Certification Programs
Certification information is specific to current, former and prospective SUNY Plattsburgh students.
All others seeking general certification information, please refer to the NYS Education Department Office of Teaching Initiatives and/or Certification Start to Finish.
Steps to Certification
To view the steps needed for specific certificates, see program checklists with with program codes below.
Important note: Securing and maintaining certification credentials are the personal and professional responsibility of each teacher, administrator and school psychologist. It is your responsibility to stay current regarding changes to certification or program requirements. Regular contact with your advisor, careful reading of resources and thoughtful organization of credentialing materials are all essential to having a successful certification experience.
Current & Prospective Students
- Academic Preparation & Completion of an Approved Program
These programs are accredited and lead to New York state certification:
- Adolescence Education Combined Program, B.A./M.S.T.
- biology, chemistry, earth science, English, mathematics, physics, social studies, Spanish
- Adolescence Education, M.S.T.
- biology, chemistry, earth science, English, French, mathematics, physics, social studies, Spanish
- Childhood Education, B.S.
- Childhood Education, M.S.T.
- School Building Leader, C.A.S.
- School District Leader, Graduate Certificate
- School Psychologist, M.A./C.A.S.
- Special Education and Childhood Education Combined Program, B.S./M.S.Ed.
- Special Education, M.S.Ed.
- Birth – Grade 2, Birth – Grade 6, Grades 1–6, Grades 7–12
- Special Education Grade 7–12, Graduate Certificate
- Speech Language Pathologist (teacher certification), M.A.
Important note: These programs require an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. If applicants have concerns about this matter please contact the dean’s office of the intended academic program.
- Adolescence Education Combined Program, B.A./M.S.T.
- Sign the TEACH Waiver Consent Form
The TEACH Waiver Consent form must be signed in order to receive an Institutional Recommendation. Graduates who did not e-sign the TEACH Waiver Consent form while they were a student must contact the director of certification.
Log into MyPlattsburgh > Student Tab > Helpful Links > TEACH Waiver Consent Form
- Create a TEACH Account
- Create a TEACH account with the New York State Education Department
- Avoid these common errors, which lead to delays and additional expense
- Only create a TEACH account once. If you believe you have multiple accounts, contact NYSED: [email protected]
- Consistently use the same spelling of your name on all tests, documents and your TEACH account (ie. use of middle initial, hyphens, post-nominals (Jr, III), etc.)
- Fingerprinting
- To confirm that your fingerprints are in TEACH
- Log in to TEACH > Account Information > Fingerprinting > Go
- Look for this statement: Your DCJS and FBI results have been received
- To get fingerprinted, go to MorphoTrust/IDEMIA (Identogo) Use service code 14ZGQT.
- If you have already been fingerprinted for employment or internship in:
- The N.Y. City School District, you do not need to get fingerprinted again. Instead, complete OSPRA Form 104 and NYCBOE will forward your record to NYSED.
- A public school NOT in the N.Y. City School District, you should not need to be fingerprinted again. To confirm this, verify that your fingerprints are in your TEACH account (see above).
- Any agency that is not a public school, you need to be fingerprinted again through MorphoTrust/IDEMIA
- To confirm that your fingerprints are in TEACH
- New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCEs)
Visit NYSTCE for detailed information, including preparation materials, and to register for the exams. Exams are listed here by program.
Important note: NYSTCE tests are certification requirements, NOT degree completion requirements (EXCEPTION school district leader, see below*). NYSTCEs are listed here by program for convenience only.
- Adolescence Education Combined Program, B.A./M.S.T.
- CST in the content area: biology, chemistry, earth science, English, mathematics, physics, social studies, Spanish
- EAS
- Adolescence Education, M.S.T.
- CST in the content area: biology, chemistry, earth science, English, French, mathematics, physics, social studies, Spanish
- EAS
- Childhood Education, B.S.
- CST: Multi-subject: Childhood Grades 1–6: Parts 1, 2 and 3
- EAS
- Childhood Education, M.S.T.
- CST: Multi-subject: Childhood Grades 1–6: Parts 1, 2 and 3
- EAS
- School Building Leader, C.A.S.
- School Building Leader (Revised September, 2013): Parts 1 and 2
- EAS
- *School District Leader, Graduate Certificate
- *School District Leader: Parts 1 and 2 (*required for program completion)
- EAS
- School Psychologist, M.A./C.A.S.
- No NYSTCE tests required
- Special Education and Childhood Education Combined Program, B.S./M.S.Ed.
- CST: Multi-subject: Childhood Grades 1–6: Parts 1, 2 and 3
- CST: Multi-subject: Early Childhood: Parts 1 and 2 (Part 3 is the same test for childhood and early childhood. It only needs to be taken once)
- CST: Students With Disabilities
- EAS
- Special Education Birth – Grade 2, M.S.Ed.
- CST: Multi-subject: Early Childhood Grades B–2: Parts 1, 2 and 3 (Part 3 is the same test for adolescence, childhood and early childhood. It only needs to be taken once)
- CST: Students With Disabilities (needed for first SWD certificate only)
- Special Education Birth – Grade 6, M.S.Ed.
- CST: Multi-subject: Childhood Grades 1–6: Parts 1, 2 and 3
- CST: Multi-subject: Early Childhood: Parts 1 and 2 (Part 3 is the same test for Adolescence, Childhood and Early Childhood. It only needs to be taken once)
- CST: Students With Disabilities (needed for first SWD certificate only)
- Special Education Grades 1–6, M.S.Ed.
- CST: Multi-subject: Childhood Grades 1–6: Parts 1, 2 and 3 (Part 3 is the same test for adolescence, childhood and early childhood. It only needs to be taken once)
- CST: Students With Disabilities (needed for first SWD certificate only)
- Special Education Grades 7–12 Generalist, M.S.Ed.
- CST: Multi-subject: Secondary Grades 7–12: Parts 1, 2 and 3 (Part 3 is the same test for adolescence, childhood and early childhood. It only needs to be taken once)
- CST: Students With Disabilities
- EAS (needed for first certificate only)
- Special Education Grades 7-12 Generalist, Graduate Certificate
- CST: Multi-subject: Secondary Grades 7–12: Parts 1, 2 and 3 (Part 3 is the same test for adolescence, childhood and early childhood. It only needs to be taken once)
- CST: Students With Disabilities (needed for first certificate only)
- Speech Language Pathologist, M.A.
- EAS
- Adolescence Education Combined Program, B.A./M.S.T.
- Workshops
Workshops are embedded in SUNY Plattsburgh coursework and will appear on official transcripts only. They will not appear in TEACH. Employers can verify workshop completion via transcripts.
- Child Abuse Identification
- School Violence Intervention and Prevention
- Dignity For All Students Act (DASA)
- Autism (for Students With Disabilities certificates only)
- Internship Certificates
For paid internships in SBL and SDL ONLY
An internship certificate is necessary if your internship is one in which you are being hired and paid to fulfill the responsibilities of a position requiring certification. If your Internship is a paid position, you must have an Internship certificate.
- Institutional Recommendation
Important Note: The TEACH Waiver Consent form must be signed in order to receive an Institutional Recommendation. Graduates who did not e-sign the TEACH Waiver Consent form while they were a student must contact the director of certification.
The institutional recommendation will be made four weeks after graduation. To facilitate the timely issuance of your certificate, apply and pay for the certificate and complete all other certification requirements before the recommendation is made. This will allow your certificate to be issued 24–48 hours after being recommended.
Institutional recommendations may be expedited ONLY if you have been offered a position in your certification area. Contact the director of certification for more information ONLY if you have been offered a job that requires certification AND starts before the recommendation will be made.
- Apply & Pay for the Certificate
- Apply and pay for the certificate through your TEACH account
- Locate the certification checklist for your degree/program. It includes the program code needed to complete the application
- Applications become active upon payment and remain active for three years
- Apply and pay for the certificate through your TEACH account
- Certification Checklists with Program Codes
Speech Language Pathology
Teacher Education Programs
- Adolescence Education Combined Program, B.A./M.S.T.
- Adolescence Education, M.S.T.
- M.S.T. Biology (main campus)
- M.S.T. Biology (branch campus)
- M.S.T. Chemistry (main campus)
- M.S.T. Chemistry (branch campus)
- M.S.T. Earth Science (main campus)
- M.S.T. Earth Science (branch campus)
- M.S.T. English (main campus)
- M.S.T. English (branch campus)
- M.S.T. Mathematics (main campus)
- M.S.T. Mathematics (branch campus)
- M.S.T. Physics (main campus)
- M.S.T. Physics (branch campus)
- M.S.T. Social Studies (main campus)
- M.S.T. Social Studies (branch campus)
- M.S.T. Spanish (main campus)
- M.S.T. Spanish (branch campus)
- Childhood Education, B.S.
- Childhood Education, M.S.T.
- School Building Leader, C.A.S.
- School District Leader, Graduate Certificate
- School Psychologist, M.A./C.A.S.
- Special Education and Childhood Education Combined Program, B.S./M.S.Ed.
- Special Education Birth – Grade 2, M.S.Ed.
- Special Education Birth – Grade 6, M.S.Ed.
- Special Education Grades 1–6, M.S.Ed.
- Special Education Grades 7–12 Generalist, M.S.Ed.
- Special Education Grades 7–12 Generalist, Graduate Certificate
- Adolescence Education Combined Program, B.A./M.S.T.
Alumni
- Pursuing Additional Certificates
Once you have been issued at least one NYS teaching certificate, you may wish to apply for additional certificates. To do so, you will need to apply for additional certificates through your TEACH account. Be sure to check what the specific requirements are for the additional certificate you are pursuing at the NYS Department of Education Office of Teaching Initiatives website.
In the drop downs you will chose:
- Select Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
- Select a Subject Area: This is dependent on the certification you are applying for
- Select a Grade Level: This is dependent on the certification you are applying for
- Select a Title: This is dependent on the certification you are applying for
- Select a Type of Certificate: Initial
Be sure to click on the “area of interest” and “type of certificate” links on the form. This will give you detailed information regarding requirements.
Examples of additional certificates include (but are not limited to):
- I have Early Childhood (B-2) and want to add Childhood (Grades 1-6) Certification
- I have Early Childhood (B-2) and want to add SWD Early Childhood (B-2) Certification
- I have Childhood (Grades 1-6) and want to add Early Childhood (B-2) Certification
- I have Childhood (Grades 1-6) and want to add Content Area Grade 7-12 Certification
- I have Childhood (Grades 1-6) and want to add SWD 1-6 Certification
- I have SWD (Grades 1-6) and want to add SWD B-2 Certification
- I have SWD (Grades 1-6) and want to add SWD Grades 7-12 Generalist Certification
- I have a valid NYS certificate and want to add SWD Grades 7-12 Generalist Certification
- I have certification in one of the Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, or Physics) and want to add the General Science Extension
- I have certification in one of the Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, or Physics) and want to add another Science Subject Grades 7-12 Classroom Certification
- I have an Emergency COVID-19 Certificate and want to add an Additional Emergency COVID-19 Certificate before my first initial certificate has issued
Please note that certification requirements are subject to change at any time and without notice.
- To apply: go to www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach
- Log on to TEACH with your username and password
- Click on “TEACH Online Services” Click on “Apply for Certificate”
- Make selections from drop boxes to select certificate title
- Initial Certificate
- Answer no to question regarding approved teacher prep program (you will not need a program code)
- Answer no to question regarding a teaching certificate in another state if you received your education in NYS
- Answer no to question regarding initial to professional certification (this question doesn’t always appear)
- Your pathway should be: Additional Classroom Teaching Certificate
- Select BOCES to process your application
- Select the school district in which you live or teach (this will direct your application to the appropriate BOCES Office)
- Submit application fee ($100 per certificate title online using a credit card)
- Send college transcripts. Please read through NYSED’s policy for transcript submission
Learn More
FAQs
Paper certificates are NOT printed for time-limited certificates (initial, provisional or internship). Paper certificates are printed only for permanent and professional certificates and will be mailed by NYSED 8–14 weeks after issuance.