Certification

Teaching Assistant Certificates

In response to the national teacher shortage and with input from NYS stakeholders, changes were made to Sections 52.21, 80-1.2, 80-3.7, and 80-5.6 and Subpart 80-6 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Teaching Assistant Certification have created expanded pathways for Teaching Assistants to broaden the scope of responsibilities and has created opportunities for teaching assistants to become teachers.

The TA I, II, III, TA I Renewal, and the TA Pre-Professional certificates will be phased out and replaced with the Initial TA, TA Pre-Professional, and TA Professional level certificates.

The Continuing TA certificate was phased out in 2004. If the Continuing TA certificate holder has not remained continuously employed as a teaching assistant by a New York State public school district, then their certificate is no longer valid per regulation. If they wish to become certified in the future, they will need to pursue one of the available certificate types described below.

This chart outlines the phase out timeline.

Title

Date

All new TA titles and Pathways operational

10/01/2025

TA I application active until

09/30/2025

All requirements met for TA I applications on file

12/31/2025

TA I Renewal application active until

02/01/2029

TA II application active until

08/31/2028

All requirements met for TA II applications on file

12/31/2028

TA III application active until

08/31/2031

All requirements met for TA III applications on file

02/01/2032

TA Scope of Practice (PDF link)


Information for those who currently hold a valid TA Level I, TA Level II, or TA Level III certificate*

 *If you have applied and paid for a level I certificate application, you have until December 31, 2025, to meet all requirements.


I hold a Teaching Assistant Level I certificate

If you possess a valid TA Level 1 certificate, you have the following options:

Progress to TA level II

Progress to TA level III

Apply for Initial TA certificate

Apply for Pre-Professional or Professional TA certificate

Requirements:

  • Paid application on file by 08/31/2028
  • Acceptable documentation of one year (180 days) of certified TA experience
  • 9 college credits
  • Workshops

Requirements:

  • Paid application on file by 08/31/2031
  • Acceptable documentation of one year (180 days) of certified TA experience
  • 18 college credits
  • Workshops

Requirements:

Requirements:

  • Refer to Pre-Professional certificate requirements
    • OR
  • Refer to Professional certificate requirements

I hold a Level II Teaching Assistant certificate

If you possess a valid TA Level II certificate, you have the following options:

Progress to TA level III

Apply for Initial TA certificate

Apply for Pre-Professional or Professional TA certificate

Requirements:

  • Paid application on file by 08/31/2031
  • Acceptable documentation of one year (180 days) of certified TA experience
  • 18 college credits
  • Workshops

Requirements:

  • Refer to Initial TA certificate page

    • NOTE:This certificate can be renewed every five years. A new paid application is required for each renewal.

Requirements:

  • Refer to Pre-Professional certificate requirements
    • OR
  • Refer to Professional certificate requirements

I hold a Level III Teaching Assistant certificate

If you possess a valid TA Level III certificate, you have the following options:

Keep your TA Level III certificate

Apply for Initial TA certificate

Apply for Pre-Professional or Professional TA certificate

Requirements:

  • Continue to reregister your certificate every 5 years.
  • Continue to complete 100 hours of CTLE per five-year registration period in TEACH.

Requirements:

  • Updated Workshops if applicable.

    • NOTE:This certificate can be renewed every five years. A new paid application is required for each renewal.

Requirements:

  • Refer to Pre-Professional certificate requirements
    • OR
  • Refer to Professional certificate requirements

Information for those applying for a Teaching Assistant certificate on or after October 1, 2025.

Initial TA certificate

TA Initial Renewal

Pre-Professional TA

Professional TA

Requirements:

  • Application and fee
  • High School Diploma, GED, HSE or College degree
  • Foundations of Classroom Support and Instruction OR ATAS exams
  • Workshops
  • Fingerprint Clearance

Requirements:

  • Hold/Held Initial TA certificate
  • Application and fee
  • 100 hours of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE)

Requirements:

Requirements:



Initial TA
▼
TA- Initial TA Renewal
▼
TA - Level I Renewal
▼
TA - Level II
▼
TA - Level III
▼
Pre-Professional TA
▼
Pre-Professional TA Renewal
▼
Professional TA
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How to Apply for a Teaching Assistant Certificate
Last Updated: February 13, 2026