Certification

Teaching Assistant Certificates (also known in NYC as Paraprofessionals)

The requirements for New York State Teaching Assistant certification are available through the following links and Search Certification Requirements.

  • If you have never held a New York State Teaching Assistant Certificate, you must apply and meet the requirements for a Level I Teaching Assistant certificate.

  • If you have at least one year of teaching experience in New York State as a classroom teacher under a New York State classroom teaching certificate (not Career and Technical teacher experience), you may proceed to the Level III Teaching Assistant certificate.

All others should review the requirements for the certificate level that you are interested in receiving. The Teaching Assistant Certificate Experience Requirements webpage describes the experience requirements for the Level II, Level III, and Pre-Professional certificates in detail, including acceptable and unacceptable experience.

Teaching assistants assist teachers by performing duties such as:

  • working with individual pupils or groups of pupils on special instructional projects;
  • providing the teacher with information about pupils that will assist the teacher in the development of appropriate learning experiences;
  • assisting pupils in the use of available instructional resources, and assisting in the development of instructional materials;
  • utilizing their own special skills and abilities by assisting in instructional programs in such areas as: foreign languages, arts, crafts, music and similar subjects; and
  • assisting in related instructional work as required.


As of January 1, 2022, except for official college transcripts, OTI will be going paperless with this application. All high school diplomas/transcripts and GED certificates must be submitted electronically to tcert@nysed.gov. Please make sure "Attention: HS Diploma" is copied into the subject line of your e-mail.

 

 

Teaching Assistant - Level I
Teaching Assistant - Level I Renewal
Teaching Assistant - Level II
Teaching Assistant - Level III
Teaching Assistant - Pre-Professional
How to Apply for a
Teaching Assistant Certificate
Last Updated: December 13, 2023