California: school, college and career rules
California sets a short state list of high school courses (districts add their own), tests students with CAASPP, and runs three public college systems: UC, CSU and the California Community Colleges.
Linked from the State Population Totals 2020-2025 page (census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-state-total.html); population and rank copied from the POPESTIMATE2025 and NRANK_POPEST2025 columns.Census
High school diploma
California Education Code section 51225.3 sets the minimum courses, taken in grades 9 to 12, for a diploma. Local school boards may require more. Read through the Internet Archive capture of 17 Sept 2026 (cde.ca.gov blocks requests from India).CDE
| Subject | State minimum |
|---|---|
| English | 3 courses |
| Mathematics | 2 courses, including one year of Algebra I |
| Science | 2 courses, including biological and physical sciences |
| Social studies | 3 courses: U.S. history and geography; world history, culture and geography; one semester of American government and civics; one semester of economics |
| Arts, world language or CTE | 1 course in visual or performing arts, world language (American Sign Language counts) or career technical education |
| Physical education | 2 courses, unless exempted |
| Ethnic studies | 1 semester, starting with the class graduating in 2029–30 |
| Personal finance | 1 semester standalone course, starting with the class graduating in 2030–31 |
Courses of one school year each (not credits); the district decides how many local credits a year is worth.
State tests for the diploma
No state exam is on the state's minimum list for a diploma. Read through the Internet Archive capture of 17 Sept 2026 (cde.ca.gov blocks requests from India).CDE
Also good to know
- California approves two high school equivalency tests, GED and HiSET, for people 18 and older (17 in some cases); a pass earns the California High School Equivalency Certificate.
CDE
High School Graduation Frequently Asked QuestionsCalifornia Department of Education- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Read through the Internet Archive capture of 5 June 2026.
View source
State test: CAASPP
California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress. California's statewide testing system, set up on 1 January 2014. Its main purpose, CDE says, is to help teachers, administrators, students and parents by promoting high-quality teaching and learning. Read through the Internet Archive capture of 8 Aug 2026.CDE
| Test | Subjects | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments | English language arts/literacy and mathematics | Grades 3–8 and 11 |
| California Science Test (CAST) | Science | Grades 5 and 8, and once in high school (grade 10, 11 or 12) |
| California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) | ELA, math and science, for students whose IEP calls for an alternate test | Same grades as above |
| California Spanish Assessment (optional) | Spanish language arts | Grades 3–8 and high school |
Source: Read through the Internet Archive capture of 13 Aug 2026.CDE
What the scores are used for
- Smarter Balanced tests are given by computer: a computer-adaptive section plus a performance task based on the Common Core State Standards.
CDE
CalEdFacts: CAASPP (tests, subjects and grades)California Department of Education- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Read through the Internet Archive capture of 13 Aug 2026.
View source - Scores go to families and schools through the CAASPP Results website; CDE also publishes scale-score percentiles and statewide summaries.
CDE
California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)California Department of Education- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Read through the Internet Archive capture of 8 Aug 2026.
View source
National tests (SAT, ACT, AP, NAEP) are on the Exams hub.
Public colleges and universities
The state's public university system(s) and community colleges, from their own pages.
- University of California (UC)University system · 10 campuses, 6 academic health centers and 21 health professional schools; more than 300,000 students. 85% of UC undergraduates are California residents.
- California State University (CSU)University system · 22 universities educating more than 450,000 students a year, led by a Chancellor and a 25-member Board of Trustees.
- California Community CollegesCommunity colleges · 2.2 million students at 116 colleges in 73 districts, the largest higher education system in the country. 51% of CSU graduates and 29% of UC graduates started at a California community college.
Sources: UC
View sourceCSU
View sourceCCCCO
View source
Every school in California, public and private, with cost and completion: 653 colleges, community colleges and trade schools, with 64 city pages.
In-state tuition: the residency rule
Public colleges charge less to state residents. Who counts as a resident is set by state law or the college system, not by where you went to school alone.
- UC: to pay resident tuition you need an eligible immigration status, a primary and permanent home (domicile) in California for at least one year before the residence determination date, and proof of physical presence and intent. For residency, one year equals 366 days.
UC
2026-27 UC Residence Policy and Guidelines (PDF)University of California, Office of the President- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Students are presumed dependent, so the student and the parents must each meet the requirements, unless the student qualifies as independent (graduate students included).
UC
2026-27 UC Residence Policy and Guidelines (PDF)University of California, Office of the President- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Every UC applicant files a Statement of Legal Residence; students are nonresident by default until it is decided.
UC
Understanding residency for purposes of UC tuition, and The process for determining residencyUniversity of California, Office of the President- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- AB 540 (Education Code section 68130.5): students who meet California school time and enrollment rules plus degree or unit attainment pay resident tuition even without residency; one route is three or more years of full-time attendance at California high schools, adult schools or community colleges.
UC
2026-27 UC Residence Policy and Guidelines (PDF)University of California, Office of the President- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
The college's residency office makes the final decision. More on costs: What college costs.
State financial aid
Run by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). Federal aid (Pell Grants, loans) starts with the FAFSA: FAFSA, grants and loans.
Cal Grant
State grant that does not need to be paid back, for UC, CSU, community colleges and qualifying independent and career colleges. Apply with the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application plus a verified Cal Grant GPA by the deadline. The High School and Transfer Entitlement awards close 2 April; the Community College Entitlement award closes 2 September. Read through the Internet Archive capture of 21 Aug 2025 (csac.ca.gov returns 403 to requests from India; no later capture exists).CSAC
Middle Class Scholarship
For low- to middle-income undergraduates (and teaching-credential students) at UC, CSU or a community college bachelor's program. Income and asset ceiling up to $234,000 for students attending July 2025 to June 2026; up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters. Read through the Internet Archive capture of 28 March 2026.CSAC
Licensing boards
Lawyers, doctors, CPAs and nurses need a California license from a state board, even after passing a national exam. These are the boards that grant it.
| License | California board | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer How bar admission works | State Bar of California, Office of Admissions California requirements | California's own bar exam with the MBE. MPRE required (passing score 86). NextGen UBE from July 2028. NCBECalifornia: bar admission informationNational Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)
Bar admission agency, the NCBE exams the jurisdiction requires, MPRE passing score and NextGen UBE plans. NCBE advises checking the agency itself for the latest rules. View source |
| Physician How a medical license works | Medical Board of California Osteopathic Medical Board of California | USMLE (M.D.) or COMLEX-USA (D.O.); California has more than one board, as listed FSMBContact a State Medical BoardFederation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
Directory of every state's medical (and separate osteopathic) board. fsmb.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 14 Sep 2026; each board link was then opened on 22 Oct 2026, through the board's site or, where it blocks reads from India, its latest archive capture. View source |
| CPA How the CPA license works | California Board of Accountancy California requirements | Uniform CPA Examination NASBAState Boards of AccountancyNational Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)
Directory of the 55 boards of accountancy. nasba.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 15 Oct 2026; board links that had moved were replaced with the board's current page, opened on 22 Oct 2026. View source |
| Registered nurse How the RN license works | California Board of Registered Nursing California requirements | NCLEX-RN · Not in the Nurse Licensure Compact NCSBNContact California Board of Registered NursingNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
NCSBN / NLCNLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF)National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact)
|
State and city government jobs
Federal jobs are on USAJOBS; state and city governments hire through their own systems.
CalCareers
California Department of Human Resources (CalHR)
- Search: browse career fields or search by keyword, title or department.
- Assessment: the job bulletin shows the qualifications and the assessment, which can be an exam or an interview, depending on the job. Pass it to become eligible to apply.
- Apply: one CalCareer application can be used for many jobs; a department with a vacancy calls you for an interview.
Exam: Yes, an assessment comes before applying for most jobs; its form (exam, interview) depends on the job.
Source: CalCareers
View source
Los Angeles
City of Los Angeles Personnel Department
Publishes the full calendar of civil service exams and eligible lists. Each exam shows its parts and weight, for example multiple-choice 100%, interview 100%, or a training and experience questionnaire. LA Personnel
View source
Police, fire and other public-safety routes: Public Service & Safety hub.
Registered apprenticeship
The U.S. Department of Labor lists California under both its own Office of Apprenticeship and the State Apprenticeship Agencies. California is listed under both OA and SAA.Apprenticeship.gov
- California Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS)DAS (Department of Industrial Relations) helps employers build registered apprenticeship programs. Its page counts 91,317 registered apprentices in California.
- Trades and apprenticeshipsElectrician, plumber, HVAC and other trade routes on this site
Source: DIR DAS
View source
Where these facts come from
Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.
- Annual Estimates of Resident Population Change for the United States, States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and State Rankings: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025 (NST-EST2025-POPCHG2020-2025, CSV) · U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025) checked 2026-10-21
- California: bar admission information · National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact a State Medical Board · Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) checked 2026-10-22
- State Boards of Accountancy · National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact California Board of Registered Nursing · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) checked 2026-10-22
- NLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF) · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact) checked 2026-10-07
- State Minimum High School Graduation Requirements · California Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- High School Graduation Frequently Asked Questions · California Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) · California Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- CalEdFacts: CAASPP (tests, subjects and grades) · California Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- About UC · University of California, Office of the President checked 2026-10-21
- About the CSU · The California State University, Office of the Chancellor checked 2026-10-21
- Key Facts · California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office checked 2026-10-21
- 2026-27 UC Residence Policy and Guidelines (PDF) · University of California, Office of the President checked 2026-10-21
- Understanding residency for purposes of UC tuition, and The process for determining residency · University of California, Office of the President checked 2026-10-21
- Cal Grant Programs · California Student Aid Commission checked 2026-10-21
- Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) · California Student Aid Commission checked 2026-10-21
- 3 Steps To A State Job · California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), CalCareers checked 2026-10-21
- Exam Information: open and planned civil service exams and eligible lists · City of Los Angeles Personnel Department checked 2026-10-21
- Division of Apprenticeship Standards · California Department of Industrial Relations checked 2026-10-21
- The Apprenticeship System: Office of Apprenticeship (OA) and recognized State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) states · U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship checked 2026-10-21