Certification Requirements for Teacher Education
Requirements for an Initial Certificate
Upon successful completion of your program and passing scores on New York State Teacher
Certification Exams (NYSTCE), you will apply for Initial Certification. The Initial
Certification is valid for five years; first year of teaching must be mentored. During this five-year period, you must complete requirements for the professional
certificate. For more information, visit New York State Department of Education’s Certification Requirements FAQs page.
Important Note: New testing requirements for initial certification of teachers and school building leaders are scheduled to be implemented beginning with candidates graduating from NYS educator preparation programs in May 2014. As currently planned, teacher and school building leader candidates graduating in May 2014 or after will need to pass a new set of New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE). For more information on these new requirements, visit the NYS Office of Teacher Certification exam information page.
Steps to Initial Certification
- Completion of all SUNY Plattsburgh’s degree requirements
- Successful completion of all required New York State Teacher Certification Exams. See information below and visit http://www.nystce.nesinc.com
- Completion of a TEACH Waiver Consent Form and the TEACH Online Application for Certification (See “Important Certification Links” below)
- Payment of applicable fees for the TEACH application
- Fingerprinting. Note: a new fingerprint process is in effect on August 3, 2015
- July 10, 2015 is the last day to submit new digital fingerprints (after this date, Livescan locations will no longer have the ability to transmit a new record)
- Please visit New York State Education Department’s Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability for current information about fingerprinting requirements
- U.S. citizenship is not required for initial certification
Requirements for a Professional Certificate
- Master’s degree: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/relatedmasters.htm
- Three years teaching experience — first year of teaching must be mentored
- Renewed every five years with 175 hours of professional development
- Professional certification is available only to citizens and lawfully admitted permanent residents of the United States