Initial and Professional Certifications How they Function During

Your Career as a Teacher

How to keep certifications active and prevent them from lapsing

Teacher Certification OfficePowdermaker Hall – 135

718-997-5547

First Initial Certification

• Candidates/Students seeking their First Initial Certification must be recommended for Certification through their Institution – Teacher Certification Office

• There are two systems that must have their requirements met in order for the Initial Certification to be issuedo The Institution – Queens College, CUNYo The New York State Department of Education

Components Required by: Queens College, CUNY

• Complete Teacher Preparation Program

• Includes student teaching• Take 5 seminars:

o Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention seminar (www.childabuseworkshop.com)

o School Violence Prevention and Intervention seminar (www.violenceworkshop.com)

o DASA: Harassment, Bullying, and Discrimination seminar

o School Safety seminaro Alcohol and Substance Abuse

seminar

NYS Department of Ed• Fingerprints must be on file

with the State• Take and pass 4 Tests:

o Educating All Students (EAS)o Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST)o Content Specialty Test in the area of

your specialization (CST)o Education Teacher Performance

Assessment Exam (edTPA – connected with your student teaching)

Sign up for the seminars in the Professional & Continuing Studies Department – 718-997-5700

Use the website to sign up for NYSTCE tests: www.nystce.nesinc.com

If a candidate applies for and meets all the requirements for an initial certificate on or before June 30, 2015 (including completing and submitting the edTPA), and the candidates does not receive a satisfactory score on the edTPA, the candidate may meet the requirements for an Initial Certificate, by taking and passing the ATS-W (Assessment of Teaching Skill – Written on the Secondary or Elementary level).- Must take the edTPA first and if he/she fails it can take the ATS-W.- Will not have to retake the edTPA for Initial Certification.- After June 30, 2015 candidates must take, pass and submit the edTPA

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The Candidate/Student must apply for every certification sought.

1. If the Candidate has completed a College Teacher Preparation Program the Institution’s Teacher Certification Office will recommend the person for

certification.2. If the candidate is applying for a

separate certification he/she applies through the individual method in the TEACH system of the NYS Dept. of Ed

• When you have satisfied both the College’s (& the College has recommended you for certification) and the State’s requirements for certification you will be issued your First Initial Certification within a couple of days to a week from the day the College recommends you. (The Initial Certificate is not automatically mailed to you – you must request it on-line using the TEACH system).

• You have 5 years within which you must get a Master’s Degree in a functional relevant field (which leads to teaching), and teach 3 years full-time or the equivalent of 540 days of substitute teaching (or a combination of both).

o It must be substitute teaching because you are responsible for the class – it cannot be a Teacher’s Assistant or Paraprofessional

o Keep a record of the days you have taught in whatever schools you substitute teach – ask for a statement about every 1/2 year. You will have to send proof of substitute teaching to the State when you apply for Professional Certification.

o If you have been unable to teach 3 years full-time or the 540 days of substitute teaching you are able to obtain a 2 year time extension – apply on the TEACH site about 3 to 4 months before your certification expires.

o After the 2 year extension, if you have still not been able to teach 3 years full-time or the 540 days of substitute teaching you are able to apply for an Initial Certificate Reissuance. However, in order to get these extra 5 years you must have your Master’s Degree. complete 75 hours of Professional Development and re-take the CST in your content area.

The Sequential aspects of the First Initial Certification from application & Institutional recommendation

Ways of extending Initial Certification

Time Extension – Initial Certificate Reissuance

Professional Certification:You have taught 3 years or its equivalent and have your Master’s Degree• You are eligible to apply for Professional Certification. You may have accomplished teaching three

years and obtained your Master’s Degree in less than the 5 years allowed, you can still apply for the Professional Certification at this time.

• Professional Certification is not Permanent

• It is a renewable certification every 5 years along with taking 175 hours of Professional Development. When you have Professional Certification go the New York State Education Website – www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert and in the search box query 175 hours of Professional Development – how to keep a paper record for 7 years and what can be used as Professional Development will be delineated.

• You must keep a paper record of the Professional Development for 7 years in case you are audited. When you query this information you will find out what is required to keep the paper trail as well as what can be used for Professional Development.

• When you apply for Professional Certification you must mail up certain documentation to the New York State Department of Education, Office of Teaching Initiatives, 39 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12234:o Send up a copy of your mentored teaching form (from the first year you taught in the school setting) or a

letter if you were not mentored the first year of your teaching with an explanation as to whyo Send up proof that you have taught 3 years full-time (i.e. full-time and part-time experience)o If you are applying through the Individual Pathway make sure you send up original copies of your

transcripts and the original seminars – Child Abuse, School Violence, and DASA: or the Bullying seminar

AFTER THE FIVE YEARS OF THR FIRST PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION, YOU RENEW IT FOR ANOTHER 5 YEARS AND ANOTHER 175 HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS OCCURS THROUHOUT YOUR CAREER