frequently asked questions

Certification Requirements - General

1. Who needs to be fingerprinted?

2. Do I need a teaching certificate to teach in private or parochial school?
   

3. I would like to complete a degree at a college, but I am not sure if the college is acceptable. How can I be sure?
   

4. My college tells me that I can "waive" the student teaching if the State approves my experience.
   

5. Can I use online courses toward certification?
   

6. How do I obtain my Permanent certification? I have my master's degree, two years of experience, and have passed all my tests, including the ATS-P(video).
   

7. I hold Provisional certificates in more than one subject (i.e., PreK-6 and English 7-12). Must I teach for two years in each subject area to meet the two-year experience requirement for a Permanent certificate?
   

8. May I satisfy the experience requirement with service in a non-public school?

9. How can I get an adult education certificate?

10. Does the adult education certificate ever expire?

11. Will armed forces personnel called to active duty be granted additional time to complete a teacher education program leading to a Provisional or Permanent certificate?

1. Who Needs to be Fingerprinted?
   
   All applicants for any teaching or teaching assistant certificate must undergo fingerprint supported criminal history background check.
   
   State law requires the State Education Department to conduct these background checks for all school personnel, including applicants for certification, in addition to all prospective employees of school districts, charter schools and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES).
   
   
   The Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability (OSPRA) within the Office of Teaching Initiatives is responsible for monitoring this process. Criminal History Background checks require a $ 94.25 payment, which covers both a NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services search and an FBI review.  For more information contact OSPRA at ospra@mail.nysed.gov.
   
   
2. Do I need a teaching certificate to teach in private or parochial school?
   
   Some nonpublic schools may require New York State certification.  Please contact the individual school for this information. top
   
   
3. I would like to complete a degree at a college, but I am not sure if the college is acceptable. How can I be sure?

   In order for the Office of Teaching Initiatives to accept degrees from institutions in states outside New York, the institution must be regionally accredited. To determine whether or not an institution is regionally accredited you may check with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.asp.   back
   

4. My college tells me that I can "waive" the student teaching if the State approves my experience.
   
   The Office of Teaching Initiatives evaluates experience only for those who apply for a certificate through individual evaluation. In order to receive an evaluation, you must have already have completed your bachelor's degree and submit an Application for Initial/Professional Certificate as described above. top
   

5. Can I use online courses toward certification?
   
   Correspondence courses and courses offered via the Internet are accepted if they are allowed towards a degree program at a regionally accredited institution, are offered to students in residence, and are acceptable for certification by State where the institution is located.   top
   
   
   

6. How do I obtain my Permanent certification? I have my master's degree, two years of experience, and have passed all my tests, including the ATS-P (video).
   
   Just as you applied for Provisional certification, you must apply for Permanent certification. This requires submission of an Application for Provisional/Permanent/SOCE Certificate (PDF) and $100 fee, accompanied by transcripts of any graduate study not already on file, verification of required training in the identification and reporting of child abuse and training in school violence prevention and intervention if not already on file, and verification of completion of the testing requirement. USCIS Permanent Residence status is also a requirement for a Permanent certificate.  For more information, see Citizenship Requirement.  You must also submit a fingerprint package if not done previously.

    

    

    

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7. I hold Provisional certificates in more than one subject (i.e., PreK-6 and English 7-12). Must I teach for two years in each subject area to meet the two-year experience requirement for a Permanent certificate?
   

   No. An individual who holds more than one classroom teaching certificate may meet the two-year experience requirement with any two years of classroom teaching experience. For instance, a teacher who holds the PreK-6 and English 7-12 certificates could satisfy the experience requirement for both certificates by teaching for two years in an elementary classroom or two years as a secondary English teacher, or a combination of such experience totaling two years.

   Similarly, for persons holding a certificate in a pupil personnel service area, the two-year experience requirement for Permanent certification may be met by any two years of pupil personnel service experience. For instance, an individual holding both a school attendance teacher certificate and a school counselor certificate could satisfy the experience requirement for both certificates with two years of experience as a school counselor or two years of experience as a school attendance teacher or a combination of such experience totaling two years.
   
   Please note that service in one of the three certificate areas (classroom teaching, pupil personnel service, and administration/supervision) may not be used to satisfy the experience requirement in either of the other two areas.  top
    

8. May I satisfy the experience requirement with service in a non-public school?
   
   Yes, experience in either a public or approved non-public elementary or secondary school is acceptable for purposes of obtaining a Permanent or Professional certificate. top
    
9. How can I get an adult education certificate?
   
   If you are a regularly certified teacher, you do not need one. If you are not a certified teacher, the first step is to gain employment in a school district as an adult education teacher. Once employed, the school district must submit an Application for Supplementary School Personnel (OTAPP-7). This form is available through the district. Along with the application and $50 fee, you must complete the child abuse identification and school violence prevention workshops, and submit a fingerprint package. No transcripts are required. Please note that the superintendent of your district must complete section #13 on the application for the certificate to be issued. top
    
10. Does the adult education certificate ever expire?
    
    Yes. It must be renewed every three years, by submitting the same application indicated above and a $25 renewal fee. You also must complete the child abuse identification and school violence prevention workshops if not already completed. You do not, however, need to be fingerprinted if you remain in the same district. top
     
11. Will armed forces personnel called to active duty be granted additional time to complete a teacher education program leading to a Provisional or Permanent certificate?
    
    Yes, A time extension is granted to candidates, whose teacher preparation study was interrupted by active military service, to complete the requirements for a Provisional/Permanent certificate.  The amendment applies only to matriculated teacher education students on active military duty between September 11, 2001 and February 1, 2004.
    
    The time extension is equal to the amount of time in active military service and begins on September 1, immediately following the date that active service concluded. top