The Stanford Teacher Education (STEP) application process gives you the opportunity to display your full range of experience, education, and enthusiasm for teaching. We carefully review and consider every application.
Applicants apply either to Elementary STEP or to Secondary STEP in one of the five subject areas for secondary certification: English, history/social science, math, science, or world languages.
The application for the 2025-2026 academic cycle will open around mid September 2024. The deadline to submit applications will be January 8, 2025.
Application Process and Elements
Start Application
For the 2026 cohort, select “Summer 2024-2025” as the start term. Choose a specialization or subject area within STEP. Choose “Elementary Education” or “Teaching of . . .” to select a secondary subject area.
The application submission is conducted entirely online through the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please complete and submit the online application.
Applicants for the STEP class of 2026 will start the program during summer quarter of 2025, which is part of Stanford’s 2024-2025 school year.
A non-refundable application fee of $125 is required with submission of the application. Please visit the graduate fee waiver page for information on fee waiver eligibility and process.
STEP Essay
Respond to the prompt below about your educational experience, interest in teaching, and views on the role of education.
Your essay should cover each of the points below in about 750-1,250 words, single spaced, with a maximum of three pages in length. Submit your essay electronically with the online application by uploading it in the personal statement section.
Describe your educational background, your experience working with youth, and what draws you to becoming a teacher. Describe how your strengths, skills, interests, and experiences will contribute to the STEP community.
For STEP Secondary (single-subject program), specify your interest in teaching a particular subject matter area. For STEP Elementary (multiple-subject program), specify your interest in teaching at the elementary level.
As a program, we are committed to teaching for equity and justice. Explain what teaching for equity means to you and why you are drawn to joining a community of educators who share that commitment.
There is an option in the application to write a diversity statement. STEP strongly encourages applicants to submit the diversity statement in addition to the STEP essay.
Resume
Required of all applicants and should be uploaded following the essay.
Letters of Recommendation
Submit three letters of recommendation
The online application prompts you to identify and provide email addresses for three recommenders. Instructors, supervisors, and colleagues who have observed your work with youth are often good choices for recommenders.
You should notify recommenders that they will receive an email prompting them to submit their recommendations online. Letters of recommendation should speak to your commitment to the profession, character, work ethic, academic ability, and general fit for the STEP program.
Stanford GSE cannot accept mailed, emailed, or faxed recommendations.
Transcripts
Upload an unofficial or official transcript.
Submit a transcript for every institution you have attended for at least one year. Upload each official or unofficial transcript as a PDF document. Transcripts that are mailed, emailed, or faxed will not be accepted.
Transcripts from foreign institutions: If your institution provides a transcript in a language other than English, you must also submit a translation either provided by the institution or a certified translator.
Admitted students will be required to submit official transcripts by mail. If you studied abroad and your coursework and grades are reflected on the transcript from your home institution, you do not need to submit original transcripts from the study abroad institution.
STEP Supplemental Form
Fill out the STEP supplemental form (required) included in the online application. If you are interested in receiving a STEP fellowship, complete the fellowship section on the supplemental form.
Testing requirements - Elementary
Requirement
Who
How to Fulfill
Deadline
CSET: Multiple Subject
All applicants
CSET (California Subject Examination for Teachers)
For CSET test dates and locations visit www.cset.nesinc.com
*Applicants might be able to meet this requirement via coursework. For more information see this link
Applicants currently residing in California must meet this requirement no later than application deadline.
Applicants currently residing outside of California must meet this requirement no later than end of August of their STEP year.
TOEFL
International applicants
EXEMPT: International applicants who completed a 4 year bachelor’s degree or 2 year masters in the US or at an institution where English is the main language
Take TOEFL no earlier than 18 months prior to deadline and no later than the application deadline.
Option 1:California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET)
The CSET is the primary way to verify your subject knowledge. CSET Multiple Subject exams are offered as a computer based test, year round, Monday through Saturday in California and across the country.
Admitted students must pass a minimum of two CSET Multiple Subject subtests to begin the program in June. Therefore, STEP Elementary applicants should plan on taking at least two subsets of the CSET test no later than March 31, 2025. Advanced registration is required.
We strongly encourage applicants to take the CSET before applying to STEP. Applications will be reviewed if candidates have not taken the exams or have not received their results by the application deadline. If you have previously passed any of the exams, include a score report with your application.
Admitted students must ultimately pass all subtests by January of their program year.
STEP Elementary Program
CSET Test
CSET Subsets
Elementary
Multiple Subjects
Subset I (test code 101)
Subset II (test code 214)
Subset III (test code 103)
CSET Stanford reporting code: 582
Please visit California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET) page for information on test date locations, registering for the exam and test preparation materials.
Option 2: Coursework
Applicants might be able to meet this requirement via coursework. For more information, go this link.
Testing requirements - Secondary
Requirement
Who
How to Fulfill
Deadline
CSET
All applicants
EXEMPT: Students who have completed an undergraduate subject matter verification program approved by CCTC.
CSET (California Subject Examination for Teachers)
For CSET test dates and locations visit www.cset.nesinc.com
*Applicants might be able to meet this requirement via coursework.
Applicants currently residing in California must meet this requirement no later than application deadline.
Applicants currently residing outside of California must meet this requirement no later than end of August of their STEP year.
TOEFL
International applicants
EXEMPT: International applicants who completed a 4 year bachelor’s degree or 2 year masters in the US or at an institution where English is the main language
Take TOEFL no earlier than 18 months prior to deadline and no later than the application deadline.
Subject Matter Competence – STEP secondary
STEP Single Subject Candidates** must demonstrate subject matter competence in one of the following two ways:
Option 1: California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET)
The CSET is the primary way to verify your subject knowledge. CSET exams are offered as a computer based test, year round, Monday through Saturday in California and across the country
Admitted students must pass a minimum of two CSET subtests in their intended teaching subject to begin the program in June. Therefore, STEP Secondary applicants should plan on taking at least two subsets of the CSET test no later than March 31, 2025. Advanced registration is required.
We strongly encourage applicants to take the CSET before applying to STEP. Applications will be reviewed if candidates have not taken the exams or have not received their results by the application deadline. If you have previously passed any of the exams, include a score report with your application.
Admitted students must ultimately pass all subtests by January of their program year.
STEP Secondary Program
CSET Test
CSET Subsets
Mathematics
Mathematics
Subset I (test code 211)
Subset II (test code 212)
Subset III (test code 213)
English
English
Subset I (test code 105)
Subset II (test code 106)
Subset III (test code 107)
Subset IV (test code 108)
Social Sciences
Social Sciences
Subset I (test code 114)
Subset II (test code 115)
Subset III (test code 116)
Biology
Science
Subset I (test code 215)
Subset II – Life Sciences (test code 217)
Chemistry
Science
Subset I (test code 215)
Subset II – Chemistry (test code 218)
Earth Sciences
Science
Subset I (test code 215)
Subset II – Earth and Space Sciences (test code 219)
Physics
Science
Subset I (test code 215)
Subset II – Physics (test code 220)
French
French
Subset I (test code 148)
Subset II (test code 149)
Subset III (test code 150)
Spanish
Spanish
Subset I (test code 145)
Subset II (test code 146)
Subset III (test code 147)
Mandarin
Mandarin
Subset I (test code 163)
Subset II (test code 164)
Subset III (test code 165)
CSET Stanford reporting code: 582
Please visit California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET) page for information on test date locations, registering for the exam and test preparation materials.
Option 2: Subject Matter Program
Certain California institutions have been approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) to offer subject matter programs (essentially, specialized majors) that meet state requirements for subject matter competence, in lieu of the approved exams. This program verifies you have completed the coursework (undergraduate or graduate level) that the university feels is critical to a solid subject matter understanding. If you are completing/have completed one of these approved subject matter programs, contact the teacher education department at your institution for an evaluation of your coursework.
Option 3: Coursework
Applicants might be able to meet this requirement via coursework. For more information, go to this link.
Qualifications for STEP admission
Qualifications for STEP admission parallel those of other GSE graduate programs, with an additional focus on preparation for and commitment to the teaching profession. Review criteria include the following:
academic merit and preparation for a GSE master’s program
for STEP Secondary candidates, a depth of content knowledge in their chosen subject area
prior experiences, with a focus on meaningful experiences with youth
contributions to diversity and community broadly defined
