The Full Form of CSET is California Subject Examinations for Teachers.

The California Subject Examinations for Teachers® (CSET®) have been developed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for prospective teachers who choose to or are required to meet specific requirements for certification by taking examinations. The CTC contracted the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson to assist in the development, administration, and scoring of the CSET. The CSET program includes examinations designed to help candidates meet the following certification requirements:

• Basic skills requirement. Candidates may satisfy all components of the state basic skills requirement by passing all three subtests of CSET: Multiple Subjects and the CSET: Writing Skills test.
• Subject matter competence requirement. All candidates who need to meet the subject matter competence requirement for a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential may pass the CSET: Multiple Subjects as one method of satisfying the subject matter competence requirement. Candidates applying for a Single Subject Teaching Credential or an Education Specialist Instruction Credential may pass the appropriate examination(s) of the CSET as one method of satisfying the subject matter competence requirement.
• Educational technology requirement. CSET: Preliminary Educational Technology is the current approved examination that is taken only by out-of-state credential candidates to fulfill the basic educational technology requirements for a Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential or an Education Specialist Instruction Credential.
• Competence requirement for a Bilingual Authorization. CSET: World Languages may be used in conjunction with other valid examinations to demonstrate competence in the knowledge and skills areas necessary for the purpose of earning a Bilingual Authorization. Specific CSET: World Languages subtests have replaced the Bilingual, Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development™ (BCLAD™) Examinations as the required credential tests for this purpose.