Certification

Students with Disabilities (All Grades) Certificate Summary and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

At its September 2022 meeting, the New York State Board of Regents voted to establish the Students with Disabilities (All Grades) certificate effective September 28, 2022. The new certificate permits individuals to teach students with disabilities in pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 in New York State public schools. The Board of Regents also approved revisions to the extension to teach certain subjects to students with disabilities in grades 5-9 or grades 7-12 for eligible special education teachers.

The key changes to the regulations, and the implementation timeline for the changes, are described below and in the presentation to the Board of Regents.

Students with Disabilities (SWD) Certificates

  • SWD (All Grades) Certificate Requirements. The certificate types, pathways, and requirements for the SWD (All Grades) certificate title will be listed on the Search Certification Requirements webpage during or around October 2022. The application for this new certificate will also be available in the TEACH system on or around this date.
  • Current SWD certificates. Individuals who hold a SWD certificate in a grade band (e.g., Birth-Grade 2, Grades 1-6, Grades 5-9, Grades 7-12) or Permanent Special Education certificate will not be required to obtain the new SWD (All Grades) certificate by the Department, as those certificates will continue to be recognized in the future. They can choose to pursue the SWD (All Grades) certificate, if they wish.
    • SWD (Birth-Grade 2) certificates will continue to be issued.
    • Individuals will be able to apply for the SWD (Grades 1-6) and/or SWD (Grades 7-12) certificates through the individual evaluation pathway prior to September 1, 2023, and will be eligible for these certificates provided that they meet all requirements for the certificate prior to September 1, 2026.
    • SWD (Grades 1-6) and SWD (Grades 7-12) certificates will be phased out in the future. Specifically, the Department will no longer issue certificates in the SWD (Grades 1-6) and SWD (Grades 7-12) certificate titles, other than for the Professional certificate and reissuance of an Initial certificate, with an effective date that begins after September 1, 2030. The Professional certificate and reissuance of an Initial certificate in these certificate titles will continue to be issued.
    • SWD (Grades 1-6) and SWD (Grades 7-12) certificates can continue to receive a time extension after September 1, 2030.

New York State Registered SWD Programs

  • SWD (All Grades) Programs. New York State institutions of higher education can apply to register SWD (All Grades) programs beginning September 28, 2022. The registration requirements for this program are posted on the Office of College and University Evaluation (OCUE) website.
  • SWD (Grades 1-6) and SWD (Grades 7-12) Programs. The Department will no longer register programs leading to the current SWD (Grades 1-6) and SWD (Grades 7-12) certificates on or after October 1, 2022. For institutions that have existing SWD (Grades 1-6) and/or SWD (Grades 7-12) programs, the programs will be discontinued on or after September 1, 2029.
  • SWD (Birth-Grade 2) Programs. SWD (Birth-Grade 2) programs can continue to be offered and created. However, these programs must now also focus on developing comprehensive knowledge, understanding, and skills for teaching students with disabilities who are culturally and linguistically diverse. Institutions with existing SWD (Birth-Grade 2) programs will need to show that their program meets this new requirement by September 1, 2024. Information about how programs will document that they meet this requirement will be provided at a later date on the OCUE website.

Subject Area Extension

  • Special Education Teachers. For the extension to teach certain subjects to students with disabilities in grades 5-9 or grades 7-12, eligible special education teachers can obtain the extension by completing 12 semester hours in the subject area or passing the content specialty test (CST) in the subject area of the extension beginning September 28, 2022.
  • Registered SWD Programs. Programs leading to the extension to teach certain subjects to students with disabilities in grades 7-12 will now require 12, instead of 18, semester hours in the subject area of the extension beginning September 28, 2022.

    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    General Questions

    1. When can I apply for the SWD (All Grades) certificate?

      Individuals can begin to apply for the SWD (All Grades) certificate in the TEACH system during or around October 2022. The certificate types, pathways, and requirements for this certificate title will also be listed on the Search Certification Requirements webpage on or around this date.

    2. Which ages/grade levels does the SWD (All Grades) certificate cover?

      The SWD (All Grades) certificate permits individuals to teach students with disabilities in pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 in New York State public schools. Teachers who hold this certificate cannot teach students with disabilities from ages 0-2 years, but can teach students with disabilities from ages 3-4 years (e.g., children in Universal Pre-Kindergarten programs).

    3. If I want to teach students with disabilities at the early childhood level, do I need to hold the SWD (Birth-Grade 2) or SWD (All Grades) certificate?

      The SWD (Birth-Grade 2) certificate will continue to exist. Individuals who are interested in teaching students with disabilities from ages 0-2 years would need to hold the SWD (Birth-Grade 2) certificate. Individuals who are interested in teaching students with disabilities from age 3-grade 2 could hold either the SWD (Birth-Grade 2) certificate or the SWD (All Grades) certificate.

    4. What is the timeline for phasing out the SWD (Grades 1-6) and SWD (Grades 7-12) certificates?

      The Department will no longer issue certificates in the SWD (Grades 1-6) and SWD (Grades 7-12) certificate titles, other than for the Professional certificate and reissuance of an Initial certificate, with an effective date that begins after September 1, 2030. The Professional certificate and reissuance of an Initial certificate in these certificate titles will continue to be issued, holding harmless candidates who have a valid or expired Initial SWD (Grades 1-6) and/or SWD (Grades 7-12) certificate.

      Individuals will continue to be able to apply for the SWD (Grades 1-6) and/or SWD (Grades 7-12) certificates through the individual evaluation pathway prior to September 1, 2023, and will be eligible for these certificates provided that they meet all requirements for the certificate prior to September 1, 2026.

    5. Who is eligible for the extension to teach certain subjects to students with disabilities in grades 5-9 or grades 7-12, and when do the revised requirements for the extension go into effect

      Special education teachers who hold one of the certificates listed on the Subject Area Extension webpage are eligible for the extension. Eligible special education teachers will be able to obtain the extension by completing 12 semester hours in the subject area or passing the content specialty test (CST) in the subject area of the extension beginning September 28, 2022.

    Practicing Special Education Teachers

    6. I hold a special education certificate. Will I lose my certificate or be required to obtain the SWD (All Grades) certificate by NYSED?

      No. Teachers who hold a SWD certificate in a grade band (Birth-Grade 2, Grades 1-6, Grades 5-9, Grades 7-12) or the Permanent Special Education certificate will not be required to obtain the new SWD (All Grades) certificate by NYSED, as those certificates will continue to be recognized in the future. They will not “lose” their certificate and can choose to pursue the SWD (All Grades) certificate, if they wish.

    7. I hold a Students with Disabilities certificate in a grade band. Will my certificate be automatically changed to the SWD (All Grades) certificate, or will I be automatically eligible for this new certificate?

      No. The SWD (All Grades) certificate has different requirements than the SWD certificates in a grade band (Birth-Grade 2, Grades 1-6, Grades 5-9, Grades 7-12). Therefore, teachers who hold these certificates would not have their certificates automatically changed to the SWD (All Grades) certificate and would not be automatically eligible for this new certificate. Teachers wishing to obtain the SWD (All Grades) certificate would need to apply and pay the application fee for the SWD (All Grades) certificate. The fee reflects the time that Department staff would devote to reviewing the documentation submitted for the application. Please see FAQ #1 for information about the SWD (All Grades) certificate requirements and when the application is available.

    8. I hold a Students with Disabilities certificate in a grade band. Will I need to complete coursework and/or exams to obtain the SWD (All Grades) certificate?

      Teachers who hold a SWD certificate in a grade band (Birth-Grade 2, Grades 1-6, Grades 5-9, Grades 7-12) will be able to apply for the SWD (All Grades) certificate through a variety of pathways that have different requirements. Applicants may or may not need to complete coursework or exams for the certificate, depending on the pathway through which they are seeking the new certificate. Please see FAQ #1 for information about the SWD (All Grades) certificate requirements and when the application is available.

    9. How does the SWD (All Grades) certificate apply to special education teachers who hold a special education statement of continued eligibility (SOCE) or would like to teach a special class?

      Special education teachers who hold a SOCE do not need to obtain the SWD (All Grades) certificate to teach a special class in a subject area in grades 7-12 because they already hold an appropriate base certificate for this teaching assignment (e.g., SWD (Grades 7-12) certificate). Special education teachers who hold the SWD (Birth-Grade 2) or SWD (Grades 1-6) certificate could teach a special class in a subject area in grades 7-12, if they obtain the SWD (All Grades) certificate and become certified in a subject area by earning a subject area certificate, subject area extension (please see FAQ #5), or limited extension in the subject area. These subject area certification options are described on the Special Education Teacher Certification Options webpage.

    New York State Registered Teacher Preparation Programs

    10. What are the coursework and clinical experience requirements for registered SWD (All Grades) programs? 11. Our institution has SWD (Grades 1-6) and SWD (Grades 7-12) programs. By what date do we need to have a SWD (All Grades) program registered with OCUE?

      To ensure a smooth transition, New York State institutions offering registered SWD (Grades 1-6) and/or SWD (Grades 7-12) programs, and that wish to continue to prepare candidates to teach students with disabilities in pre-Kindergarten through grade 12, should have an SWD (All Grades) program registered on or before September 1, 2029. Institutions can apply to register new SWD (All Grades) programs beginning September 28, 2022. The application for a new teacher certification program is available on the OCUE website.

      For institutions that have existing SWD (Grades 1-6) and/or SWD (Grades 7-12) programs, the programs will be discontinued by September 1, 2029. This means that candidates may not be enrolled in these programs after this date. Additionally, institutions may not recommend for SWD (Grades 1-6) or SWD (Grades 7-12) certification after this date. Institutions need to ensure that candidates admitted or enrolled in SWD (Grades 1-6) and SWD (Grades 7-12) programs can complete the program by September 1, 2029, and have a transition plan for those who are unable to complete program requirements by that date.

    12. Our institution has a SWD (Birth-Grade 2) program. Do we need to do anything as a result of the regulation changes?

      Yes. SWD (Birth-Grade 2) programs can continue to be offered and created. However, these programs must now also focus on developing comprehensive knowledge, understanding, and skills for teaching students with disabilities who are culturally and linguistically diverse. Institutions with existing SWD (Birth-Grade 2) programs will need to show that their program meets this new requirement by September 1, 2024. Information about how programs will document that they meet this requirement will be provided at a later date on the OCUE website.

    13. Our institution has a program leading to the extension to teach certain subjects to students with disabilities in grades 7-12. Can we change the number of semester hours required in the extension program to 12 semester hours without submitting a program revision proposal to OCUE?

      Programs leading to the extension to teach certain subjects to students with disabilities in grades 7-12 will now require at least 12, instead of 18, semester hours in the subject area of the extension beginning September 28, 2022. Institutions do not need to contact the department regarding this change, unless the program is an existing Certificate or Advanced Certificate leading to the extension and the change will reduce the number of semester hours in the program. A reduction in the number of semester hours in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate would require the institution to submit a change application to OCUE.

    14. For SWD (All Grades) programs, the content core includes a major of 30 semester hours in one or more of the liberal arts and sciences and requires candidates to complete a minimum of six semester hours in each of the following subject areas: mathematics, English language arts, social studies, and science. Do the 24 semester hours (total) in the four subject areas count as part of the major of 30 semester hours?

      The two requirements for the content core - which includes both the minimum 30 semester hours and the minimum of six semester hours in each of the subject areas - are not mutually exclusive. In other words, one course can meet multiple requirements within the liberal arts and sciences. Therefore, yes, the 30 semester hour requirement and the 24 semester hour requirement can share credit.

    15. Our institution has SWD (Grades 1-6) and SWD (Grades 7-12) programs. Would we submit an application to revise our programs to become SWD (All Grades) programs, or would we submit an application to register a new SWD (All Grades) program?

      For currently registered programs leading to SWD (Grades 1-6) and/or SWD (Grades 7-12) certification, institutions may (1) submit a new SWD (All Grades) program application with a narrative describing the discontinuance or teach-out of the current program(s), or (2) keep the currently registered program(s) and submit a program change form to revise the program(s) to meet the SWD (All Grades) registration requirements. For program change applications, institutions should also include a request for a placeholder (and accompanying termination date for the placeholder), which will allow currently enrolled candidates to complete the previous version of the SWD (Grades 1-6) and SWD (Grades 7-12) programs. If you need assistance determining which option is best for your institution, please contact OCUEinfo@nysed.gov and an Associate will review your options.

Last Updated: October 18, 2022