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California2026Enacted

AB-1009

New Rules for School Administrator Credentials Using Therapy Licenses

Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 7:05 AM

In one sentence

This law allows occupational and physical therapy licenses to help meet requirements for a school administrator credential, increases the experience requirement from three years to five years, but limits supervision of teachers.

What it does

  • Allows valid occupational or physical therapy licenses to count toward getting an administrative services credential.
  • Increases the minimum work experience needed for this credential from 3 years to 5 years.
  • Counts time working as a school-based therapist as part of the required experience.
  • Lets schools ask to reduce the experience requirement by up to 2 years if certain rules are met.
  • Stops people with these credentials from supervising or evaluating teachers unless special conditions apply.

Who it affects

  • Occupational therapists and physical therapists who want school administrator roles
  • The Commission on Teacher Credentialing
  • School districts, county offices of education, and charter schools

Limits and unknowns

  • This law only works if another bill, AB 959, also passes and is signed after this one.
  • The exact rules for when therapists can supervise teachers are not fully detailed in this summary.
  • The specific criteria needed to get a waiver of experience years are listed as 'specified' but not defined here.

Plain language

Terms to know

Administrative services credential
A license that allows a person to work in school leadership or management roles.
Preliminary services credential
The first type of administrator license issued before someone gets the full permanent version.

Official record

Sources

Source attached

Official summary

Teacher credentialing: administrative services credential: occupational and physical therapists.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Chaptered