Office of Teaching Initiatives

Choose the best preparation pathway

New York State has a number of routes or Preparation Pathways, depending on your background and preferences to obtain certification. Once you have chosen the appropriate pathway, you must complete the requirements for the certificate you choose and submit an application, supporting documents, and fee to the New York State Education Department.

You must select the appropriate certificate by category (“area of interest”), subject area, grade level, title, and type.

• Area of Interest: Certificates fall into major groups or categories. Examples are Administration and Pupil Personnel Services, Classroom Teacher, and Career and Technical Teacher. For a complete list, go to Certificate Area of Interest.
  
  
• Subject Area: This represents general categories of certificate titles such as math, biology, or students with disabilities.  Note: all math titles would be in the math subject area; all biology titles would be in the biology subject area; and all students with disabilities titles would be in the students with disabilities subject area, etc.
  
  
• Grade Level: New York State issues certificates for work in specific grade levels.
  These include early childhood (birth to grade two), childhood (grades 1-6), middle childhood (grades 5-9), adolescent (grades 7-12), and all grades (pre-kindergarten to grade 12).
  
  
• Title: The certificate title denotes the subject and grade level that you are authorized to teach. Examples include Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2), Biology (Grade 7-12), and School District Administrator (K-12).
  
  
• Type: The type of certificate issued to you depends upon your educational background and experience. Examples include Initial certificate, Professional certificate, and Teaching Assistant Level III certificate. For a complete list, go to Types of Certificates and Licenses.