Prior to July 1, 1990, credentials determined which subject matter areas community college faculty could teach. Upon passage of the Community College Reform Act (AB 1725), credentials were no longer issued and new hiring was to be based upon a set of minimum qualifications for a given discipline. The disciplines and related disciplines were proposed by the Statewide Academic Senate and set forth in the discipline’s list adopted by the Board of Governors. The language in the legislation referred to "any courses" taught instead of "subject matter areas" for the credentials, which also linked to a TOPS codes. Therefore, a determination of minimum qualifications must be made as to the discipline preparation appropriate and adequate for each individual course.

Districts enjoy a significant degree of flexibility in the application of these minimum qualifications, how they organize courses within disciplines, apply "equivalency," and how they develop criteria and employ processes to select staff and instructors. Districts are free to establish more rigorous standards than the statewide minimum qualifications; this is often the case with Glendale Community College. Proposed changes must be initiated and approved by the Glendale Community College Academic Senate and then reviewed by the appropriate elements of the Governance process.

Each district may also develop an equivalency process with which to evaluate the education and experience of applicants who do not possess the specified minimum qualifications listed in the Statewide publication or their locally established standards (this document). The Equivalency Policy is also written and approved by the GCC Academic Senate and reviewed by the appropriate elements of the Governance process. If there are questions regarding equivalency, the Academic Senate First V.P. makes the final decision; in such instances, (s)he should be contacted immediately.

As provided for in the Title 5 regulations, Section 53200, Strengthening of Academic Senates, the process of placing courses within disciplines must be done by faculty through the Academic Senate.

Honors courses (i.e. English 101H) have the same minimum qualifications as the standard courses (i.e. English 101.) Therefore, they are not listed separately in this document.