Certification

Requirements Teaching Assistant - Pre-Professional Certification

Pre-Professional Certificate

Valid for 5 years

Pre-Professional TA Option A: Matriculation in a NYS Registered Teacher Preparation Program

  1. Paid application on file.
  2. Conferral of a High School Diploma or GED
  • This would be verified by the Teacher Preparation Program you are enrolled in. You do not need to have official transcripts sent to OTI.
  1. Enrollment in a NYS Approved Teacher Preparation Program
  • Enrollment must be in a NYS Approved Teacher Preparation Program that leads to certification in NYS.
  1. NYS Approved Teacher Preparation Program Recommendation.
  • This statement would be entered by the college into your TEACH account verifying that you are matriculated into the program leading to teacher certification and continue to make progress toward graduation.
  • This recommendation will also verify you have completed 18 SH (Semester Hours) of acceptable coursework toward your degree.
  1. One year of TA experience in New York State under a valid NYS TA certificate.
  • Experience must be completed in New York under any valid TA certificate (e.g., - Level I/2/3; Initial; Initial TA Renewal, Temporary; Continuing; Emergency COVID-19)
  • Verification of paid experience must be submitted directly by the employer(s). NYS public schools, BOCES and NYS charter schools must submit verifications by entering an electronic Superintendent Statement (“TA Professional 3 Yr. Exp.") onto your TEACH account. Note: This statement can be used to verify anywhere from one year of TA experience to three (or more) years of TA experience.
    All other employers may use this form: Verification Form
  1. A passing score on the ATAS exam OR Foundations of Classroom Support and Instruction exam.
  • You have already passed this exam and do not need to take it again. Your scores will carry over to this application.
  1. All workshops required for certification.
  • You have already completed this requirement, but make sure there are no new workshops that may need to be completed.
  1. Fingerprint clearance
  • You have already completed this requirement.  You do not need to be fingerprinted again.

 

 

Pre-Professional TA Option B: Matriculation in a NYS Registered Teaching Assistant Program

  1. Paid application on file.
  2. Conferral of a High School Diploma or GED
  • This would be verified by the Teacher Preparation Program you are enrolled in. You do not need to have official transcripts sent to OTI.
  1. Enrollment in a NYS Approved Teaching Assistant Program.
  • Enrollment must be in a NYS Approved Teaching Assistant Program that leads to Professional TA certification.
  1. NYS Approved Teaching Assistant Program Recommendation.
  • This statement would be entered by the college into your TEACH account verifying that you are Matriculated into the program and continue to make progress toward graduation.
  • This recommendation will also verify you have completed 18 SH of acceptable coursework toward your degree.
  1. One year of TA experience in New York under a valid NYS TA certificate.
  • Experience must be completed in New York under any valid TA certificate (e.g., - Level I/2/3; Initial; Initial TA Renewal, Temporary; Continuing; Emergency COVID-19)
  • Verification of paid experience must be submitted directly by the employer(s). NYS public schools, BOCES and NYS charter schools must submit verifications by entering an electronic Superintendent Statement (“TA Professional 3 Yr. Exp.") onto your TEACH account. Note: This statement can be used to verify anywhere from one year of TA experience to three (or more) years of TA experience.
    All other employers may use this form: Verification Form
  1. A passing score on the ATAS exam OR Foundations of Classroom Support and Instruction exam.
  • You have already passed this exam and do not need to take it again. Your scores will carry over to this application.
  1. All workshops required for certification.
  • You have already completed this requirement but make sure there are no new workshops required.
  1. Fingerprint clearance
  • You have already completed this requirement and do not need to be fingerprinted again.

 

Pre-Professional TA Option C: Individual Evaluation

  1. Paid application on file.
  2. Conferral of a High School Diploma or GED
  • This has already been verified when you earned your previous TA certificate(s). You do not need to have official transcripts sent to OTI.
  1. 18 SH (Semester Hours) of college coursework with acceptable grades
  • 9 SH of Pedagogical Core from one or more of these areas including Human Development, Teaching Students with Disabilities, Teaching Literacy Skills, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, and/or Foundations of Education.​
  • 9 SH of additional Pedagogical Core (as described above) or coursework in ELA, math, science, and/or Social Studies or a combination of both.
  • Minimum grade requirements: "C" or better for undergraduate coursework, "B-" or better for graduate coursework.
  • Life Experience Credit (also known as life credit) is not acceptable for certification purposes, regardless of the policy of an individual college/university.
  1. One year of TA experience under a valid TA certificate.
  • Experience must be completed in New York under any valid TA certificate (e.g., - Level I/2/3; Initial; Initial TA Renewal, Temporary; Continuing; Emergency COVID-19)
  • Verification of paid experience must be submitted directly by the employer(s). NYS public schools, BOCES and NYS charter schools must submit verifications by entering an electronic Superintendent Statement (“TA Professional 3 Yr. Exp.") onto your TEACH account. Note: This statement can be used to verify anywhere from one year of TA experience to three (or more) years of TA experience.
    All other employers may use this form: Verification Form
  1. A passing score on the ATAS exam OR Foundations of Classroom Support and Instruction exam.
  • You have already passed this exam. You do not need to take it again. Your scores will carry over to this application.
  1. All workshops required for certification.
  • You have already completed this requirement, but make sure there are no new workshops required.
  1. Fingerprint clearance
  • You have already completed this requirement. You do not need to be fingerprinted again.

 

 

Pre-Professional TA Option D

Matriculation in a NYS community college with an Articulation Agreement with a NYS Approved Teacher Preparation Program.

  1. Paid application on file.
  2. Conferral of a High School Diploma or GED
  • This would be verified by the Teacher Preparation Program in which you are currently enrolled. You do not need to have official transcripts sent to OTI.
  1. You must be enrolled in a registered NYS community college that has an articulation agreement with a NYS Approved Teacher Preparation Program that will lead to teacher certification.
  • A letter on college letterhead must be submitted to the Office of Teaching by the Department Chair or Dean, indicating that you are matriculated in a teacher preparation program and are working toward the requirements of graduation.
  1. 18 SH (Semester Hours) of college coursework
  • 9 SH of Pedagogical Core from one or more of these areas including Human Development, Teaching Students with Disabilities, Teaching Literacy Skills, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, and/or Foundations of Education.​
  • 9 SH of additional Pedagogical Core (as described above) or coursework in ELA, math, science, and/or Social Studies or a mix of both.
  • Minimum grade requirements: "C" or better for undergraduate coursework, "B-" or better for graduate coursework.
  • Life Experience Credit (also known as life credit) is not acceptable for certification purposes, regardless of the policy of an individual college/university.
  1. One year of TA experience in NYS under a valid NYS TA certificate.
  • Experience must be completed in New York under any valid TA certificate (e.g., - Level I/2/3; Initial; Initial TA Renewal, Temporary; Continuing; Emergency COVID-19)
  • Verification of paid experience must be submitted directly by the employer(s). NYS public schools, BOCES and NYS charter schools must submit verifications by entering an electronic Superintendent Statement (“TA Professional 3 Yr. Exp.") onto your TEACH account. Note: This statement can be used to verify anywhere from one year of TA experience to three (or more) years of TA experience.
    All other employers may use this form: Verification Form
  1. A passing score on the ATAS exam OR Foundations of Classroom Support and Instruction exam.
  • You have already passed this exam. You do not need to take it again. Your scores will carry over to this application.
  1. All workshops required for certification.
  • You have already completed this requirement but make sure there are no new workshops required.
  1. Fingerprint clearance
  • You have already completed this requirement and do not need to be fingerprinted again.

 

 

 

Last Updated: March 5, 2026
March 5, 2026