海角论坛

Teacher Certification FAQs

  1. How do I register for state certification exams? See the Exam Information page
  2. How do I find out if my certificate has been issued? Log in to your TEACH Account. Go to your TEACH Home page. Select Account Information to view your certificate status. Click on Certificates from scrolling menu and click GO. Displayed information includes all of your certificate applications and all issued certificates. NYSED offers further information about .
  3. I need to get fingerprinted for certification. What is the fingerprinting process? See the Fingerprinting Information page
  4. When will 海角论坛 recommend me for certification? After your degree is awarded by 海角论坛 (degree date posted to your transcript) and you have submitted a to the Registrar's Office (Netzer 130).
  5. I applied using the wrong pathway, how do I get that fixed? Email the NY State Education Department at tcert@mail.nysed.gov to request a pathway change.
  6. How do I contact TEACH?

    New York State Education Department/Office of Teaching Initiatives:
    Certification Questions: (518) 474-3901
    Technical help with TEACH Online Services: (518) 486-6041
    Request a certificate application pathway change: tcert@mail.nysed.gov

  7. I need a program code. How can I get one? See the right-hand side of the Applying for Certification page.
  8. How do I apply for certification? See the Applying for Certification page
  9. I lost my TEACH account log in and/or username. How do I find out what they are?

    Visit and click on 鈥淔orgot your Username or Password?鈥
  10. I am thinking about adding another certificate.
  11. I am applying for a job and the application asks for a copy of my certificate. How do I get a copy of my certificate? Log in to your TEACH account. Go to your TEACH Home page. Select Account Information to view your certificate status. Click on Certificates from scrolling menu and click GO. Displayed information includes all of your certificate applications and all issued certificates. A printed copy of this page is typically acceptable when asked for proof of certification (assuming the certificate is issued) when applying for employment in NY State.
  12. Will I receive a copy of my issued certificates? NY State automatically mails printed copies of professional certificates to you the certificate holder. NY State does not automatically mail printed copies of initial certificates. Initial certificate holders can request a printed copy by logging on to their TEACH Account and selecting from their TEACH Home page 鈥淚 would like a printed certificate鈥. The state charges $25 for each printed copy of an initial certificate. Please see #2 and #11 of the Top 12 FAQs before paying for a printed copy of your certificate.
  1. In addition to completing my 海角论坛 education program and degree, what other requirements must I satisfy to become certified? . For all other certificates, at a basic level, you must pass any pertinent and successfully complete the fingerprinting process. Please note that you must also complete all items on the initial certification checklist for all certificates sought as the result of completing a 海角论坛 education program leading to certification.
  2. What Undergraduate programs does 海角论坛 offer that lead to certification?
  3. Does 海角论坛 certify me? No. 海角论坛 prepares you to become certified. The State of New York issues the certificates.
  4. How do I find out if my certificate has been issued? Log in to your TEACH Account. Go to your TEACH Home page. Select Account Information to view your certificate status. Click on Certificates from scrolling menu and click GO. Displayed information includes all of your certificate applications and all issued certificates.
  5. Will I be sent a paper copy in the mail or receive an email notification? You will not receive email notification that your certificate has been issued. NY State automatically mails printed copies of professional certificates to you the certificate holder. NY State does not automatically mail printed copies of initial certificates. Initial certificate holders can request a printed copy by logging on to their TEACH Account and selecting from their TEACH Home page 鈥淚 would like a printed certificate鈥. The state charges $25 for each printed copy of an initial certificate. Please see #2 and #11 of the Top 12 FAQs before paying for a printed copy of your certificate.
  1. Which certification exams must I take? Please visit the page to view the certification exams specific to the certificate(s) you seek. Each certificate may require a different set of exams. Simply search your certification requirements and identify the exams associated with that certificate.
  2. When should I take my state certification exams? See our Exams page.
  3. How do I register for state certification exams? See our Exams page.
  4. When are state certification exams offered? See our Exams page.
  5. If I fail the first time, how many times can I retake a New York State Certification Exam? You may retake an exam as many times as needed to secure a passing grade.
  6. Should I provide potential employers with my New York State Certification Exam scores? Employers are not entitled to exam scores. Should you wish to share those scores that is your choice. Test results (pass or fail) can be viewed in TEACH by most NY State districts, but not specific test scores.
  1. What does the university recommendation mean? All students seeking certification as the result of completing an approved university program at 海角论坛 must request and receive the university鈥檚 recommendation as a requirement for certification.

    If you expect to graduate at the end of this semester, and have not already done so, please complete the . Please note the recommendation form should be completed during your final semester of studies here.

    Once you are eligible for that recommendation (see #2 below) the Office of Educator Preparation Services will transmit the recommendation to your TEACH account. You will be able to view that recommendation by logging in to your TEACH account and searching your Account Information.

    The university recommendation confirms for NY State that you have completed all required academic coursework and workshops associated with the certificate(s) you seek as a result of completing your university approved program. The university recommendation does not however confirm completion of other certification requirements such as fingerprinting and passing of all necessary state exams.
  2. When will 海角论坛 recommend me for certification? After your degree is awarded by the university (degree date posted to your transcript) and you have filed a university Recommendation Form with the Registrar's Office.
  1. Is it OK if I apply for my certification before I graduate? Yes. If you expect to graduate at the end of this semester then it is OK to apply for certification. We do not, however, recommend that you apply for certification any earlier than your final semester.
  2. Is it OK if I apply for my certification before passing my certification exams? Yes. You will not be certified until all certification requirements are complete, including exams 鈥 but you can apply for certification before passing those exams.
  3. I applied using the wrong pathway, how do I get that fixed? Email the NY State Education Department at tcert@mail.nysed.gov to request a pathway change.
  4. When applying for my certificate it asks for a program code. Where do I get one? See the right-hand side of the Applying for Certification page.
  5. How much does it cost to apply for my certificate(s)? The application for each certificate is $50 when applying as the result of completing an approved 海角论坛 education program.
  6. I think I want to wait a while before applying for my certificate(s). Is that OK? Maybe. While some program completers wait a bit before applying for their certificate(s), based on a number of personal reasons, great caution should be taken should you decide to do so. Regular changes to NY State certification requirements can have a significant impact on a candidate鈥檚 certification eligibility should the candidate not be certified prior to the implementation of a change.

    In some instances, candidates have been required to complete new exams, new coursework, and even entire programs in order to earn the certificate(s) for which they were once eligible but failed to earn as a result of delaying their certification application.

    Extreme caution should therefore be exercised when making the decision to delay applying for a certificate.

    The Office of Educator Preparation Services provides updated information on pending certification changes. We cannot however guarantee that the changes identified on this page are inclusive of all possible changes proposed by NY State at any given time.

  7. How do I apply for Certification? See our Applying for Certification page.
  1. What is TEACH? TEACH is the NY State computer-based system designed to offer services to those seeking NY State certification, and those holding NY State certification, in the areas of teaching, pupil personnel services, and administration.
  2. How do I create a TEACH account? See our TEACH page.
  3. I lost my TEACH account log in and username. How do I find out what they are? Visit TEACH Log In page and click on 鈥淔orgot your Username or Password?鈥
  4. How do I apply for a Time Extension? and select Apply for a Time Extension from your TEACH Home page.
  5. When can I apply for a Time Extension? NY State does not typically process a time extension application unless it is within 6 months of your certificate expiring. Therefore, you should wait until that time has arrived before applying for the extension. If you are unsure as to when your certificate(s) expires, please and select Account Information from your TEACH Home page. Click on Certificates from scrolling menu and click GO. Displayed information includes all of your certificate applications and all issued certificates, including certificate expiration dates.
  6. How do I apply for certification? See our Applying for Certification page.
  7. How can I access the TEACH system? See our page.
  8. How do I know if my certificates have been issued? Log in to your TEACH Account. Go to your TEACH Home page. Select Account Information to view your certificate status. Click on Certificates from scrolling menu and click GO. Displayed information includes all of your certificate applications and all issued certificates.
  9. Will I receive a copy of my issued certificates? NY State automatically mails printed copies of professional and/or permanent certificates to you the certificate holder. NY State does not automatically mail printed copies of initial and/or provisional certificates. Initial and/or provisional certificate holders can request a printed copy by logging on to their TEACH Account and selecting from their TEACH Homepage 鈥淚 would like a printed certificate鈥. The state charges $25 for each printed copy of an initial and/or provisional certificate. Please see #2 and #11 of the Top 12 FAQs before paying for a printed copy of your certificate.
  10. I thought the Office of Certification said that I could be certified any day of the year? Then why is my expiration date either August or January and not the date it became effective? A certificate can in fact be issued for any day of the year. Once a certificate is noted as issued in the TEACH system, then you hold that certificate. In other words, if TEACH says your certificate is issued, then it is issued.

    For example, you might notice in TEACH on June 17th that a new initial certificate for which you鈥檝e applied is noted as issued. While it is true to say that on June 17th you are certified in that area, the effective date (internally within the TEACH system) that is associated with that certificate will be September 1st. Your expiration date for that certificate will, therefore, be 5 years later on August 31st. Why 5 years? Because 5 years is how long you have to satisfy the requirements to make that initial certificate a professional certificate.

    It is much simpler for the state to track just two expiration dates a year, as opposed to a possible 365 dates 鈥 which is why your effective date ( internally within the TEACH system) is either September 1st or February 1st, therefore this makes the 5 year window expire in either August or January.
  1. What is the difference between Permanent and Professional certification? Permanent certification was a certification option for both teachers and administrators in years past. It remains a certification option for school counselors, but teachers and administrators must now seek professional certification. Professional certification requires that holders of the professional certificate complete professional development hours to maintain their certification. Permanent certification did not have such a requirement
  2. I need to earn a Master鈥檚 degree for professional certification purposes.
  4. Does experience working as a Teacher鈥檚 Aide count toward my 3 years of teaching experience needed for professional certification? No
  5. Does substitute teaching count toward my 3 years of teaching experience needed for professional certification? .
  6. Can I teach out of state and use that time toward earning my professional certification in NY? Generally speaking, yes. Please note however that NY State will ultimately determine if your out of state teaching experience will satisfy this professional certification requirement.
  7. Can I earn my Master鈥檚 degree out of state for the purposes of professional certification in NY? Yes, it is possible to earn your Master鈥檚 degree out of state. Please note however that NY State will ultimately determine if the Master鈥檚 degree you complete out of state will satisfy this professional certification requirement. Please refer to for more information.
  8. I completed an undergraduate program that led to multiple certifications. I am finishing a graduate program that leads to professional certification in just one of those areas. How do I make my other initial certificates professional? Log in to your TEACH Account. Select 鈥淎pply for Certificate鈥. Proceed through application process. When asked under the heading 鈥淓ducational Preparation for this application only鈥 select choice B. No. You are only entitled to a program code (choice A.) if you are completing or have completed a graduate program that leads to a university recommendation for that professional certificate.

    Example: Question: I completed the graduate Literacy program at 海角论坛. I hold initial certification in Childhood (grades 1-6). I need to apply for my professional certification in Childhood. Answer: You are eligible for a program code for Literacy because the university can recommend you for Literacy. The Literacy program is not registered to provide a professional recommendation for Childhood (grades 1-6) and therefore you must follow the instructions noted above (select choice B. 鈥 no code) when applying for professional certification in Childhood (grades 1-6).
  9. How long do I have before my initial certificate(s) expires? Five years from the Effective Date associated with that certificate. Please note that it is possible that different certificates have different Effective Dates, and therefore different expiration dates.
  1. I graduated from the undergraduate Childhood Education program. I would like to add the Early Childhood (birth 鈥 grade 2) certificate. How do I do that? Please contact the Office of Educator Preparation Services for guidance on how best to move forward with applying for that additional teaching certificate.
  2. I graduated from the undergraduate Childhood Education program. How do I add another certificate based on the academic major I completed at 海角论坛? First, you should the certification requirements for that additional certificate. Complete all necessary requirements and apply for that certificate through your TEACH Account.
  3. I am thinking about adding another certificate.
  1. I am applying for a job and the application asks for a copy of my certificate. How do I get a copy of my certificate? Log in to your TEACH account. Go to your TEACH Home page. Select Account Information to view your certificate status. Click on Certificates from scrolling menu and click GO. Displayed information includes all of your certificate applications and all issued certificates. A printed copy of this page is typically acceptable when asked for proof of certification (assuming the certificate is issued) when applying for employment in NY State.
  2. I am applying for a job and the application asks for a copy of my certificate. I am not yet certified. What can I do to show proof that I am working toward my certification?
    Completion of an approved university program is not sufficient evidence that a candidate will be certified as it is not the university that offers the certification, but rather NY State. Completion of a university program is proof that all academic requirements have been fulfilled to earn the certificate. However, additional NY State requirements must be fulfilled to actually earn the certificate, which is why 海角论坛 cannot confirm that a student will be certified prior to the certificate actually issuing in the NY State TEACH system. By providing a printout of your TEACH Account and a copy of your transcript to perspective employers, you will be able to show the items you have completed towards your certification. Proof of graduation can be seen on a student's university transcript, and should be requested through the Registrar鈥檚 Office.
  3. Should I provide potential employers with my New York State Certification Exam scores? Employers are not entitled to exam scores. Should you wish to share those scores that is your choice. Test results (pass or fail) can be viewed in TEACH by most NY State districts, but not specific test scores.
  1. Who do I contact at the NY State Education Department with certification questions? See Contact Information
  2. How do I contact my regional BOCES certification office? View list of BOCES offices.
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