Certification

Applicants from Other States (Interstate Reciprocity)

TEACH Online ServicesApplicants who hold a certificate from another state, or who have completed an approved program that would lead to a teaching certificate in another state, may be eligible for a certificate through interstate reciprocity.

Options for Certification

Options Requirements Leads to... Validity
Possess a Comparable Certificate from Another StateA comparable certificate requires one of the following:
  1. The completion of an approved teacher education program that is comparable to New York State requirements
  2. Three years of satisfactory teaching experience, within the previous seven years, under an acceptable certificate.*List of Acceptable Level Certificates
  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Valid Level II certificate in a comparable title
  • Fingerprint Clearance
 Conditional Initial Certificate

 2 Years
  • During the two years you must satisfy the examination requirements for a regular Initial certificate.
  • Upon completion of the testing requirements, an Initial certificate will be issued.
  • The initial certificate will be valid for five years from the effective date of the conditional Initial certificate.

How to Apply
Do Not Possess a Certificate from Another State, but Completed an Approved Teacher Education Program in Another State The program must be comparable to a New York State teacher preparation program and lead to Certification in the state in which the college or university resides.*
  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Completion of an Approved Program
  • LAST
  • ATSW
  • CST (subject specific)
  • Fingerprint Clearance
 Initial Certificate 5 YearsHow to Apply

* Applicants who completed an approved teacher preparation program at a New York State College or University, and possess a comparable certificate in another state, are required to have three years of teaching experience if they wish to receive a certificate through interstate reciprocity.



Specific Information Regarding:

  • Applicants Who Possess Special Education Certificate from Another State: New York State certificates in special education are issued in the following certificate titles:

    Students with Disabilities (Birth – Grade 2)
    Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6)
    Students with Disabilities (Grades 5-9 Generalist)
    Students with Disabilities (Grades 5-9 + Content)*
    Students with Disabilities (Grades 7-12 + Content)*

    *An applicant who does not hold a certificate in a content core area (i.e. Mathematics, English, Biology, etc.) can not receive the Students with Disabilities + Content certificates. How to Apply

  • Pupil Personnel Certification for Applicants from Other States: (School Social Worker, School Psychologist, School Counselor, School Nursing, School Dental Hygiene, School Attendance)

    Since there are no testing requirements for Pupil Personnel certificates, applicants who are eligible for Certification via interstate reciprocity will receive a Provisional certificate. A Provisional certificate is valid for 5 years, during which the applicant must complete the requirements for Permanent Certification. How to Apply

    Leadership Certification for Applicants from Other States

  • Certificate Endorsements:

    In many cases, endorsements in additional subject titles from another state do not satisfy the requirements for reciprocity because they are not comparable certificates. A comparable certificate requires the completion of an approved teacher education program that is comparable to New York State requirements or satisfactory teaching experience for three of the previous seven years under the certificate. How to Apply

  • Alternative Programs:

    Applicants who have completed alternative teacher preparation programs in other states are required to have at least three years of full-time teaching experience under the certificate. How to Apply

  • Certificates from Other Countries: If you have a teaching certificate from another country, please submit a copy of the certificate along with original, or original notarized copies of transcripts (records of courses completed) of all college-level coursework completed. Office of Teaching Initiatives Comparative Education staff will review the programs you completed and the certificate for comparability to an approved program in New York State in that subject. How to Apply

  • Progressing from Initial to Professional Certification: Candidates issued Initial certificates must still satisfy all graduate degree, experience, and workshop requirements for the Professional certificate. Professional Certification in most titles requires a master's degree, and three years full-time experience, the first year of which must include mentored experience. The requirement for mentored experience is waived if the candidate has two or more years of teaching before the issuance of the Conditional Initial certificate.

    *Applicants already holding Initial Certification must select the "Certificate Progression" pathway when applying for Professional Certification. How to Apply

How to Apply

  • To apply online, click TEACH Online Services .

  • Upon completion of your application, apply for fingerprinting online using your TEACH account.
    • For information about the fingerprint process go to the Fingerprinting web page.

  • Contact the registrar's office of each college/university you attended and ask that they submit official transcripts to this office.

  • If applicable, mail a copy of your valid out-of-state certificate to:

    Office of Teaching Initiatives
    New York State Education Department
    89 Washington Ave, 5N EB
    Albany, New York 12234

 

Last Updated: August 26, 2009