New York State Teacher Certification

A guide to the teacher certification process in New York State.

1. New York State Teacher New York State Teacher
CertificationCertification
A Guide To UnderstandingA Guide To Understanding

2. What Is Certification?What Is Certification?
•In France, under Napoleon in 1831, thirty higher-education “normal” In France, under Napoleon in 1831, thirty higher-education “normal”
schools were devised for teacher training.schools were devised for teacher training.
•In 1839, the first higher-ed teacher training school was created in America In 1839, the first higher-ed teacher training school was created in America
under the leadership of Horace Mann. It was a rough beginning on many under the leadership of Horace Mann. It was a rough beginning on many
accounts.accounts.
•It slowly became an accepted reality that teachers should be trained in subject It slowly became an accepted reality that teachers should be trained in subject
matter and teaching methods.matter and teaching methods.
•Eventually, certification exams were created and originally intended to be Eventually, certification exams were created and originally intended to be
locally managed by superintendents and teachers.locally managed by superintendents and teachers.
•In 1980, only a few states required aspiring teachers to pass a test for In 1980, only a few states required aspiring teachers to pass a test for
certification.certification.
•By 1990, thirty-nine states required passage of tests for cert. and all fifty states By 1990, thirty-nine states required passage of tests for cert. and all fifty states
approve the content of teacher education programs.approve the content of teacher education programs.

3. Types of Teacher CertificationTypes of Teacher Certification
•Provisional CertificationProvisional Certification: Previously, the : Previously, the
entry-level certificate for classroom entry-level certificate for classroom
teachers, but discontinued as of February teachers, but discontinued as of February
2, 2004.2, 2004.
PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATION LEAD TO:PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATION LEAD TO:
•Permanent CertificationPermanent Certification: Remains the : Remains the
advanced-level certificate for classroom advanced-level certificate for classroom
teachers and is valid for life.teachers and is valid for life.
THE OLD WAY

4. Types of Teaching CertificatesTypes of Teaching Certificates
•InitialInitial: The entry-level certificate for : The entry-level certificate for classroom classroom
teachersteachers, valid for five years, leads to a , valid for five years, leads to a
professional certificate.professional certificate.
INITIAL CERTIFICATION LEADS TOINITIAL CERTIFICATION LEADS TO
•ProfessionalProfessional: The advanced-level certificate for : The advanced-level certificate for
classroom teachersclassroom teachers. Continuously valid with . Continuously valid with
completion of required professional development completion of required professional development
hours on a five-year professional development hours on a five-year professional development
cycle.cycle.
THE NEW WAYTHE NEW WAY

5. Person A – Seeking Initial Person A – Seeking Initial
Certification in K-6 Elementary Ed.Certification in K-6 Elementary Ed.
1.1.Completion in a NY State registered program.Completion in a NY State registered program.
2.2.Written recommendation for certification by Higher Ed. Program (college).Written recommendation for certification by Higher Ed. Program (college).
3.3.NYS Teacher Certification Exam: Liberal Arts and Science Test (LAST): NYS Teacher Certification Exam: Liberal Arts and Science Test (LAST):
Assesses knowledge and skills in five areas.Assesses knowledge and skills in five areas.
4.4.NYS Teacher Certification Exam: Elementary Assessment of Teaching NYS Teacher Certification Exam: Elementary Assessment of Teaching
Skills (ATS-W): Assesses professional and pedagogical knowledge at the Skills (ATS-W): Assesses professional and pedagogical knowledge at the
early childhood (Birth- Grade 2) and childhood (Grades 1- 6) levels.early childhood (Birth- Grade 2) and childhood (Grades 1- 6) levels.
5.5.Content Specialty Test: Assesses knowledge and skills in the subject of the Content Specialty Test: Assesses knowledge and skills in the subject of the
certificate sought.certificate sought.
6.6.Fingerprint Clearance: Candidates applying on or after July 1, 2001, must Fingerprint Clearance: Candidates applying on or after July 1, 2001, must
be cleared by the New York State Education Department through a be cleared by the New York State Education Department through a
fingerprint-supported criminal history background check. fingerprint-supported criminal history background check.
7.7.At this point, the candidate is eligible for INITIAL CERTIFICATION.At this point, the candidate is eligible for INITIAL CERTIFICATION.

6. Person A – With Initial Certification, Person A – With Initial Certification,
Seeking Professional CertificationSeeking Professional Certification
1.1. Candidate earns Master’s Degree from Candidate earns Master’s Degree from
accredited higher ed. Program.accredited higher ed. Program.
• Key PointKey Point: twelve credits must be : twelve credits must be
earned in relation to the area of earned in relation to the area of
certification or a graduate degree in certification or a graduate degree in
Education.Education.
• 3 Years full-time classroom teaching 3 Years full-time classroom teaching
experience: includes experience earned experience: includes experience earned
in a public or approved nonpublic in a public or approved nonpublic
preschool or elementary, middle, or preschool or elementary, middle, or
secondary school. secondary school.
• One year documented mentoring One year documented mentoring
experience.experience.
• Candidate has five years to achieve steps Candidate has five years to achieve steps
1-3.1-3.
• Individual applies and receives Individual applies and receives
Professional Certification – Yeah!! Your Professional Certification – Yeah!! Your
first professional development period first professional development period
begins on July 1 begins on July 1 followingfollowing the effective the effective
date of your Professional teaching date of your Professional teaching
certificate. certificate.

7. Maintaining Professional Maintaining Professional
CertificationCertification
•Professional:Professional: Holders of the Professional classroom Holders of the Professional classroom
teaching certificate must complete 175 hours of teaching certificate must complete 175 hours of
professional development every five years. Satisfaction professional development every five years. Satisfaction
of this requirement maintains the validity of the of this requirement maintains the validity of the
certificate. certificate.
•Every five years this clock resets in order to maintain Every five years this clock resets in order to maintain
valid certification.valid certification.
•Records should be kept as current with activity Records should be kept as current with activity
completion as is possible.  Records must be kept completion as is possible.  Records must be kept seven seven
yearsyears and be made available to the New York State and be made available to the New York State
Education Department in the event of an audit. Education Department in the event of an audit.

8. What Activities Count Toward 175 What Activities Count Toward 175
P.D. Hours?P.D. Hours?
•Analyzing student data and student work to determine needed changes in the delivery of instruction.Analyzing student data and student work to determine needed changes in the delivery of instruction.
•Participating in reviews of class performance data over time to make decisions about one's own Participating in reviews of class performance data over time to make decisions about one's own
professional development, based on student outcomesprofessional development, based on student outcomes
•Collaborating with other teachers and teaching assistants to examine case studies of student work and Collaborating with other teachers and teaching assistants to examine case studies of student work and
developmentdevelopment
•Participating in courses and other learning opportunities delivered from many providers, such as Participating in courses and other learning opportunities delivered from many providers, such as
institutions of higher education, teacher centers, BOCES, school districts and independent professional institutions of higher education, teacher centers, BOCES, school districts and independent professional
development service providers. development service providers.
•Coursework linked to improvement of instructional technique or content knowledge, which may or may Coursework linked to improvement of instructional technique or content knowledge, which may or may
not be in pursuit of a teaching or advanced teaching degree. not be in pursuit of a teaching or advanced teaching degree.
•Completing coursework for more advanced certification or certificates in additional areas or in Completing coursework for more advanced certification or certificates in additional areas or in
accordance with teaching assignment requirement for extension to certification. accordance with teaching assignment requirement for extension to certification.
•Participating in regional scoring of State assessments, assessing student portfolios Participating in regional scoring of State assessments, assessing student portfolios
•Creating and assessing teacher or teaching assistant portfoliosCreating and assessing teacher or teaching assistant portfolios
•Engaging in research projects (includes online research)Engaging in research projects (includes online research)
•Curriculum planning and developmentCurriculum planning and development
•Developing or collaborating on the development of new programs and instructional methodsDeveloping or collaborating on the development of new programs and instructional methods

9. •Service as a mentor, support teacher, helping teacher, or peer coach Service as a mentor, support teacher, helping teacher, or peer coach
•Service as a cooperating teacher for a student teacher or field internships; including attendant meetings and Service as a cooperating teacher for a student teacher or field internships; including attendant meetings and
processes. processes.
•Participation in study (collegial) circles such as "Critical Friends" activities, structured guided reflection Participation in study (collegial) circles such as "Critical Friends" activities, structured guided reflection
activities focused on student learning activities focused on student learning
•Participating in formal programs of peer coaching or participation in peer reviewParticipating in formal programs of peer coaching or participation in peer review
•Participating in Professional Development School activities or other school-college teacher development Participating in Professional Development School activities or other school-college teacher development
partnershipspartnerships
•Serving on CDEP (Comprehensive District Education Plan), or DCEP (District Comprehensive Education Serving on CDEP (Comprehensive District Education Plan), or DCEP (District Comprehensive Education
Plan), or CEP (Comprehensive Education Plan), or other school leadership activities or committees.Plan), or CEP (Comprehensive Education Plan), or other school leadership activities or committees.
•Delivering professional development (e.g. conducting workshops, job-embedded modeling and coaching, Delivering professional development (e.g. conducting workshops, job-embedded modeling and coaching,
providing preservice teacher preparation courses)providing preservice teacher preparation courses)
•Pursuing National Board certification or re-certification (either as candidate or provider of support) Pursuing National Board certification or re-certification (either as candidate or provider of support)
•Service/designation as Master TeacherService/designation as Master Teacher
•Engaging in Sabbatical work related to content specialty or enhancement of teaching strategies. Engaging in Sabbatical work related to content specialty or enhancement of teaching strategies.
•Teacher of the Year activities Teacher of the Year activities
•NYSTCE "assessor" or test development committee member NYSTCE "assessor" or test development committee member
•Development of Statewide curriculumDevelopment of Statewide curriculum
•Service as an elected officer in professional organizations Service as an elected officer in professional organizations
•Service as teacher center director Service as teacher center director
•Service on the State Professional Standards and Practices Board Service on the State Professional Standards and Practices Board
•Developing and presenting a major paper Developing and presenting a major paper
•Publishing in educational journals Publishing in educational journals

10. Professional Certification – Points to Professional Certification – Points to
ConsiderConsider
•What is the responsibility of the school districts?What is the responsibility of the school districts?
–Public school districts and BOCES are responsible for planning and Public school districts and BOCES are responsible for planning and
providing appropriate professional development for holders of providing appropriate professional development for holders of
Professional and Teaching Assistant III certificates, as for all teachers, Professional and Teaching Assistant III certificates, as for all teachers,
as part of the district’s professional development plan. as part of the district’s professional development plan.
•How should district’s plan their p.d.?How should district’s plan their p.d.?
–It is recommended that the district consult with the certificate holder It is recommended that the district consult with the certificate holder
and jointly consider the activities, events, and coursework identified by and jointly consider the activities, events, and coursework identified by
the certificate holder to be completed each school year. This includes the certificate holder to be completed each school year. This includes
professional development that is not district-sponsored, for example, a professional development that is not district-sponsored, for example, a
graduate course related to the teacher’s certificate area. It is graduate course related to the teacher’s certificate area. It is
recommended that such consultation occur annually at a minimum, recommended that such consultation occur annually at a minimum,
and thereafter as frequently as needed, as on the occasion of an and thereafter as frequently as needed, as on the occasion of an
adjustment to planned activities. See adjustment to planned activities. See Suggested ActivitiesSuggested Activities..
•What happens to a certificate holder who fails to record enough What happens to a certificate holder who fails to record enough
p.d.?p.d.?
–Any Professional or Teaching Assistant III certificate holder who fails Any Professional or Teaching Assistant III certificate holder who fails
to complete the required professional development requirement to complete the required professional development requirement
becomes subject to due process and risks the loss of his or her becomes subject to due process and risks the loss of his or her
certificate. certificate.

11. Certification and Tenure: Two Certification and Tenure: Two
Separate SystemsSeparate Systems
•Tenure: the statutory right to hold office or Tenure: the statutory right to hold office or
employment and receive the benefits and employment and receive the benefits and
emoluments of the position.emoluments of the position.
•In general, tenure is a three year process.In general, tenure is a three year process.
•Juul agreements may extend the time to four Juul agreements may extend the time to four
years.years.
•Part-time employment does not apply Part-time employment does not apply
toward tenure time.toward tenure time.
•The broad purpose of tenure is to protect The broad purpose of tenure is to protect
worthy instructors from enforced yielding to worthy instructors from enforced yielding to
political pressures and to guarantee political pressures and to guarantee
employment, regardless of the changes in employment, regardless of the changes in
politics.politics.
•Certification: indicates individual Certification: indicates individual
successfully completed coursework and successfully completed coursework and
passed exams in subject matter and passed exams in subject matter and
pedagogical understanding in order to enter pedagogical understanding in order to enter
teaching profession.teaching profession.
•In most circumstances, public school In most circumstances, public school
districts must hire certified teachers.districts must hire certified teachers.
•Most new hires hold an initial certificate. Most new hires hold an initial certificate.
Those teachers must work full-time for Those teachers must work full-time for
three years and earn their Master’s Degree three years and earn their Master’s Degree
within five years.within five years.
•Hence, it takes between three and five years Hence, it takes between three and five years
to earn professional certification.to earn professional certification.
•In essence, often times schools award tenure In essence, often times schools award tenure
to teachers holding initial certification with to teachers holding initial certification with
the expectation the teacher will earn the expectation the teacher will earn
professional certification.professional certification.
•A teacher with initial certification that fails A teacher with initial certification that fails
to earn / apply for professional certification to earn / apply for professional certification
is no longer certified, therefore, ineligible for is no longer certified, therefore, ineligible for
tenure track teacher employment.tenure track teacher employment.

12. Concluding ThoughtsConcluding Thoughts
•NY Certification titles and process changed in NY Certification titles and process changed in
2004.2004.
•There are two types of certification, initial and There are two types of certification, initial and
professional. Initial leads to professional.professional. Initial leads to professional.
•Once initially certified, a teacher has up to five Once initially certified, a teacher has up to five
years to earn professional certification.years to earn professional certification.
•Teachers that earn professional certification Teachers that earn professional certification
have five years to record 175 hours of p.d.have five years to record 175 hours of p.d.
•Professional certification resets every five years. Professional certification resets every five years.

13. Helpful LinksHelpful Links
•General information about teacher certification. General information about teacher certification.
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/index.htmlhttp://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/index.html
•A link to a professional development record keeping document for teachers - A link to a professional development record keeping document for teachers -
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/maintaincert-prof.htmhttp://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/maintaincert-prof.htm
•Frequently asked questions - Frequently asked questions - http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/faq.htmhttp://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/faq.htm
•Mentoring resources - Mentoring resources -
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/resteachers/teacherinduction.htmhttp://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/resteachers/teacherinduction.htm
•Professional Certification resources –Professional Certification resources –
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/maintaincert-sd.htmhttp://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/maintaincert-sd.htm