Certification
Submitting Foreign Credentials On Or After March 1, 2019
Individuals who completed their education outside of the United States (U.S.) and apply for a certificate and pay the fee on or after March 1, 2019 must submit their foreign credentials by following the steps outlined below.
The steps include obtaining an evaluation of foreign credentials (credential evaluation report) by an organization on the list of approved organizations. These approved organizations provide equivalency evaluation and translation services for foreign credentials. The submission of original foreign credentials is not required unless specifically requested by the Office of Teaching Initiatives.
Steps to submit foreign credentials for certification
- Create a TEACH account. During the creation of an account, you will be asked to provide a U.S. federal social security number. If you do not have a social security number, you can either:
- Send an email to otiadmin@nysed.gov with “TEACH Access Number” in the subject line requesting the nine-digit identifier and attach a PDF-formatted copy of either a valid passport or a valid visa to the email;
- If you are enrolled in a New York State registered educator preparation program, have the college’s certification officer send an email to otiadmin@nysed.gov requesting the nine-digit identifier with “TEACH Access Number” in the subject line and include your first and last name, date of birth, and email address in the email.
- Apply for a certificate through your TEACH account and pay the fee. Information on certificate titles, requirements, and pathways is available through Search certificate requirements.
United States citizenship or permanent residence status is required for Permanent and Professional Certification only.
Individuals who completed an educator preparation program in a country other than a U.S. territory are not eligible for certification through the Completion of a Teacher Education Program in Another U.S. State pathway. In addition, teaching experience in a country other than a U.S. territory is not acceptable for certification through the Endorsement of a Classroom Teaching Certificate pathway.
- Request that an evaluation of foreign credentials (credential evaluation report) be completed and submitted by an organization on the list of approved organizations. The credential evaluation report must include the following information.
- Identifying information. Your name as it appears in your TEACH account and your date of birth or last four digits of your Social Security Number.
- English translation of credential(s), where appropriate.
- Equivalency Report for applicants who completed their education at an institution of higher education. The report must include the following items: name of the institution(s) attended, program length of study, dates of attendance for each year at each postsecondary institution, degree(s) awarded with full date of graduation (month, day, and year), listing of each course title, semester hour equivalency, individual grade conversion into U.S. grading scheme (A-F), Grade Point Average (GPA), and placement recommendation.
- Equivalency Report for individuals who are applying for a Teaching Assistant Level I certificate and who completed their education at a secondary school. The report must include the following items: name of the secondary school attended, days of attendance, date of graduation (month, day, and year), title of credential, and placement recommendation.
The organization should send the credential evaluation report by email to tcert@nysed.gov or by mail to:
New York State Education Department
Office of Teaching Initiatives
89 Washington Ave,
RM 5N EB
Albany, 12234