certification > preparation pathways

Individual Evaluation of U.S. Credentials

Notice of Individual Evaluation Deadline

If you satisfy those requirements, the State Education Department will issue the appropriate certificate.  If you do not qualify, we will provide a detailed written evaluation that lists the remaining requirements you need to meet in order to receive the specified certificate.  Below are links to the information that can be found on this page.

• Evaluation through Regional Certification Offices
• "One Evaluation" Policy
• Satisfaction of Unmet Requirements
• Retention of Records
• Applying for a Certificate

Evaluation through Regional Certification Offices
Individual evaluation (in most certificate areas) is also available through any of the Regional Certification Offices  located at Boards of Cooperative Educational Services throughout New York State.  A limited number of Regional Certification Offices have staff who are available to meet with and advise applicants, and they provide expedited processing of applications.  Applications submitted through the Regional Certification Offices are forwarded for review by the State Education Department.  Regional Offices accept applications ONLY from those living within the office's jurisdiction or employed by one of its member school distircts.

"One Evaluation" Policy
We provide only ONE evaluation of credentials per application.   Your application must be complete and include all required documentation to receive an evaluation.

Satisfaction of Unmet Requirements
If you have not met all requirements for a certificate, you should complete all remaining course, assessment, and/or experience requirements first, and then submit the necessary orginal transcripts and other documentation at ONE time.  Please leave transcripts in sealed envelopes from teh colelge. Please include a cover letter stating that all unmet requirements have been completed and request that your certificate be issued.  Additional documentation should be submitted directly to the Office of Teaching Initiatives.

Please DO NOT SUBMIT INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENTS AS YOU COMPLETE EACH REQUIREMENT.  Documentation submitted without a cover letter attesting to completion of ALL requirements may not be evaluated.

• Credit by Examination:  Some of the coursework requirements may be satisfied by examination. Credit earned through examination is acceptable toward certification only if it does not duplicate college credit completed. Two options are the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) (1-800-257-9558) and Excelsior College (518-464-8500). CLEP offers exams that apply to the requirements for English, math, science, social studies, and languages other than English, as well as professional education.  Excelsior College offers exams which satisfy requirements for professional education.

• Distance Learning:  Some of the coursework requirements maybe satisfied by correspondence courses and courses offered on the internet. For details, go to Distance Learning .

Retention of Records
The Office of Teaching Initiatives retains paper records for three years.  If you take longer than three years to complete the requirements for your certificate, you must submit an Application Update (PDF) (no additional fee required), original college transcripts, and other supporting documentation.  Therefore, we suggest you retain copies of all documents you submit.