The information in the boxes below describe the types of certificates that
are most commonly sought. A full list of certificates and
licenses can be found after the boxed information.
|
Annotation |
| Description |
Certificate attached
to a regular base certificate, recognizing that the holder has
additional knowledge and/skills beyond the base certificate. Annotations
are not required and are not-free standing. |
| Validity |
Valid as long as the base certificate remains valid. |
|
Extension (subject) |
| Description |
Certificate attached
to a regular base certificate, authorizing the holder to teach an
additional student population, grade, or subject not authorized by the
base certificate. Extensions are not free-standing, they may be attached
to multiple base certificates. |
| Validity |
Valid as long as the base
certificate remains valid. |
|
|
Conditional Initial |
| Description |
First-level certificate for
classroom teachers issued to individuals holding a teaching certificate
in the same or equivalent title from a state party to the Interstate Reciprocity
Agreement, but who have not yet met the NYS testing requirement. The certificate
holder has up to two years to meet the testing requirements to qualify
for an Initial certificate. The Conditional Initial certificate becomes available for School Building Leaders as of September 1, 2007. |
| Validity |
Valid for two years. |
| Leads to |
Initial Certificate |
|
|
Level I Teaching Assistant Certificate |
| Description |
Entry-level certificate for
teacher assistants. (Permits the holder to provide direct instructional
services to students under the general supervision of a licensed or certified
teacher.) |
| Validity |
Valid for three years, with the possibility
of renewal for three additional years to meet the experience requirement for
the Level II teaching assistant certificate. |
| Leads to |
Level II Teaching Assistant Certificate |
|
|
Level II Teaching Assistant Certificate |
| Description |
Second-level certificate for
teaching assistants. (Permits the holder to provide direct instructional
services to students under the general supervision of a licensed or certified
teacher.) |
| Validity |
Valid for three years and not renewable.
Leads to the Level III Teaching Assistant certificate. |
|
|
Level III Teaching Assistant Certificate |
| Description |
Third-level certificate for
teaching assistants. (Permits the holder to provide direct instructional
services to students under the general supervision of a licensed or certified
teacher.) |
| Validity |
Continuously valid with completion
of the required professional development hours every five years. (The five-year
professional development cycles begin on July 1 following the issuance date
of the certificate.) |
|
|
Pre-Professional Teaching Assistant Certificate |
| Description |
Advanced-level certificate
for teaching assistants. (Permits the holder to provide direct instructional
services to students under the general supervision of a licensed or certified
teacher.) |
| Validity |
Valid for five years; may be renewed
with matriculation in a teacher preparation program and completion of 30
semester hours of collegiate study. |
|
|
Continuing Certificate as a Teaching Assistant |
| Description |
Certificate issued to permit the continued
employment of an individual who has completed one year of experience under
a temporary license and who has six semester hours of study in education.
(Permits the holder to provide direct instructional services to students
under the general supervision of a licensed or certified teacher.) |
| Validity |
Continuously valid, except when the holder has not been
regularly employed in the public schools for five consecutive years, in
which case the certificate lapses. |
|
|
Internship Certificate |
| Description |
Certificate issued to a student
in a registered or approved graduate teacher education program,
permitting the holder to serve an internship in a public school. Issued
at the request of the college or university, provided that the student
has completed one-half of the program's semester hour requirement and has guaranteed employment in a school district. This certificate is maintained electronically in the TEACH system, no actual paper certificate is generated. |
| Validity |
Valid for two years and not
renewable. |
|
|
Statement of Continuing Eligibility (SOCE) |
| Description |
Credential for individuals whose teaching
predates certification requirements in the subjects taught. With the
establishment of certification requirements in those subjects, the SOCE
provides a credential that allows these individuals to continue teaching
in the noted areas.
Effective September 1, 2004, individuals teaching classes in theater or
in subjects or classes using American Sign Language as the instructional
medium must have a certificate in these titles or the SOCE. As of
September 1, 2006, individuals teaching in gifted and talented programs
must hold the certificate in that title or the SOCE. For detailed
requirements, go to the
Search
Certification Requirements feature. For "Theater," choose "Classroom
Teachers," and for "Gifted Education" and "American Sign Language"
choose "Other Extensions." The SOCE is transferable from one New York
State school district to another. |
| Validity |
Valid for life, unless revoked
for cause by the New York State Education Department. |
|
|
Supplementary Certificate |
| Description |
Certificate issued to already-certified
classroom teachers to enable them to teach in a different subject area
where a shortage exists. Candidates for the Supplementary certificate
must meet certain semester hour and test prerequisites and have a
commitment from the employing school for appropriate support while
transitioning to the new subject area. |
| Validity |
Valid for three years while
completing requirements for the Initial certificate in the new subject
area. Applicants must apply by September 1, 2009. |
| Leads to |
Initial Certificate |
|
|
Transitional A |
| Description |
Classroom teaching certificate issued to a school district
to permit the employment of an individual in a specific career and technical
education title (in agriculture, health, or a trade) who does not meet the
requirements for an Initial certificate, but who possesses the requisite
occupational experience. |
| Validity |
Valid for 3 years. |
| Leads to |
Initial Certificate |
|
|
Transitional B |
| Description |
First-level teaching certificate
issued to a school district to permit the employment of an individual who
is enrolled in an alternative teacher certification program. The Transitional
B is tied to the school placement. Issued in classroom teaching titles. This certificate is maintained electronically in the TEACH system, no actual paper certificate is generated. |
| Validity |
Valid for 3 years while the individual
is matriculated in an alternative program. |
| Leads to |
Either the Provisional or Initial certificate,
depending on its issue date. |
|
|
Transitional C |
| Description |
First teaching certificate
issued to a school district to permit the employment of an individual who
is enrolled in an alternative graduate teacher certification program at
the graduate level. Issued in classroom teaching titles. This certificate is maintained electronically in the TEACH system, no actual paper certificate is generated. |
| Validity |
Valid for 3 years while the individual
is matriculated in an alternative program. |
| Leads to |
Professional Certificate |
|
| Transitional
D |
| Description |
First level school district leader certificate issued
to a school district to permit the employment of an individual who
is enrolled in an alternative school district leader certification
program at the graduate level. Issued in "School District Leader" title
only. |
| Validity |
Valid for 3 years while the individual is matriculated
in an alternative program. |
| Leads to |
Professional Certificate |
|
Exchange Permit |
| Description |
Permit issued to a
national of a foreign country to teach in New York State, while a New
York State certified classroom teacher teaches in the foreign national's
country of citizenship. |
| Validity |
Valid for one year and renewable
for an additional year. |
|
|
Adult, Community, and Continuing Education |
| Description |
At the request of a superintendent of schools, a
certificate issued to an individual appropriately qualified to
teach adult, community, and continuing, education classes to
individuals who are not registered day students of the district.
Go to Adult, Community, and Continuing Education
for more information. |
| Validity |
Valid for three years and may be
renewed for three years. |
|
|
Coaching License |
| Description |
At the request of a superintendent
of schools, a license specific to the activity being coached issued to a person appropriately qualified when documented evidence shows
there to be no qualified and certified teacher available to coach the activity.
Requests for coaching licenses are submitted to, and licenses are issued
by BOCES Regional Certification Office
only. Go to Coaching License for more
information. |
| Validity |
Valid for one year. After
three years of coaching in a specific sport under a temporary coaching
license, an individual may apply to the Office of Elementary, Middle
secondary and Continuing Education through a BOCES Regional Office for a
renewable certificate to coach that sport. Go to
Professional
Coaching Certificate for more information. |
|
|
Permit authorizing service in an area for which no certificate
exists |
| Description |
At the request of a superintendent
of schools, a permit issued enabling a school district to employ
a qualified person for a position for which no certificate title exits,
e.g., teacher of Native American language and/or culture, teacher of Junior
Reserve Officer Training Corps, etc. |
| Validity |
Valid for two years and renewable
for five -year periods. |
|
|
Visiting Lecturer |
| Description |
At the request of a superintendent of schools, a license issued to an individual
who has unusual qualifications in a specific subject to supplement the regular
program of instruction. |
| Validity |
Valid for one year. |
