Certification

New York State Certification

New York State Certification Exams Change

(see Required NYS Teacher Certification Examinations below)

Initial Certification

• Initial certification is the first New York State certificate and is effective for 5 years from the issuance date.
• Complete School of Education approved undergraduate or graduate teacher prep program.
• Pass New York State teacher exams
• Complete fingerprinting process at least 6 months prior to graduation.
• Candidates should apply for this certification within 2 years of graduation to be eligible for School of Education’s recommendation.

 Professional Certification

• Must be earned before initial certificate expires.
• New York State teacher exams are not required (with the exception of Speech & Language Disabilities).
• Requires completion of a Masters degree in a related area of initial certification.
• Requires completion of 3 years full time teaching employment.
• Requires completion of professional development through school district employer.

Options for those with Initial Certification Earned at the Bachelors level

• Earn Masters degree leading to professional certification in area of initial certification.
• Earn Masters degree in a new certification area.
• Earn Masters degree, provided that 12 graduate credits of content related to the initial certificate are completed (as part of the Masters or in addition to it), as specified by New York State (must apply for certification directly to New York State Department of Education).

Checklist of Steps to file for New York State Certification

• Successfully pass the required New York State Teacher Certification exams. Test dates, registration and preparation guides are available at www.nystce.nesinc.com. 
• Apply for fingerprinting clearance at least 6 months prior to graduation at 150 Huntington Hall or call 315-443-2685.
• Meet with an advisor in the Office of Academic and Student Services, 111 Waverly Ave., Suite 230, to confirm that all degree requirements will be completed. Call 315-443-9319.
• Complete the Child Health & Life Safety online seminar. Call 315-443-9319 for more information regarding registration.
• Apply for certification through NYSED TEACH Online Services at www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/. Directions will be made available prior to graduation.

Recommendation for Certification

• Online certification recommendation will be completed once award date is posted on transcript (typically 4-6 weeks after graduation).

Out-of-State Teacher Certification

• Each state has specific teacher certification requirement; therefore, it is recommended that students search each state’s education department web site for the most up-to-date information.

Child Health & Life Safety Seminar

• If you are in a teacher preparation program leading to a New York State Certification, you are required to complete the Child Health & Life Safety Seminar.
• The Office of Academic and Student Services is offering this mandated seminar in an online format via Blackboard.
• The six required topic areas are Child Abuse Recognition, Violence Prevention, Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco Prevention, Child Abduction Prevention, Fire and Arson Prevention, and Highway/General Safety.
• The seminar is free of charge to Syracuse University students, who will be eligible for institutional recommendation for New York State Certification and/or need the seminar for graduation.
• Upon completion of the seminar, you will need to arrange to take an online final exam, which is being offered by the Office of Academic and Student Services.
• You must complete the seminar and pass the exam BEFORE student teaching.
• Call 315-443-9319 for more information regarding registration.

Fingerprinting 

• Required for New York State certification.
• Apply for fingerprinting clearance at least 6 months prior to graduation.
• Hours for processing are Monday-Friday 9-11am or 2-4pm at 150 Huntington Hall.
• Requires SUID and a $94.25 money order made payable to New York State Education Department. Cash and personal checks not accepted.
• Call 315-443-2685 for additional inquires regarding this process.
• Inquiries regarding whether previous fingerprinting applies for certification, please contact Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability, New York State Education Department, 987 Education Building Annex, Albany, NY 12234. Phone 518-473-2998 or email OSPRA@mail.nysed.gov.

Required New York State Teacher Certification Examinations

Students Graduating in 2012 and 2013

Anticipated requirements for qualified candidates who apply for a certificate on or before April 30, 2014

• All candidates for the Initial teaching certificate may take the current Content Specialty Test in their field.  Candidates who do not pass the current CST prior to implementation of the new CST will have to pass the new CST.  (See “When will the new exams be available,” below.)

• Candidates who apply for their first Initial certificate on or before April 30, 2014 and who will have completed all of their requirements by April 30, 2014 will be required to pass the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) and Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W).  Candidates who do not complete all requirements (including passing both the LAST and the ATS-W) by April 30, 2014 will be required to pass the new Teacher Performance Assessment, Educating All Students test, and Academic Literacy Skills Test.

• Candidates who apply for the initial school building leader (SBL) certificate on or before April 30, 2014 and who will have completed all of their requirements by April 30, 2014 will be required to pass the current SBL exam. Candidates who do not complete all requirements (including passing the current SBL exam) by April 30, 2014 will be required to pass the new SBL exam and the Educating All Students Test.

When will the new exams be available?

The Department plans to publish a timetable in spring 2012 at http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/giving the date when each new CST will be available. 

What is going to be covered on the new exams?

To enable program administrators and faculty to adjust their curricula and prepare their candidates to pass the new exams, the Department will post test frameworks that outline in detail the material that each test will cover, as well as the performance standards for each test.  The framework for each new CST will be published well before the first administration date. 

Additional information regarding the new exams and other Department initiatives in educator preparation and certification can be found at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/resources.html

Questions?  Email edcertpolicy@mail.nysed.gov.The Department will periodically publish answers to your Frequently Asked Questions.

Students Graduating in 2014

Anticipated requirements for candidates graduating or applying for certification on or after May 1st, 2014. 

Anticipated requirements for candidates graduating or applying for a certificate on or after May 1, 2014

• All candidates for the Initial teaching certificate may take the current Content Specialty Test in their field.  Candidates who do not pass the current CST prior to implementation of the new CST will have to pass the new CST.  (See “When will the new exams be available,” below.)
• Candidates who apply for their first Initial certificate on or after May 1, 2014—including candidates who will graduate from an approved teacher preparation program on or after May 1, 2014—should not take the LAST or the ATS-W.  These candidates will be required to pass the new Teacher Performance Assessment, Educating All Students test, and Academic Literacy Skills Test. 
• Candidates who apply for the initial SBL certificate on or after May 1, 2014—including candidates who will graduate from an approved SBL preparation program on or after May 1, 2014—should not take the current SBL exam.  These candidates will be required to pass the new SBL exam and the new Educating All Students test.

When will the new exams be available?

The Teacher Performance Assessment will be available in Fall 2012.  The Academic Literacy Skills Test, Educating All Students test, and SBL exam will be available in Fall 2013.  The Department plans to publish a timetable in spring 2012 at http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/giving the date when each new CST will be available. 

What is going to be covered on the new exams?

To enable program administrators and faculty to adjust their curricula and prepare their candidates to pass the new exams, the Department will post test frameworks that outline in detail the material that each test will cover, as well as the performance standards for each test.  During the spring 2012 semester, we plan to post preliminary frameworks and scoring rubrics for the Teacher Performance Assessment, the Academic Literacy Skills test, the Educating All Students test, and the new School Building Leader exam at http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/.  The framework for each new CST will be published well before the first administration date. 

Additional informationregarding the new exams and other Department initiatives in educator preparation and certification can be found at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/resources.html

Questions?  Email edcertpolicy@mail.nysed.gov.The Department will periodically publish answers to your Frequently Asked Questions.

Undergraduate Programs

Graduate Programs

* Program offered through School of Information Studies
** Program offered through College of Arts & Sciences