Certification

Acceptable Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE), Professional Development (PD), or Professional Learning (PL) for the Reissuance of an Initial Certificate

Effective December 31, 2019, “professional learning” replaced “professional development” in the Commissioner’s regulations. Professional Learning (PL) is not the same as Professional Development (PD). PL is any continuing education required under Subpart 80-6 of the Commissioner’s regulations (CTLE regulations) but is not necessarily offered by an NYSED approved CTLE sponsor.

  • Acceptable CTLE and PL is study in the content area of any certificate held or in pedagogy, including study in language acquisition addressing the needs of English language learners. It must be conducted through activities designed to improve the teacher's or leader’s pedagogical and/or leadership skills, targeted at improving student performance, including but not limited to formal CTLE activities. Such activities also promote the professionalization of teaching and educational leadership, as applicable, and are closely aligned to district goals for student performance.
  1. Allowable Activities

  2. Guiding Principles

  3. Suggested Activities

  4. Allowable Providers

  5. Calculating CTLE, PD, or PL Clock Hours for the Initial Reissuance

  6. Verification of CTLE, PD, or PL

  1. Allowable Activities

    Any Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE), Professional Learning (PL), or former Professional Development (PD) activity that you complete must be in the content or pedagogy relevant to your certificate title. If a public school district employs you, CTLE or PL that is part of the district’s PL plan is acceptable. TOP


  2. Guiding Principles
    • CTLE must be from an NYSED approved CTLE sponsor.
    • Subject matter content of a CTLE, PD, or PL activity/experience is clearly connected to student achievement of the NYS Learning Standards.
    • CTLE/PD/PLE results in a demonstrated increase in knowledge and understanding, skillfulness, and professional values.
    • CTLE/PD/PL enables educators to deepen their knowledge base and remain current in their content area and instructional strategies, such as:
      • enhancing subject matter knowledge;
      • application of appropriate teaching techniques;
      • broadening and enhancing abilities to apply more accurate and appropriate assessment methodologies, and;
      • enhancing skills in effectively managing individual students and classrooms in both heterogeneous and homogeneous settings.
    • CTLE/PD/PL activity hours accrue according to the number of clock hours spent in the activity (e.g., in-service workshop, conference session). In the case of credit-bearing college courses, each semester hour of credit is equal to 15 hours of CTLE/PD/PL, and each quarter-hour of credit is equal to 10 hours of CTLE/PD/PL. TOP


  3. Suggested Activities

    The following categories of activities are suggestions for meeting the needs of school districts in building teacher capacity:
    • Collaborating with other teachers to examine case studies of student work and development as part of an approved activity.
    • Participating in courses and other learning opportunities delivered from many providers, such as institutions of higher education, teacher centers, BOCES, school districts and independent professional development service providers.
    • Coursework linked to the improvement of instructional technique or content knowledge, which may or may not be in pursuit of a teaching or advanced teaching degree.
    • Coursework for more advanced certification relevant to your certificate title.
    • Curriculum planning and development.
    • Participating in school-college teacher development partnerships.
    • Serving on CDEP (Comprehensive District Education Plan), DCEP (District Comprehensive Education Plan), CEP (Comprehensive Education Plan), or other school leadership activities or committees.
    • NYSTCE "assessor" or test development committee member.
    • Development of Statewide curriculum. TOP


  4. Allowable Providers
    PL providers and former PD providers do not have to be approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Your employer may provide you with PL, or have provided you with PD in the past, that would be acceptable if it meets the guiding principles. CTLE must be completed through an NYSED approved CTLE sponsor. TOP

  5. Calculating Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) and Professional Development (PD) Hours for Initial Reissuance Applications Dated Prior to December 31, 2019

    For individuals who applied for the Initial Reissuance prior to December 31, 2019, they have the option of completing 75 hours of PD or 50 hours of CTLE or some combination of PD and CTLE that adds up to the 75 hours of PD. 

    When submitting a combination of PD and CTLE, use the PD requirement total of 75 hours and count every hour of CTLE submitted as 1.5 hours toward the 75-hour PD total. 

    One hour of CTLE = 1.5 hours of PD.

    Examples:
    1. The applicant has valid CTLE activity hour certificates of completion totaling 20 hours of CTLE.
      • Calculate the CTLE submission at 1.5 hours per hour for a total of 30.00 hours of PD. 
      • Subtract the 30 hours from the 75 hour total, and that results in an additional 45 hours of PD that would be necessary to satisfy the 75-hour requirement.

        20 hours of CTLE x 1.5 = 30 hours of PD
        75 hours of PD required – 30 PD hours (adjusted from CTLE) = additional 45 PD hours needed

    2. The applicant has valid CTLE activity hour certificates of completion totaling 15 hours of CTLE. 
      • Calculate the CTLE submission at 1.5 hours per hour for a total of 22.50 hours of PD. 
      • Subtract the 22.50 hours from the 75-hour total, and that results in an additional 52.50 hours of PD would be necessary to satisfy the 75-hour requirement.

        15 hours of CTLE x 1.5 = 22.50 hours of PD
        75 hours of PD required – 22.50 PD hours (adjusted from CTLE) = additional 52.50 PD hours neededTOP


  6. Verification of CLTE, PD, and PL

    Verification should be in the form(s) listed in the table below. The number of hours completed within 365 days prior to or the 365 days subsequent to the date of a (paid) application for the Initial Reissuance is submitted and paid for are acceptable. “Volunteer” service does not count toward PD, PL, or CTLE requirements.

    Please note that all verification must show proper identifying information, including your name as it appears on TEACH and either the last four digits of your social security number or your date of birth. For Initial Reissuance questions and guidance, send an email to ctle@nysed.gov. TOP

    Provider

    Verification

    College coursework within certificate area, pedagogy, or language acquisition through an NYSED approved CTLE sponsor CTLE – CTLE Certificate

    All others

    CTLE Certificates for all CTLE. Certificates or letters from providers verifying PD (prior to 12/31/19) or PL (on or after 12/31/19). Submit official, sealed transcripts for coursework from institutes of higher education that are not approved sponsors of CTLE. All submissions must have proper identifying information. See the Submitting Documents webpage for additional guidance.


Last Updated: July 2, 2020