5 years.

Yes. Beginning in Fall 2019, all candidates for California’s Preliminary Administrative Services Credential are required to pass the CalAPA. The CalAPA is organized as three leadership cycles. 

  • Leadership Cycle 1 focuses on analyzing multiple sources of school data for the purpose of identifying a single equity gap for a group of students at your school. 
  • Leadership Cycle 2 focuses on co-facilitating collaborative professional learning within a community of practice for the purpose of improving teaching and student learning. 
  • Leadership Cycle 3 focuses on coaching an individual teacher to strengthen teaching practices and improve student learning and/or well-being.

At Cal State East Bay, support for the CalAPA is embedded in the program, through fieldwork and coursework. Our faculty helped design, pilot and score the CalAPA, and we believe that the skills it assesses are fundamental to educational leadership. The faculty and the coaches work closely with every PASC candidate to provide regular feedback on their learning from the Leadership Cycles. For more information about the Leadership Cycles, please go to the CalAPA website California Administrator Performance Assessment (CalAPA).

The CalAPA is a requirement for California licensure. Each candidate must submit their own fees for the CalAPA electronically via the CalAPA’s online portal with Pearson Education. CSU East Bay does not accept fee payments for the CalAPA. The registration fees for the cycle are:


Leadership Cycle 1      $125

Leadership Cycle 2      $150

Leadership Cycle 3      $150

For additional information about registration fees and policies or to submit payment for the CalAPA, please go to the Pearson website: Fees, Payment Information, and Refund Policy

The CalAPA accepts applications year-round and there are monthly reporting dates. Candidates for the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential may submit their completed CalAPA Leadership Cycle(s) at any time upon completion of the cycle. We encourage Cal State East Bay’s PASC candidates to check in with their cohort leader prior to submission of each Leadership Cycle. For more information about submission and reporting dates, please visit California Administrator Performance Assessment (CalAPA).

Yes. Our faculty understand the unique needs of and provide support to students who are caregivers.  Each year, a number of parents, guardians and/or caregivers enroll in and complete our programs.

Our faculty are committed to supporting students who have academic accommodations. We encourage students with accessibility needs to make an appointment with Accessibility Services to ensure equitable classroom accommodations before classes begin.

For application questions, contact credentials@csueastbay.edu.

For program questions, contact mari.gray@csueastbay.edu.

For financial aid eligibility questions, contact debbie.woods@csueastbay.edu.