CSET: American Sign Language study guide
CSET: American Sign Language · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CSET: American Sign Language is a subject-matter examination used by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to verify that candidates have the breadth of knowledge required to teach ASL in California public schools. It is typically taken by people seeking an ASL teaching credential, by current teachers adding an authorization, and by candidates in teacher-preparation programs who need to demonstrate subject competency before student teaching. The CSET: American Sign Language study guide has 8 sections and about 3,572 words.
01General Linguistics and Language Structure of ASL
This domain asks you to apply general linguistic concepts - design features of language, levels of structure, language versus dialect, modality - to ASL, and to place ASL historically and typologically. Questions often hinge on whether a claim about ASL is linguistically defensible or a common misconception.
453 words, about 2 min02ASL Linguistics: Phonology, Morphology, and Syntax
This domain narrows to ASL's internal grammar: the phonological parameters and their constraints, word formation, and sentence structure. Expect items that ask you to identify a minimal pair, name a morphological process, or explain what a non-manual marker contributes.
497 words, about 2 min03Language Acquisition and Development in ASL
This domain covers how ASL is acquired as a first language, as a second language, and in bilingual contexts, plus what happens when access to language is delayed. Items ask you to sequence milestones, interpret error patterns, and reason about age effects.
487 words, about 2 min04ASL Literature, Discourse, and Cultural Products
This domain tests your knowledge of ASL literary genres, performance conventions, and the discourse rules of Deaf interaction. Items ask you to identify a genre, name a device, or explain why a performance choice works.
432 words, about 2 min05Deaf Culture, Community, and History
This domain covers the history, institutions, values, and contested terminology of Deaf communities, mainly in the United States. Questions ask you to place events, identify key figures, and apply the cultural versus medical model.
455 words, about 2 min06Sociolinguistics and Language Variation in the Deaf Community
This domain addresses variation within ASL and the social meaning of signing: regional, ethnic, age, and register variation, language contact, and attitudes. Items ask you to distinguish variation from error and to explain how contact shapes signing.
438 words, about 2 min07Pedagogy and Instructional Practice for ASL
This domain tests how you plan, deliver, and reflect on ASL instruction for hearing L2 learners and deaf or hard of hearing students. Items ask you to choose an approach, design a task, or respond to a classroom scenario.
405 words, about 2 min08Assessment and Professional Issues in ASL Education
This domain covers how ASL proficiency and achievement are measured, what makes an assessment valid, and the professional and ethical obligations of ASL educators. Items ask you to critique an assessment choice or apply an ethical principle.
405 words, about 2 min