Credential Programs

Credential students are considered undergraduates for financial aid purposes, must be enrolled in 12 units per semester to be considered full time, and are subject to undergraduate-level loan limits.

When completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), credential students must provide the following answers:

• (#23) What degree will you be working on during the school year? Teaching Credential
• (#24) What will be your grade level when you begin the school year? 5th year Undergraduate
• (#49) At the beginning of the school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program? No

Conditionally classified qualifying credential students can receive aid for one consecutive 12-month period only. Conditionally classified qualifying credential students are considered undergraduates for financial aid purposes, and may be eligible for State University Grant and senior-level Stafford Loans. Students must be enrolled in 12 units to be considered full-time. Conditionally classified qualifying credential students are not eligible for Perkins loans or Federal Work Study. Please notify our office when you are admitted into a credential program, so that we may review your aid eligibility. See enrollment requirements for qualifying baccalaureate students.

If you are dually enrolled as a credential and masters student , you are considered a graduate student for financial aid purposes. See eligibility requirements for graduate students.

Information for Credential Students

• You may be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, State University Grant (SUG), Federal Work-Study, or federal student loans.
• Your eligibility for Federal Direct Stafford Loans is the same as for seniors. California has a loan forgiveness program for students obtaining their original credential. The Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE) teacher program may assume up to $19,000 in outstanding educational loan balances in return for eligible teaching service.
• Pell Grant is available only for your initial credential. If you currently hold a credential and have been awarded a Pell Grant for the academic year, please contact our office immediately. Repayment will be required for any student who receives a Pell Grant and currently holds a credential.
• If you are eligible for a Pell Grant, you must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units of Pell-Fundable Credential Coursework (PDF) that is required by California to receive a professional certification or licensing credential. The Pell Grant is not available for prerequisite courses, courses that are suggested as beneficial, or elective courses. The Financial Aid Office must confirm your coursework prior to disbursing Pell Grant.

Disbursement Timeline

Credential students' Fall semester Pell Grants will disburse in October; credential students' Spring semester Pell Grant disbursements will disburse in March. All other aid for which you are eligible, will be disbursed the Thursday prior to the beginning of each semester or approximately one week after all of your financial aid holds are cleared and all of your financial aid To Do list items are received and completed.

If you do not have enough aid to cover fees because of the disbursement date of your Pell Grant, please contact our office and we will waive your late fee.

Students are not eligible to receive funding if beginning Fall semester with 60+ postbaccalaureate units. If you have completed 60 postbaccalaureate units before the Fall semester, a maximum unit hold will be placed on your financial aid. If you are in the process of finishing your degree or credential, complete and submit a Maximum Unit Appeal (PDF) as soon as possible.

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