State Certification

If you wish to teach in New York State public schools, you must be certified to teach in the subject and at the grade level in which you plan to teach.  CCNY offers two kinds of teacher preparation programs:

• Traditional Certification programs
• Alternative Certification programs 

Traditional certification programs require candidates admitted into an “Approved Teacher Preparation” program, to successfully complete their CCNY education program before being eligible to be institutionally recommended for initial and/or professional teacher certification

Alternative certification programs, programs through the New York City Department of Education (such as Teaching Fellows), are special programs that allow candidates admitted into an “Approved Teacher Preparation” program (graduate students only) to be institutionally recommended for a temporary certificate (“Transitional B”) after they have completed minimal requirements. Once you successfully complete your CCNY education program, candidates are eligible to be institutionally recommended for initial and/or professional teacher certificates.

For more information on the Alternative Certification programs, kindly follow the link below:

http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/spr/AlternativeTeacherCertificationProgram.htm

Certificate Types

“Initial” Certification

“Initial” certification is the first level of NYSED teacher certificates.

CCNY institutionally recommends candidates for their “Initial” certificate once they have successfully completed all requirements for the NYSED teacher certification:

• CCNY Educational Requirements (advanced certificate, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree)
• Certification Exams:
  • Educating All Students (EAS)
  • Content Specialty Test (CST) - selected depending on specific certification looking to be achieved
  • Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA) - for “Bilingual Education Extension” certification ONLY
  • School Building Leader (Parts 1 & 2) – for “School Building Leader” certification ONLY
  • School District Leader (Parts 1 & 2) - for “School District Leader” certification ONLY
• NYSED mandated workshops:
  • Child Abuse
  • School Violence Prevention
  • Dignity for All Students Act” (DASA)
  • Autism (for Special Education teachers ONLY)
• Fingerprint clearance reflecting on the NYSED TEACH system
• TEACH online application (with payment)

The initial certificate is valid for 5 years.  If you do not wish to lose your “Initial” certification, you must achieve the “Professional” level of the certification you hold PRIOR to your “Initial” certification expiring. If you will not be able to obtain your “Professional” certification within the 5 years that your “Initial” certification is in effect, you should apply on your NYSED TEACH account for a “Initial Reissuance (First)” on your “Initial” certification. It is best to do this at least 6 months PRIOR to your “Initial“ certification expiring.

“Professional” Certification

“Professional” certification is the highest level of NYSED teaching certificates.

In order to obtain a “Professional” certification, you must hold, or have held, an “Initial” certification in the same “title” AND you must complete:

• 1 year of “Mentored Teaching Experience” (only if your first year of teaching was in a NYCDOE public school)
• 3 years of “Paid, Full-time Teaching Experience”
• A Master’s Degree (related to the area in which you wish to be certified)
• A Teach online application (with payment)

For more information regarding this matter, kindly follow the link below:

https://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/advanceinitprof.html

After your “Professional” certification has been awarded, to keep it “active”, you are required to continually complete 175 hours (every five years) of “professional development”.

“Transitional B” Certification

A “Transitional B” (“Trans B”) certification is issued to Teaching Fellows and other alternative program candidates, all of whom are in graduate programs, after completion of preliminary course work, required exams, fieldwork, and all workshops, but before completing their program, so that they can teach in New York City public schools while they complete their Master’s program. The “Trans B” certification is valid for 3 years OR until the candidate graduates (whichever comes first). If the candidate is not ready to apply for the “Initial” certification before the 3 years have elapsed, the candidate may apply for a “Time Extension” on their TEACH account.

For more information regarding this matter, kindly follow the links below:

https://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/typesofcerts/transb.html

New York City Teaching Fellows:

https://nycteachingfellows.org

New York City Teaching Collaborative:

http://nycteachingcollaborative.org

“Internship” Certification

“Internship” certification is a certificate type that allows graduate candidates, who are still in the process of completing their programs, to teach in New York City public schools.

For information, assistance and guidance with regards to being eligible to obtain an "Internship" Certification, students must contact the Certification Officer, Jose Osorio (via email) at: josorio1@ccny.cuny.edu

Certification Pathways

The specific certification pathways that you will use when you complete your program and apply for your NYSED teacher certification are:

• “Approved Teacher Preparation Program” pathway
• “Approved Teacher Preparation Program Certificate Progression” pathway

These pathways are for CCNY Teacher Preparation Programs that are registered with the NYSED as leading to “Initial” and/or “Professional” certification in a given subject area and at a given grade level.

If you obtain “Initial” certification based on completing a CCNY undergraduate or graduate degree that leads to “Initial” certification, you must use the NYSED “Approved Teacher Preparation Program” pathway to apply for your “Initial” certification.

NOTE: If you obtain your “Initial” certification based on completing an undergraduate degree that leads to “Initial” certification ONLY and wish to obtain your “Professional” certification, once you have completed the following below:

• 1 year of “Mentored Teaching Experience” (only if your first year of teaching was in a NYCDOE public school)
• 3 years of “Paid, Full-time Teaching Experience”
• A Master’s Degree (related to the area in which you wish to be certified)
• A Teach online application (with payment)

You must use the “Program Certificate Progression” pathway to obtain your professional certification.

If you obtain your “Initial” certification based on completing a CCNY graduate degree that leads to “Initial” and “Professional” certification and wish to obtain your “Professional” certification, once you have completed the following below:

• 1 year of “Mentored Teaching Experience” (only if your first year of teaching was in a NYCDOE public school)
• 3 years of “Paid, Full-time Teaching Experience”
• A Teach online application (with payment)

You must use the “Approved Teacher Preparation Program Certificate Progression” pathway to obtain your “Professional” certification.

For more information regarding this matter, kindly follow the link below:

https://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/pathways.html

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