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Archive of Recent Certification Changes

• CEO Memo # 06-05 – Educational Leadership Certification
• June 2006 Regents Action
• March 2006 Regents Action
• July 2005 Regents Action
• May 2005 Regents Action
• January 2005 Regents Action
• December 2004 Regents Action
• March 2004 Regents Action
• Chart of Recent Certification Changes

June 2006 Regents Action

On June 20, 2006, the Board of Regents adopted an amendment to Commissioner’s Regulations that establishes certification requirements for the new educational leadership certificate titles.

NOTE:  New certificate and new requirements replace the former series of administrative certificates, which included the SAS, SDA, and SBA.  Candidates working toward one of these former certificates have a limited time to apply and qualify for that certificate.  See details below.

The amendment:

1. Establishes new titles: School Building Leader (SBL) - Initial/Professional certificates, School District (SDL) – Professional certificate, and School District Business leader (SDBL) - Professional certificate.

2. Requires candidates to complete approved programs to be certified in the educational leadership titles, eliminating the individual (transcript) evaluation route for these titles. The regulation establishes a one-year transition period from 9/1/06 to 9/1/07 during which individuals who have already filed applications for individual evaluation may complete any remaining requirements to earn the "old" certificate title.
    

3. Requires candidates to pass the new New York State Teacher Certification Examination (NYSTCE) Program assessments for school leaders, once they become available.
    

4. Establishes a professional development requirement for school leaders who hold the Professional certificate.
    

5. Establishes experience requirements for the School Building Leaders: 3 years experience in classroom teaching and/or pupil personnel service for the Initial certificate and 3 years experience in leadership, including at least 1 year of experience as a school building leader and mentoring, for the Professional certificate.
    

6. Limits the scope of practice for School District Leaders certified under the new series, in that they may not serve as a School Building Leader or as a School District Business Leader unless they are also certified in these areas.
    

7. Establishes an alternative certificate (Transitional D certificate) for school district leaders matriculated in alternative certification programs.
    

8. Establishes requirements for an endorsement process to facilitate the recruitment of experienced school district leaders and school district business leaders holding credentials in another state.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a brief summary only; it is not an exhaustive description of the amendment.  For more detailed information, see the Chart of Recent Certification Changes.

Chart of Recent Certification Changes (June 2006)

March 2006 Regents Action

On March 21, 2006, the Board of Regents adopted an amendment to Commissioner's Regulations that includes the following changes in the certification requirements.

1. Allows holders of administrative and supervisory and pupil personnel certificates to renew Provisional certificates for an additional 5 years. This is a one-time opportunity for these individuals to stay in or re-enter school service.

2. The provision sunsets for adminstrative supervisory certificate holder as ofSeptember 2, 2007.

3. To qualify, candidates are required to have completed all requirements for the Permanent certificate, with the exception of the experience requirement (does not apply to school counselors).

 

March 2006 Regents Action

On March 21, 2006, the Board of Regents adopted an amendment to Commissioner's Regulations that includes the following changes in the certification requirements.

1. Extends the validity period of the Teaching Assistant I certificate from 1 to 3 years, with the opportunity to renew on one occasion for 3 years.

2. Extends the validity period of the Teaching Assistant II certificate from 2 to 3 years.

3. Increases the requirements for the Teaching Assistant II certificate from 6 semester hours to 9 semester hours, for applicants applying after February 1, 2007.

4. Clarifies that acceptable college study for Teaching Assistant certificates is that which is applicable toward either an associate or baccalaureate degree.

5. Amendment allows Teaching Assistant certificate holders additional time to meet educational and experience requirements for advancement to the next level certificate.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a brief summary only; it is not an exhaustive description of the amendment. For more detailed information, see the Chart of Recent Certification Changes below.

For the complete text of the regulation, see the March 2006 Regents Item.

Chart of Recent Certification Changes (March 2006)

July 2005 Regents Action

On July 22, 2005, the Board of Regents adopted an amendment to Commissioner's Regulations that includes the following changes in the certification requirements.

1. Increases the education requirements for the gifted education extension of a teaching certificate to 12 semester hours in gifted education (previously 6 semester hours). This requirement better aligns with the competencies tested for in the New York State Teacher Certification Examination (NYSTCE) test.
    
2. Defers until September 1, 2006 the implementation of the requirement that a teacher must hold a gifted education extension or have obtained from the State Education Department a Statement of Continuing Eligibility (SOCE).

PLEASE NOTE: This is a brief summary only; it is not an exhaustive description of the amendment. For more detailed information, see the Chart of Recent Certification Changes. You may read the complete text of the regulatory amendment by clicking on the following link: Proposed Amendment to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to the Extension in Gifted Education of a Teaching Certificate.

 

July 2005 Regents Action

On July 22, 2005, the Board of Regents adopted an amendment to Commissioner's Regulations that includes the following changes in the certification requirements.

1. Establishes an expedited pathway for licensed psychologists with proficiency in a language other than English to obtain first level certification to work as a school psychologist, intended to increase the number of bilingual certified school psychologists in this shortage area.
    
2. Requires candidates for the expedited Provisional certificate as a school psychologist to matriculate in a program leading to an extension in bilingual education and requires that the candidates receive mentoring by a certified school psychologist during their first year of employment.
    
3. Establishes an expedited pathway for holders of certificates in school psychology, speech and language disabilities, and speech and hearing handicapped, who have proficiency in a language other than English, to obtain an interim extension in bilingual education. The purpose is to address a shortage in this area.
    
4. Allows holders of the interim extension in bilingual education referenced in #3 above three years to complete program leading to the regular bilingual education extension.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a brief summary only; it is not an exhaustive description of the amendment. For more detailed information, see the Chart of Recent Certification Changes. You may read the complete text of the regulatory amendment by clicking on the following link: Proposed Amendment to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Requirements for Provisional Certification in School Psychology by Licensed Psychologists and for the Interim Bilingual Education Extension for Certificates in School Psychology and Speech and Language Disabilities.
 

May 2005 Regents Action

On May 17, 2005, the Board of Regents adopted an amendment to Commissioner's Regulations that includes the following changes in the certification requirements.

1. Updates references to the titles of the new licensed professions in social work in the requirements for Permanent certification in school social work.
    
2. Clarifies the scope of practice for certified social workers in light of the new practice protected licensed professions in social work.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a brief summary only; it is not an exhaustive description of the amendment. For more detailed information, see the Chart of Recent Certification Changes. You may read the complete text of the regulatory amendment by clicking on the following link: Proposed Amendment to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Certification and Scope of Practice Requirements for School Social Workers.
 

January 2005 Regents Action

On January 11, 2005, the Board of Regents adopted an amendment to Commissioner's Regulations that extends the validity period of an Initial classroom teaching certificate from three years to five years. This change provides more time for the novice teacher to complete the requirements for the Professional certificate. The change in validity period applies to all Initial certificates, including those issued prior to Regents action.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a brief summary only; it is not an exhaustive description of the amendment. For more detailed information, see the Chart of Recent Certification Changes. You may read the complete text of the regulatory amendment by clicking on the following link: Amendment to Commissioner's Regulations 1/05.

December 2004 Regents Action

On December 17, 2004, the Board of Regents adopted an amendment to Commissioner's Regulations that establishes a new Supplementary Certificate in the classroom teaching service. The purpose of the Supplementary Certificate is to create a practical mechanism to encourage the movement of experienced teachers in subject matter areas of oversupply to subject matter areas of need while ensuring the readiness of participating teachers to assist students in achieving the State learning standards. The provisions of the amendment include the following:

Candidates for a Supplementary certificate must:

• Hold a classroom teaching certificate. Complete 12 semester hours in the content core of the new certificate title.
• Pass the Content Specialty Test in the subject of the certificate sought.
• Supply a statement from the employing school district verifying that, as a condition for employment, the teacher is enrolled in study at an institution of higher education leading to the certificate sought. The district must also verify the district's agreement to provide the teacher working under the Supplementary certificate with appropriate support to ensure the maintenance of quality instruction for students.
• Complete all requirements for the Initial certificate in the new certificate title within the three-year life of the Supplementary certificate.

Supplementary certificates will be available in demonstrated shortage areas (as determined by the Department) until September 1, 2009.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a brief summary only; it is not an exhaustive description of the amendment. For more detailed information, see the Chart of Recent Certification Changes. You may read the complete text of the regulatory amendment by clicking on the following link: Amendment to Commissioner's Regulations 12/04.

March 2004 Regents Action

On March 23, 2004 the Board of Regents adopted an amendment to Commissioner's Regulations that includes the following major changes in the certification requirements.

• Clarifies the citizenship requirement for certification consistent with recent statutory change.

• Permits candidates whose participation in a teacher preparation program was interrupted by active military service to have additional time to complete requirements under the teacher certification requirements in effect prior to February 2, 2004.

• Adds a statement of continuing eligibility (SOCE) option for theater teachers after 2/1/04 (similar to the option provided to teachers of gifted and talented and teachers using American Sign Language (ASL).

• Renews the pathway for licensed speech-language pathologists to qualify for the Initial teaching certificate under an exception to the regular requirements (previous authority expired on 2/1/04).

• Renews the authority for certified out-of-state teachers to qualify for a "conditional" Initial (first level) teaching certificate, allowing holders two years to pass the NYS certification exams (previous authority expired on 2/1/04).

PLEASE NOTE: This is a brief summary only; it is not an exhaustive description of the amendments. For more detailed information, see the Chart of Recent Certification Changes.

Chart of Recent Certification Changes (from March 2004 until July 2006)