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Certification

Undergraduate and graduate programs at Syracuse University that include certification will lead to New York State Certification – typically Initial, Professional, or both.

Questions?

Lauren Schmidt, Career and Certification Counselor
lcschmid@syr.edu|315.443.2956
Lauren Schmidt

Quick Links & Forms

Types of Certifications and Requirements

Teacher Certification
Educational Leadership CAS Certifications
School Counselor

Includes special education, literacy education, and subject-specific areas like social studies and English

Initial Certification is the first certification, and is effective for five years from the issuance date. Requirements to apply:

  • Completion of a School of Education undergraduate or graduate teacher preparation program.
  • Finger printing process should be completed at least two months prior to graduation.
  • Apply for certification before graduation and no later than two years after graduation to be eligible for School of Education’s recommendation through the TEACH Online Services.
  • Submit an authorization recommendation form to the Certification Coordinator to receive an institutional recommendation.
  • Pass certification-specific New York State certification exams.

Professional Teacher Certification is permanent certification that must be earned before initial certification expires. Requirements to apply:

  • Completion of an eligible master’s degree:
    • Leading to professional certification in area of initial certification.
    • In a new certification area.
    • In an unrelated area of study with at least 12 graduate credit hours of content related to the initial certificate (can be part of the Master’s or in addition to it).
  • Complete three years full-time teaching employment.
  • Mentorship experience.
  • Note: Professional certificate holders must register with the department of education every five years to maintain certification and teach in New York State.

Includes School Building Leader (SBL) and School District Leader (SDL) certificates

Internship Certification (SBL and SDL) is for students in the educational leadership program who are entering the internship phase. Requirements to apply:

  • Must be enrolled in and have completed at least 15 credits of the Educational Leadership CAS
  • Registration in the internship course and an internship site with a corresponding start-date (see your advisor for more information).
  • Complete Dignity For All Students Act (DASA) workshop (part of EDA 762)
  • Finger printing process completed.
  • Submit an authorization recommendation form to the Certification Coordinator to receive an institutional recommendation.

Initial Certification (SBL only) is effective for 5 years from the issuance date and must be earned before internship certification expires. Requirements to apply:

  • Completion of the School of Education’s Educational Leadership CAS program.
  • Finger printing process should be completed at least two months prior to graduation.
  • Pass New York State certification exams: School Building Leader Assessment (SBL) parts 1 and 2 and Educating All Students (EAS).
  • Submit an authorization recommendation form to the Certification Coordinator to receive an institutional recommendation.
  • Complete three years full-time teaching or other school specialist employment.

Professional Certification: School District Leader (SDL) is permanent certification that must be earned before internship certification expires. Requirements to apply:

  • Completion of the School of Education’s Educational Leadership CAS program (30 graduate credits; candidates must request transcripts from all institutions be sent to NYSED).
  • Pass New York State certification exams: School District Leader Assessment (SDL) parts 1 and 2.
  • Submit an authorization recommendation form to the Certification Coordinator to receive an institutional recommendation.
  • Complete three years full-time teaching or other school specialist employment.
  • Citizenship status confirmation.

Professional Certification: School Building Leader (SBL) is permanent certification that must be earned before initial certification expires. Requirements to apply:

  • Complete three years full-time admin employment (at least one year of School Building Leader experience and mentored experience).
  • Citizenship status confirmation.

Provisional School Counselor Certification is the first New York State certificate and is valid for five years from the issuance date. Requirements to apply:

  • Completion of School of Education approved School Counselor education program.
  • Finger printing process should be completed at least two months prior to graduation.

Permanent School Counselor Certification is permanent certification that must be earned before initial certification expires. Requirements to apply:

  • Two years paid, full-time school counselor employment.

Required New York State Teacher Certification Exams

Visit the Office of Teaching Initiatives to see which exams you are required to take, which will generally include the edTPA, the Educating All Students test (EAS), and a Content Specialty Test (CST) or School Building Leader assessment (SBL). The NYS Teacher Certification Examinations website has information on test framework, prep and study materials, and registration.

Applying for Certification

If at any point you receive a message stating you have not updated your information, press submit a second time without making any changes. The system should move you onto the next step.

  1. Speak with your academic advisor to ensure your degree will be cleared on time.
  2. Create an account with NYS TEACH Online Services
  3. Select “Apply for Certificate”
  4. Create an Applicant Profile & complete the self-reported education section:
    • Institution: Syracuse University
    • Award Title: Degree to be awarded (e.g. Bachelor of Science)
    • Program Title & TEACH Title: Select appropriate option from drop down list
    • Program Code: Refer to program code list for 5-digit program code
    • Major: Education
    • Date Degree Received: leave blank or enter approximate date
    • Date Attended From: First day of the month you began your degree/program
    • Date Attended To: First day of the month you graduate
    • Number of credits: Leave blank or enter anticipated number of credits (it is okay if you don’t
      know the exact number)
  5. Select Certificate(s). You can only apply for one certificate at a time. If you are applying for/receiving two certificates, apply first for the certificate in which you are completing your
    edTPA. For Example: An Inclusive Elementary and Special Education student completes their edTPA in Special Education. Therefore, they must apply for the “Student with Disabilities” certification first.

    • Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
    • Subject Area, Grade Level, and Title: Select appropriate option from drop down list
    • Type of Certificate: Initial (first certificate) or Professional (3 years teaching experience)
    • Click the ADD button.
      Note: TEACH will not allow you to apply for more than one certificate at a time. Complete the process below for your first certificate, including payment, and return to your TEACH Account Homepage to go through the process again for your additional certificate.
  6. Select Pathway: After you select your certificate title and type, you will see a list of “Pathways” with associated requirements. You must choose the approved teacher preparation program pathway to match our recommendation for your certification.
  7. Complete your application: Continue through the application answering all required questions; sign the affidavit and application; make your payment.
  8. Complete a Certification Recommendation Request Form and submit to the School of Education certification office. Candidates must submit their Institutional Recommendation request form to the career services and certification office after the degree award date has posted to their transcript (typically 4-6 weeks after graduation). Institutional recommendation is required for all students that apply for New York State certification.

Out-of-State Teacher Certification

Each state has specific teacher certification requirements for people applying for certification that already hold certification in New York State. Students seeking out-of-state teacher certification are encouraged to research the state’s requirements and contact Career Services for additional assistance throughout the process, and completion of any required forms.

If the out-of-state certification application requires the candidate to submit a form that verifies completion of an approved educator preparation program, send the form, with the original instructions (indicating where to return the form, once completed) to the career services and certification advisor at soecareer@syr.edu. We can make this verification of program completion only after the degree award date has posted to their transcript (typically 4-6 weeks after graduation)

Certifications & Program Codes by Program

Undergraduate Programs

Program Name Certification Area TEACH Program Code
Arts Education Visual Arts (All Grades) 24348
English Education English Language Arts (Grades 7-12) 22883
Health and Physical Education Health Education (All Grades) and
Physical Education (All Grades)
24347
Inclusive Early Childhood Special Education Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2) and
Students with Disabilities (Birth-Grade 2)
32386
Inclusive Elementary and Special Education Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) and
Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6)
43637
Mathematics Education Mathematics (Grades 7-12) 22881
Music Education Music (All Grades) 24346
Physical Education Physical Education (All Grades) 34370
Science Education/Biology Biology (Grades 7-12) 22884
Science Education/Chemistry Chemistry (Grades 7-12) 22885
Science Education/Earth Science Earth Science (Grades 7-12) 22886
Science Education/Physics Physics (Grades 7-12) 22887
Social Studies Education Social Studies (Grades 7-12) 22882
Spanish Education Spanish (Grades 7-12) 36257

Graduate Programs

Program Name Certification Area TEACH Program Code
Arts Education Preparation M.S. Visual Arts (All Grades) 27434
Arts Education Professional M.S. Visual Arts (All Grades) 29505
Early Childhood Special Education M.S. Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2) and
Students with Disabilities (Birth-Grade 2)
 25085
Educational Leadership C.A.S. School Building Leader and School District Leader 28965
English Education Preparation M.S. English Language Arts (Grades 7-12) 27426
Inclusive Special Education Preparation
(Grades 1-6) M.S.
Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6) 27423
Inclusive Special Education Preparation
(Grades 7-12) M.S.
Students with Disabilities (Grades 7-12) 34587
Inclusive Special Education Preparation
(Grades 7-12 Generalist) M.S.
Students with Disabilities (Grades 7-12) 27424
Inclusive Special Education Preparation
(Grades 7-12 Generalist) M.S.
Students with Disabilities (Grades 7-12) 35150
Inclusive Special Education:
Severe/Multiple Disabilities M.S.
Severe & Multiple Disabilities Annotation
(on existing certification)
31908
Library & Info Science: School Media M.S.
(School of Information Sciences)
Library Media Specialist (All Grades) 27274
Literacy Education (Birth-Grade 12) M.S. Literacy (Birth-Grade 6) and
Literacy (Grades 5-12)
36788
Mathematics Education Preparation M.S. Mathematics Grades (7-12) 27427
Music Education Preparation M.S. Music (All Grades) 27432
Music Education Professional Certification M.S. Music (All Grades) 29506
Music Education Professional Certification M.Mus. Music (All Grades) 29507
School Counseling M.S. School Counselor P-12 41620
School Counseling C.A.S. School Counselor K-12 (Permanent) 13861
School District Business Leadership C.A.S. School District Business Leader 33795
Science/Biology Preparation M.S. Biology (Grades 7-12) 27428
Science/Chemistry Preparation M.S. Chemistry (Grades 7-12) 27429
Science/Earth Science Preparation M.S. Earth Science (Grades 7-12) 27430
Science/Physics Preparation M.S. Physics (Grades 7-12) 27431
Social Studies Preparation M.S. Social Studies (Grades 7-12) 27425
Speech-Language Pathology M.S.
(College of Arts and Sciences)
Speech & Language Disabilities (All Grades) 27392
Teaching English Language Learners M.S. (existing certification in another area) English to Speakers of Other Languages (All Grades) 32209
Teaching English Language Learners M.S. (first certification) English to Speakers of Other Languages (All Grades) 36939