Office of Clinical Practice

For students pursuing initial certification, at least 100 clock hours of field experiences related to coursework are required before student teaching. Fieldwork includes observation and active instruction. Your placement must be aligned both with assignments and requirements of each course and your expected certification. 

What is the first step to apply for fieldwork?

• The first step is to visit the Office of Clinical Practice (OCP) to speak with one of the members of the OCP team. All students are required to confirm their fingerprint status; complete a placement request form and a digital form, available as a QR code in the OCP. 
• Upon request, the OCP will coordinate your fieldwork placements with our partner schools. 

How and when do I get placed? 

• Visit the Office of Clinical Practice (OCP) where you will complete a placement request form and speak to a member of the OCP team about your placement needs. Be prepared with course numbers, name of instructors, and hours required for each class. While you are there, you will access a form using a QR code. This will help us document your fieldwork placements. 
• Review the Fingerprinting tab on this webpage for more information. All CCNY SOE students must be fingerprinted before they can begin fieldwork.  NYC Public Schools require fingerprinting before allowing students to begin fieldwork.  

Am I required to complete the form if I have identified my own placement? 

• Yes. Each semester, complete the Fieldwork Request form for each course requiring fieldwork. Completing this form supports documentation of your fieldwork hours.

What is the purpose of fieldwork? 
Fieldwork placements fulfill New York State Education Department requirements and must be documented on timesheets provided by City College School of Education for that purpose. 100 hours are required for certification. 
Your participation in fieldwork is specifically guided by the learning goals and related assignments described in the syllabus for each course for which fieldwork is completed. Professors may require that CCNY SOE candidates align the timing and focus of fieldwork hours to those specific learning goals and related assignments. 
Review your course syllabus so that you understand your fieldwork requirements (hours, type of activity and assignments) for each class. 
 
What is expected of me at the host school? 

• On your first day, report to the main office and introduce yourself. As a CCNY SOE student, you are on the path to a professional role and should adapt accordingly. 
• Arrive when expected. Do not be late. 
• Do not use your cell phone. 
• Do not use any recording device without explicit permission. 
• When your assignment has specific requirements, inform the cooperating teacher in advance and discuss how you will fulfill the assignment within the structure of class activities. 
• Follow school rules and procedures stated by the school, including those required by public safety.

How do I document my hours on a timesheet?
Accurately record the date and time that you have spent in your fieldwork host classroom. Timesheet notes should be both brief and specific. For example, observed, is brief but not specific, but observed how teacher engaged different learners is specific. When your fieldwork hours are intended to reflect a specific focus, a reference to that focus is recommended. 

What if I complete my hours at the beginning of the semester? 
Guidance for when a candidate completes fieldwork can be found in the syllabus as it relates to assignments. Fieldwork hours, including when they are completed during the semester, must align with assignments that require focused observation or interaction with students. 

Who signs my fieldwork timesheet?

• The cooperating teacher signs it after each visit, after you have completed your brief notes 
• Your course instructor signs it at the end of the semester as a requirement for your course grade. 

What about the final submission and documentation of a timesheet?
A timesheet is necessary to account for the required 100 hours of fieldwork mandated by the state. It is your responsibility to submit a hard copy of the timesheet to the Office of Clinical Practice (OCP).

• For in person classes, submit a hard copy of the signed timesheet to the Office of Clinical Practice (OCP). 
• For remote or hybrid classes, students may obtain an electronic signature from their instructor but then must print the timesheet and submit the signed timesheet to the OCP. 

If you have further questions, please browse through our FAQs. 
 

Who must apply for and complete student teaching? 
All City College SOE students need to apply for and complete student teaching.   
City College SOE students pursuing initial certification require a college-supervised culminating clinical practice experience of at least 70 school days. The educational setting must be aligned with your area of certification.  
The requirements differ when candidates pursue additional and advanced certifications. Please consult your advisor and the OCP for details.

 
When should I apply for student teaching? 

• Student teaching application deadlines are April 15 to student teach during the upcoming fall semester and November 15 to student teaching during the spring semester. 

What is required to apply for student teaching? 

• Student teaching requires program permission. Meet with your advisor. 
• New York State Certification Exams are recommended to ensure that certification follows the completion of your student teaching program. Ask your program advisor for optimal times to take the Content Specialty Test (CST) and the Education All Students (EAS) based upon your course sequence.  
• Submit your application by the deadlines. 

When and how will I get my placement? 

• First, your application for student teaching is reviewed by your program and then by the Committee on Academic Progress.  
• Then, you will be notified via email if you have been approved, which prompts the process of establishing your placement.   
• You will be notified of your placement before the beginning of the semester. 

If you have further questions please browse through our FAQs.

Why do I need to be fingerprinted? 

• Fingerprinting is part of a background check and security clearance procedure. Its purpose is to ensure the safety of all students with whom our candidates interact.  
• New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) requires that every CCNY SOE candidate register with the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS).  
• CCNY SOE requires a PETS nomination and eligibility status in PETS for all candidates, including those who seek placements in private schools, charter schools, or schools outside of the NYCPS system. 

Who must be fingerprinted? 

• As of Spring 2024, all new admits and current students are required to complete a fingerprinting application through CCNY SOE. Fingerprinting is required for fieldwork and student teaching. Students who delay finger printing will be prevented from registration for upcoming semesters. 
• All other students, including those who have previously been fingerprinted, will begin the fingerprinting process by visiting the Office of Clinical Practice. Completing an application with the SOE OCP will be your initial step for obtaining eligibility in the NYC Public Schools' Personnel Eligibility Tracking System, known as PETS. 
• If you are an undocumented student without DACA, or an international student without a Social Security Number, you must contact New York State Education Department (NYSED) to obtain a TEACH Access Number (TAN).  NYSED will provide instructions for using the TAN for state level fingerprinting.  International students will be directed to NYCPS for fingerprinting.

What are the steps for fingerprinting at CCNY SOE? 

• To initiate fingerprinting, bring your government-issued identification (passport, driver license, non-driver ID, learner permit) and actual Social Security card to the OCP, NAC 3/227. International candidates should follow the NYSED Office of Teacher Initiative instructions to first create a TEACH account with a TEACH Access Number (TAN). Evaluation of Foreign Credentials at: (http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/evalforeigncred.html) 
• Complete a Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) permission form to permit entry into the NYCPS’s clearance system. 
• Follow the PETS Administration directions received on City College emails to schedule fingerprinting appointments and complete eligibility requirements.  
• PETS  will send directions to City College email accounts within 48 hours of nomination. You no more than 10 days to respond to directions to either update your profile or make an appointment for fingerprinting. 
• Delays in following directions will result in a delay in establishing eligibility for fieldwork placements or student teaching. When applications expire, candidates are delayed in accessing NYCPS schools for fieldwork or student teaching. 
• Once a student has been nominated by the CCNY SOE OCP, all other actions are the responsibility of the student. 

  
What if I have already been fingerprinted or if I am an employee of the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS)? 

• CCNY SOE candidates who have already been fingerprinted are required to check in with the Office of Clinical Practice (OCP).  If you have been fingerprinted for NYCPS, the OCP will ask you to provide your Social Security Number and your legal name.  Your information will be entered into the New York City Public Schools Personnel Eligibility System (PETS).  
• With the information entered into PETS, CCNY SOE can establish your eligibility in the system.  Your CCNY nomination may result in a request from PETS for a profile update. You will not be required to undergo additional fingerprinting.  Nevertheless, follow all PETS ADMIN email directions. 
• If you have been fingerprinted for another agency, such as the Department of Health (DOH), you will be required to be fingerprinted again for PETS. Please see the fingerprinting instructions above. 

What are the hours for submitting fingerprinting documents?  
All the members of the OCP team, located in NAC 3/227, are prepared to accept the application and the supporting documents you will need to provide. 

• Monday - Friday 9:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. 

What documents or ID should I bring? 

• If you have a Social Security card you will also have to present one of these forms of identification: State-issued Driver License or a Non-Driver ID, Learner’s Permit, or a passport 
• International students and undocumented students without DACA, will require a TEACH Access Number (TAN).  Students who do not have a US Social Security number should go to the NYSED website (https://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/evalforeigncred.html). Follow instructions to "Create a TEACH account".  
• Activated City College email address 

*See the CUNY FAQ for additional information for undocumented students and NYS guidelines regarding student teaching, fieldwork and certification. 

What is an Internship Certificate?  
An Internship Certificate is a limited teacher certification issued by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) that allows graduate students to work as a teacher of record after they have completed at least 50% of their teacher education program.    
Internship certificates are valid only while the candidate is a student enrolled in graduate studies at the School of Education. The candidate must be enrolled either in student teaching or EDUC 2603 N; both courses require permission from the Office of Clinical Practice.

As a CCNY SOE graduate student, what is the application process?  
CCNY SOE requires that candidates obtain a verbal job offer before initiating the Internship Certificate Approval process. The CCNY SOE Certification Officer Jose Osorio, then coordinates the nomination process internally within CCNY SOE and externally with NYSED,  

1. Obtain a verbal job offer from a New York City Public School.  

2. Email Jose Osorio to request NYSED Internship Certificate Approval and Nomination Form ( JOsorio1@ccny.cuny.edu )  

3. Jose Osorio will guide internship certificate candidate to meet with program director who completes Parts I and II.  

4. Candidate and program director complete Parts I and II.  

5. Student forwards form to school administrator to verify the job offer.  

6. The administrator completes Part III of the Internship Certificate Approval and Nomination Form and emails the completed form to Jose Osorio, to verify the job offer.   

7. Upon receipt of Parts I, II, and III, from the school administrator, Jose Osorio reviews the following conditions before recommending the candidate for the Internship Certificate to NYSED:  

• Receipt of Approval and Nomination Form, all parts completed and signed.  
• Transcript review to confirm that student has completed 50% of program and has a GPA of 3.0 or greater.  
• The candidate’s NYSED TEACH account.  
• Verification that the student has passed program-specific New York State Teacher Certification Exam (NYSTCE) tests. All candidates must pass at least one exam. SPED candidates must pass the Students with Disability CST and the EAS exams. Verification that the student has completed three mandated workshops (Child Abuse Identification, second update; School Violence Prevention; and DASA).  SPED candidates also must complete the Autism workshop.
•  Fingerprint clearance with NYSED, visible on the candidate’s TEACH account.  

8.When a candidate’s record has been reviewed, Jose Osorio informs the Office of Clinical Practice that the candidate is eligible to receive registration permission for EDUC 2603N.  The OCP provides registration permission.  Please note: A candidate who has received permission to register for student teaching, and who has been approved for student teaching, is instructed to register for student teaching. Candidates who are not student teaching must register for 2603N.    

9.Upon receipt of confirmation that the student has registered for 2603N or student teaching, Jose Osorio recommends the candidate for the Internship Certificate.  

How do I find a position at a New York City Public School?  
For information from the New York City Public Schools regarding internship certificates:  https://teachnyc.net/certified-teacher/on-track/internship-certification  
  
What is required for EDUC 2603 N course versus the student teaching course? 
Student teaching:  A student teacher candidate in their final semester, who has been approved for student teaching, may accept a job offer and apply for an internship certificate.  That candidate would be assigned a college supervisor, complete three observation cycles (lesson plan, observation, feedback review) and register for and complete course requirements for the related student teaching seminar and 1900G.   
Internship certificate: A candidate who is midway through their program may also accept a job offer and apply for an internship certificate. That candidate would be assigned a college supervisor, complete one observation cycle (lesson plan, observation, feedback review).  There are no additional courses that are required with EDUC 2603.  The candidate would continue to follow the program plan developed with their advisor. When reaching their final semester, that candidate would apply for student teaching and continue as teacher of record under the internship certificate.

 
What happens to the internship certification upon graduation? 
Upon graduation, the internship certificate is no longer valid. Internship certification is conditional upon active enrollment in a graduate level college program.  Candidates are therefore urged to complete all state certification requirements before graduation so that they can retain their positions with New York City Public Schools. 
 

We value our school partners! Welcome.
 
In teacher education, the importance of the final clinical practice semester in classrooms cannot be overstated. Experienced cooperating teachers (CTs), who have been teaching for at least three years, are models and mentors for our student teachers (STs) who are transitioning from students to professionals. STs must integrate concrete information, knowledge, and practice. Like other learners, STs learn best when they feel secure in your classrooms. 
 
We hope the information below, about the essential expectations of the ST experiences at City College’ School of Education, guides your approach as you host student teachers. 
 
What is the duration of a student teaching placement? 
New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires candidates for initial teacher certification to document a minimum of 70 days as student teachers, during a culminating clinical experience in a single semester.  
 
Generally, candidates who begin student teaching in the fall semester, begin on or before the first school day of the new NYCPS school year and end immediately before the Winter Recess; in the spring, candidates begin during the first week of the City College School of Education classes (the third week in January) and continue until Memorial Day break.  
 
The 70-day requirement remains constant, though the actual dates vary.  For example, School Year 2026-2027, if our student teachers begin with their cooperating teachers on the teachers’ first day, September 8, student teachers attending without absences will complete their 70th day on December 23, 2026. 
 
Should student teachers attend NYCPS Professional Development days? 
New York State Education Department and CCNY SOE accept professional development days geared to teachers as student teaching days, when the student teacher is invited to attend. Given the value, both logistically and for practice, we hope you will invite ST to attend. 
 
What guidance about student teaching goals is available to cooperating teachers? 
The CCNY SOE office of Clinical Practice provides cooperating teachers and student teachers with a Gradual Release Plan (GRP) which is based upon the premise that STs acquire and become proficient in skills over time and with cooperating teachers’ mentorship. The GRP outlines flexible guidelines for how the student teacher gradually takes on more responsibility throughout the semester. For example, the GRP proposes that the ST first observes (week 1), then takes on roles during certain parts of lessons (week 2), then teaches at least one full lesson a day (week 4), then teaches multiple lessons a day (week 8), and so forth until they are teaching full days by the semester’s end.   
The Office of Clinical Practice will provide a detailed GRP to host schools and cooperating teachers  at the start of the semester.

   
What role does the cooperating teacher play in providing feedback?  
For student teachers, actionable feedback from their mentors positions them to cultivate effective teaching practices and develop achievable goals. By modeling and explicit mentoring, cooperating teachers can provide daily in-the-moment feedback to student teacher partners. We hope that daily practice and dialogue support incremental growth. 
 
Student teachers also receive feedback from college supervisors. College supervisors are CCNY SOE faculty who observe student teachers three times during the semester.  The number of observations may vary; initial certification candidates participate in three observation cycles with their college supervisor.  Each observation cycle includes a complete lesson plan, observation of instruction, and feedback.  
 
The student teacher will schedule the college supervisor visits in cooperation with the cooperating teacher; and develop a lesson plan that is integrated into the host teacher’s overall instructional plan. The lesson plan should reflect the student teacher’s work and coordinate with ongoing classroom work. Each element of the student’s lesson - planning, instruction, and response to feedback – contributes to the college supervisor’s evaluation on the Teacher Performance Portfolio, which is a rubric that reflects the Danielson Framework and the NYCPS teacher evaluation rubric. It is the college supervisor who is responsible for determining a final grade.   
 
What role do cooperating teachers play in evaluation? 
In addition to the option of direct contact – to express concerns to extoll – cooperating teachers are asked to provide an anonymous evaluation of the student teacher candidate at the end of the semester. The evaluation survey is the same as the rubric used by the candidates’ college supervisors to facilitate comparison. 
 
CCNY SOE uses the results of cooperating teacher responses to more closely identify areas of strength as well as the gaps in our teacher preparation.  We take your feedback very seriously. Please complete these surveys when we send them to you!   
 
What if the cooperating teacher has concerns about a student’s performance or dispositions? 
Experience has taught us to value immediate feedback from the host cooperating teacher and host school when the student teacher does not meet expectations. While problems rarely surface, when they do, we have found that addressing them in the context of the student’s position as a CCNY SOE candidate can strengthen the candidate’s understanding of their import. Cooperating teachers often develop a deep commitment to the student teachers with whom they work and are reluctant to share concerns. CCNY SOE views identified difficulties as opportunities for growth, and growth in teaching requires both clarity and time.  Please keep us informed as soon as concerns arise.  
 
 
Who are our contacts at CCNY SOE Office of Clinical Practice?  
Please contact Office of Clinical Practice Director Hedi Levine ( hlevine1@ccny.cumy.edu ) and Associate Director Noris Rodriguez ( nrodriguez1@ccny.cuny.edu ).