Preparing for Certification Exams

The NY Teacher Certification Examinations

NY State Teacher Certification Examinations are routinely offered throughout the year. Details about the certification exams including test dates and registration information can be found at www.nystce.nesinc.com. Fingerprinting is now a requirement for all examinees and will be conducted onsite. 

Preparing for the Examinations

The NY Teacher Certification Examinations

Below is a collection of resources to help you prepare for the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations. The examinations required of all teacher candidates include:

(1) edTPA Portfolio Assessment in the specific discipline area,
(2) Educating All Students (EAS), and
(3) Content Specialty Test (CST) in the specific area of certification.

The edTPA, the teacher performance assessment portfolio,  is generally completed during student teaching. Students who are currently student teaching are eligible to take the ATS-W test instead of submitting the edTPA Assessment. In addition, students pursuing some certification types are required to take additional tests [for example Bilingual students are required to take the Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA). For specific requirements see www.nysed.gov].

The resources below will help students prepare for their required certification examinations. They resources include: (a) web-links and other online materials, (b) downloadable handouts and power-points, and (c) recordings of workshops, and (d) workshops offered by the School of Education.

CCNY WORKSHOPS FOR THE ATS-W, EAS AND CST: MULTI-SUBJECT TESTS

The Learning & Technology Resource Center will offer recordings of workshops to prepare candidates for the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations. Students should make use of these workshop recordings first before attending one-on-one sessions where SPECIFIC QUESTIONS can be answered. Note: Currently enrolled CCNY students (including CWE students and CCNY alumni) are eligible to take test prep workshops when they are offered at the City College of New York.

Participants should first review the 'Test Design Framework' and 'Test Exemplars' for their test to familiarize themselves with the exceptions of these tests:

Click on the links below to access the Test Frameworks:     

1. ATS-Written (Elementary) Test Frameworks
2. ATS-Written (Secondary) Test Frameworks
3. EAS Test Frameworks
4. CST: MS – Birth – Grade 2
5. CST: MS – Grade 1 – Grade 6
6. CST: MS – Grade 5 to Grade 9
7. CST: MS – Grade 7 to Grade 12  

Click on the links below to access the Test Exemplars:

1. ATS-Written (Elementary) Test Exemplars
2. ATS-Written (Secondary) Test Exemplars
3. EAS Test Exemplars
4. CST: MS – Birth to Grade 2
5. CST: MS – Grade 1 to Grade 6
6. CST: MS – Grade 5 to Grade 9
7. CST: MS – Grade 7 to Grade 12

CCNY Test Preparation Review Material
[ATS-W Test]

Follow the instructions below to access review materials for the ATS-W Test

Enrollment: Open to all CUNY students, faculty and staff with enrollment code.

How to Enroll:

1. Log in to Blackboard through the CUNY Portal. (If you have never used Blackboard before, you will need to set up an account)
2. From the home page, the first page that appears after login, look for “Organization Search” on the lower-left-hand side of the screen.
3. Enter ‘CUNY Teacher Education’ in the search box. Click GO.
4. Scroll down to see the "CO-Teacher Education" organization.
5. Click the gray down arrow under the organization ID in blue. Click ENROLL.
6. This will bring you to the Self Enrollment page. In the box for Access Code, enter TEACHERED.
7. Click Submit.
8. On the next Self Enrollment screen, click OK.
9. Prep materials are organized by exam in the green box on the left.

CCNY Test Preparation Schedule
[ATS-W TEST REVIEW]

Students preparing for the ATS-W examination should first make use of all available resources listed above. Next, review the recording of a previous workshop session that is provided below:

ATS-W WORKSHOP RECORDING

After reviewing the recording, if you still have SPECIFIC QUESTIONS that you would like the instructor to address then you may schedule time to meet with the instructor.

Please complete this form below to register for one of the test prep office hour blocks. You will register for *one* 15-minute block of time for each test you are interested in. You will select a date and a time in the form linked below; the day prior to the meeting, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link and password. 

PLEASE REVIEW THE ON-DEMAND WORKSHOP VIDEO PRIOR TO ATTENDING. Office hours are for specific questions and clarifications; the workshop will not be conducted during your 15-minute window.

INSTRUCTOR’S SCHEDULE:
ATS-W Office Hours:

• Monday, April 4, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
• Thursday, April 21, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
• Thursday, May 12, 4:00 – 6:00 pm

To register here: Click here

 

CCNY Test Preparation Schedule
[EAS TEST REVIEW]

Students preparing for the EAS examination should first make use of all the available resource materials on this site.  Next, review the recording of a previous workshop session that is provided below:

EAS WORKSHOP RECORDING

After reviewing the recorded review session, if you still have SPECIFIC QUESTIONS that you would like the instructor to address, then you may sign up for one-on-one sessions with the instructor based on the schedule below:

Please complete the form below to register for one of the test prep office hour blocks. You will register for *one* 15-minute block of time for each test you are interested in.  You will select a date and a time in the form below; the day prior to the meeting, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link and password. 

PLEASE REVIEW THE ON-DEMAND WORKSHOP VIDEO PRIOR TO ATTENDING. Office hours are for specific questions and clarifications; the workshop will not be conducted during your 15-minute window
 

Instructor’s Office Hours: EAS REVIEW 

• ​Tuesday, April 19, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
• Friday, April 29, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

To register is here: Click here

Students may contact the LTRC at  lrc.ccny@gmail.com  if they have any questions about these workshops.

WEBLINKS TO LEARN ABOUT THE EAS TEST

Exam Preparation Resources from CUNY portal
NYSTCE Certification Examination Website	www.nystce.nesinc.com
NYSTCE Computer-Based Testing Tutorial
NYSTCE Computer-Based Practice Tests [each practice test has a fee of $29.95]

DOWNLOADABLE HANDOUTS TO PREPARE FOR

THE EAS (EDUCATING ALL STUDENTS) TEST

Education All Students (EAS)Test DOWNLOADABLE HANDOUTS
Title/ [Link to Download]	Published/ Prepared By	Description
Test Design and Frameworks	Source: New York State Teacher Certification Examination Inc.	Review the test frameworks carefully to know what are the performance indicators expected on this test.
NYSTCE Educating All Students Study Guide	Source: Teaching Fellows Office, New York City	A collection of helpful links and recommended resources for each component of the EAS test.
EAS Test Taking Strategies	Source: CUNY Teacher Ed Office	Powerpoint presentation on the EAS test.
EAS Study Guide Template	Source: CUNY Teacher Ed Office	Preparation material for the EAS test.
EAS Writing Rubric	Source: New York State Teacher Certification Examination Inc.	Review rubric criteria for writing expectations on the constructed response item.

CCNY TEST PREPARATION SCHEDULE - CST: MS – Part II - MATHEMATICS REVIEW

These Mathematics review workshops are designed for students taking any level of the CST MS Part II - Mathematics and the CST Secondary Mathematics. Currently enrolled CCNY students, Teaching Fellows, CWE students, and recent CCNY graduates, are eligible to register for review sessions when they are offered. Students are advised to inform the LTRC at: lrc.ccny@gmail.com if they have any questions about these workshops.

ONLINE TEST REVIEW
CST: Multisubject Part II – Mathematics Review
[Birth – Grade 2 ]
TBA

CST: Secondary Mathematics Review
[Grade 1 – Grade 6]
TBA

CST: Secondary Mathematics Review
[Grade 7 – Grade 12]
TBA

Downloadable PDF to Prepare for the CST: Multisubject - Part II Mathematics
Title/ [Link to Download]	Published/ Prepared By	Description
CST:

CCNY TEST PREPARATION SCHEDULE - CST: MS – Part I - Literacy & English Language Arts

The 'Literacy and English Language Arts' workshops are designed for students taking the CST: Multisubject - Part (I) tests (all levels - B-G2, G1-G6, G7-G12). Students preparing for these examinations are strongly advised to first review the test frameworks and exemplars before taking these workshop sessions when they are available. Currently enrolled CCNY students, including Teaching Fellows and CWE students, and recent CCNY graduates, are eligible to register for these review sessions. Students with questions are advised to contact the LTRC at: lrc.ccny@gmail.com .

CST MS Literacy Workshop Dates – Spring 2022

PLEASE NOTE: Registration cut off is 24 hours prior to the workshop, so if you register after that time, you will not receive a confirmation email. 

Monday, April 11, 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Friday, May 6, 5:00 - 8:00 pm
[Instructor: Dr. Nicole Lorenzetti]
To Register Online: Click here 

NY State Teacher Certification Exams Support for CUNY Teacher Education Candidates

Blackboard Organization Name:  CUNY Teacher Education

Organization Description: This organization is designed to support CUNY Teacher Education faculty and candidates in their preparation for the New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE). This organization contains publicly available materials from the NY State, as well as preparation materials designed by Hunter College, Lehman College, and CUNY's Office of Academic Affairs. Additional support will be provided as the NYSTCE are updated.

Enrollment: Open to all CUNY students, faculty and staff with enrollment code.

How to Enroll:

1. Log in to Blackboard through the CUNY Portal. (If you have never used Blackboard before, you will need to set up an account)
2. From the home page, the first page that appears after login, look for “Organization Search” on the lower-left-hand side of the screen.
3. Enter ‘CUNY Teacher Education’ in the search box. Click GO.
4. Scroll down to see the "CO-Teacher Education" organization.
5. Click the gray down arrow under the organization ID in blue. Click ENROLL.
6. This will bring you to the Self Enrollment page. In the box for Access Code, enter TEACHERED.
7. Click Submit.
8. On the next Self Enrollment screen, click OK.
9. Prep materials are organized by exam in the green box on the left.