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continuously employed as a teaching assistant by a New York State public school district, then their certificate is no longer valid per regulation.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.

TA 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)

Links regarding information for all TA Pathways can be found at the bottom of this page.


If you have never possessed a Teaching Assistant or Classroom Teaching certificate in New York State, you have the following options:

Apply for the Initial TA Certificate

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

Apply for the TA Level I Renewal

Progress to TA Level II or to TA Level III

Apply for the Initial TA certificate

Apply for the Pre-Professional or Professional TA Certificate

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

Progress to TA Level III

Apply for the Initial TA certificate

Apply for the Pre-Professional or Professional TA Certificate

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

Keep your TA Level III Certificate

Apply for the Initial TA certificate

Apply for the Pre-Professional or Professional TA Certificate

If you possess a valid New York State Classroom Teaching Certificate, you have the following options:

Progress to TA Level III

Apply for Professional TA Certificate

New TA Progression Pathway
Initial TA
▼
Initial TA Renewal
▼
Pre-Professional TA
▼
Pre-Professional TA Renewal
▼
Professional TA

Old TA Progression Pathway
TA Level I
Phased out 09/30/2025
▼
TA Level I Renewal
(Active until 02/01/2029)
▼
TA Level II
(Active until 08/31/2028)
▼
TA Level III
(Active until 08/31/2031)
▼
Pre-Professional TA
▼
Pre-Professional TA Renewal
▼
Professional TA
Last Updated: June 3, 2026