IV. Ways to Obtain Teacher Certification. Applying for a certificate

There are a variety of routes or preparation pathways to meet the requirements, to obtain certification and become a New York State certified teacher depending upon your background and preferences.

A certificate may be obtained in one of five ways:

1. Approved Program. A person may complete a teacher education program in a New York college or university and be recommended for a certificate provided that program has been registered by the State Department of Education as leading to the designated certificate. There are more than 2,000 individual programs of preparation in New York. Programs in colleges and universities must give consideration to the certification requirements.

2. Direct Application/ Individual Evaluation. An individual may submit an application, official transcripts of all collegiate study and test scores to the Department. These materials are evaluated in accordance with the pertinent Regulations. If the applicant's preparation, test scores, and moral character satisfy the requirements, the appropriate certificate is issued. If there are deficiencies, the applicant is so informed. This evaluation process for most certification areas is also available through the regional certification offices maintained in the majority of Boards of Cooperative Educational Services; but certificates are issued only by the State Education Department.

3. Interstate Certification. New York has interstate contracts with 40 other states and jurisdictions. A person certified in one of the contract states who meets the conditions of the contract is eligible for conditional certification in New York, until the person meets the New York testing requirements.

4. Northeast Regional Credential. The Northeast Regional Credential does not include all the certificates issued by New York State. Current state participants in the credential include CT, DC, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, and VT. This credential is issued to those who hold a valid teaching certificate in a participating state. The credential is valid in all participating states.

5. National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Anyone who holds a NBPTS certificate qualifies for a regular New York State certificate without completing any NYSTCE examinations. National Board Certification includes a significant program of testing.

Once you have chosen the appropriate pathway, you must:

• complete the requirements for the certificate you choose;

• submit an application, supporting documents, and fee to the New York State Education Department (NYSED).

Applicants seeking certification on the basis of foreign (non-U. S.) credentials must submit the following supporting documents in order to conduct a complete evaluation of the credentials:

1. Original credentials (official transcripts of all college study) or U. S. notarized copies of original credentials. Copies of original credentials must include an original signature and seal from a United States Notary Public on each copied page submitted.

2. U. S. notarized English translations of all credentials must also be provided. Since titles of documents vary from country to country, the following list are examples of some of the documents you may submit for evaluation (please submit all that apply to you):

• Marksheets (e. g. from India, Bangladesh, etc.);

• 12th Level Graduation Marksheets (e. g. from India, Bangladesh, etc.);

• Trained Teacher's Diplomas (e. g. from the West Indies, etc.);

• Student Books (e. g. from Poland, etc.);

• Original College Level Diplomas (with degree and date of conferral noted);

• Original College Level Transcripts (with degree and date of conferral noted).

The Office of Teaching Initiatives evaluates foreign credentials only for those seeking New York State teacher certification. Requests for evaluation of coursework for salary purposes and/or other personal reasons cannot be accommodated. You should address those requests to the agency, institution, or employer directly involved.

Transcripts are not required for all pathways to certification. Specifically, we do not require transcripts for applications submitted through the Approved Program pathway. A recommendation from the college in which you completed your program leading to certification is sufficient.

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