Approved exams may vary by campus, but some examples are: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Campuses specify the conditions for meeting the requirement of three years of full-time English language instruction (Title 5, Sections 40752.1 and 40802.1). Individual campuses establish TOEFL scores based on campus specific factors such as the nature of instruction offered, the availability of instruction in English as a Second Language, and student demand. Some campuses require a score higher than 500. The CSU minimum score for the internet (iBT) version of the TOEFL is 61; some campuses may require a higher score. Contact the specific CSU campus for the most current minimum score requirements: please visit www.calstate.edu/search_find/campus.shtml

Students who have attended a secondary level of educational institution where English was the principal language of instruction for at least three years full time will not be held to the TOEFL admission requirement.

Applicants for a second bachelor's degree must have a TOEFL score of 550 for the paper version or 80 on the internet version.