Certification

Student Developmental Levels

Studies in this area prepare candidates to teach the specific age group of the certificate sought. There are four developmental levels corresponding to the different certificates available:

  • Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2)
  • Childhood (Grades 1-6)
  • Middle Childhood (Grades 5-9)
  • Adolescent (Grades 7-12)

Pedagogical (professional education) coursework must be earned at, or transferable to, an approved teacher education program at an institution of higher education that offers a bachelor's or higher degree. In addition, the institution must be accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized for this purpose by the U.S. Department of Education or approved by the New York State Commissioner of Education.

Six (6) semester hours of coursework must be completed for each developmental level requirement. Three (3) of these semester hours must be exclusively focused on the developmental level of the application, with none of the content falling outside those specific grades. For the other 3 semester hours, we will consider coursework that overlaps the developmental level but is not exclusively focused on it.

  • Example: Applicant has completed early childhood coursework only, and they apply for the Initial certificate in Childhood Education – Grades 1-6, which requires 6 semester hours of childhood developmental level coursework. Their early childhood coursework covers birth through grade 2, which overlaps the childhood developmental level – in grades 1 and 2. As a result, 3 semester hours can be credited toward the childhood developmental level requirement. They would need to complete an additional 3 semester hours that are exclusively focused on the childhood developmental level (grades 1-6).

Note: Coursework covering more than 2 developmental levels (e.g., K-9, Pre K-12) is too broad and is not acceptable for any developmental level requirement.

Information about acceptable coursework topics for each developmental level can be found on these webpages:

Coursework cannot be pre-approved. All determinations on coursework requirements will be made by our staff when a paid application and official transcripts are on file and the application is ready for review in our work queue.

College Recommendations (from colleges and universities located in New York only)

Initial college recommendations can be accepted toward the developmental level requirements as described below:
  • Early Childhood Education - Birth-Grade 2 recommendation = 3 semester hours toward childhood developmental level (grades 1-6)

  • Childhood Education – Grades 1-6 recommendation = 3 credits toward Early Childhood (B-2) developmental level, and/or 3 credits toward Middle Childhood (5-9) developmental level

  • Literacy B-6 recommendation = 6 semester hours toward early childhood developmental level (birth – grade 2), and 6 semester hours toward childhood developmental level (grades 1-6)

  • Middle Childhood Education – Grades 5-9 recommendation = 3 credits toward Childhood (1-6) developmental level, and/or Adolescent (7-12) developmental level

  • Literacy 5-12 recommendation = 6 semester hours toward middle childhood developmental level (grades 5-9), and 6 semester hours toward adolescent developmental level (grades 7-12)

  • Adolescent Education - Grades 7-12 recommendation = 3 semester hours toward middle childhood developmental level (grades 5-9)
Note: College recommendations for Provisional and Permanent certificate titles, such as PreKindergarten - Grade 6, were completed under old regulations and are not acceptable for any developmental level requirement.
Last Updated: May 19, 2025