topics a-z

Distance Learning

More and more the option of meeting educational goals through distance-learning coursework seems to fit today’s busy lifestyle. The Office of Teaching Initiatives does not endorse any distance-learning program or college. However, qualifying on-line programs and coursework may be considered under the transcript evaluation pathway. There are several ways to protect the investment that you make in on-line courses to improve the probability that such coursework will be acceptable toward a teaching certificate.

If you plan to complete a distance learning teacher education program to obtain a certificate in New York State, you need to keep the following in mind:

• The college needs to be approved by the regional accrediting body in the part of the United States where the college is physically located and;
   
• The program must lead to teacher certification in the state in which it is physically located and;
   
• The program must lead to a certificate in the state where it is located that is comparable in title to New York State’s certification subject areas. For certificate titles go to Certificate Titles and Codes - Initial/Professional . 

If you do not plan on completing a full teacher education program on-line but are considering individual courses below are some principles to guide you.

• For coursework in content areas (liberal arts, mathematics, sciences, social studies, English or a language other than English) to be acceptable, the course must be offered by a college with regional accreditation (by the regional accrediting body in the part of the United States where the college is physically located).  Please see the list below.
   
• In addition, the course must be credit bearing and be acceptable in the fulfillment of requirements for a degree offered by that college. Non-credit bearing continuing education courses are not accepted.
   
• For coursework in the area of pedagogy to be acceptable to New York State, the course must meet the same requirements as specified above for a full teacher education program.

Before registering with a college or university to take a course you believe you need to qualify for a teaching certificate through individual evaluation you should:

• Have an application and fee filed for the certificate you seek,
• Have received an evaluation which specifies which requirements you need to satisfy,
• File a course approval form requesting whether the course you propose to take will satisfy the specific requirement you need to meet. Any course approval forms must be filed 6-8 weeks prior to the college registration deadline.

For more information about distance learning programs in New York State visit the Office of College and Evaluation's Distance Education Web site.

Information on distance learning programs may be found in one of the commercial guides to distance education available at a large bookstore or public library and on-line. We cannot answer inquiries about the reputation of institutions or their distance education programs. Outside of New York State, one of the most reliable indicators that an institution's programs will be recognized is accreditation by one of the regional accrediting bodies (listed below) or visit the U.S. Department of Education's Institutional Accreditation System for more information.

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Colleges and Schools
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Northwestern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Western Association of Colleges and Schools