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

    3. This would be verified by the Teacher Preparation Program you are enrolled in. You do not need to have official transcripts sent to OTI.

  3. Enrollment in a NYS Approved Teacher Preparation Program

    4. We require a letter from your college/university on official letterhead - in PDF format - from either the Certification Officer or the chairperson of the Education department containing the following information:

    • The date the letter was written
    • A statement confirming that you are currently enrolled in a NYS-approved teacher preparation program
    • The program code and degree that will be awarded upon graduation
    • Your full name - as it appears in TEACH, and either your date of birth or the last four digits of your SSN
    • The name, signature, and position/title of the person submitting the form

    The letter must be submitted by either the Certification Officer or the chairperson of the Education department - from their official IHE email address to TCERT@nysed.gov.

  4. NYS Approved Teacher Preparation Program Recommendation.

    5. The letter detailed in #3 above will be used to satisfy this requirement.

  5. One year of TA experience in New York State under a valid NYS TA certificate.

    6. Experience must be completed in New York under any valid TA certificate (e.g., - Level 1, 2, or 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

  6. A passing score on the ATAS exam OR Foundations of Classroom Support and Instruction exam.

    7. Information about certification exams can be found here: https://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/certexam.html

    Note: If you were previously issued a TA certificate based on passing the LAST, it is not acceptable for this certificate, and you will need to pass one of these tests.

  7. All workshops required for certification.

    8. Workshop requirements are updated over time, so you may be required to complete updated workshop(s).

  8. Fingerprint clearance

    9. Fingerprint clearance is not handled by the Office of Teaching Initiatives. You can monitor your application to see if the fingerprint clearance requirement is verified met. Any questions about fingerprint clearance must be directed to the Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability.

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

    3. This would be verified by the Teacher Preparation Program you are enrolled in. You do not need to have official transcripts sent to OTI.

  3. Enrollment in a NYS Approved Teacher Preparation Program

    4. We require a letter from your college/university on official letterhead - in PDF format - from either the Certification Officer or the chairperson of the Education department containing the following information:

    • The date the letter was written
    • A statement confirming that you are currently enrolled in a NYS-approved teacher preparation program
    • The program code and degree that will be awarded upon graduation
    • Your full name - as it appears in TEACH, and either your date of birth or the last four digits of your SSN
    • The name, signature, and position/title of the person submitting the form

    The letter must be submitted by either the Certification Officer or the chairperson of the Education department - from their official IHE email address to TCERT@nysed.gov.

  4. NYS Approved Teacher Preparation Program Recommendation.

    5. The letter detailed in #3 above will be used to satisfy this requirement.

  5. One year of TA experience in New York State under a valid NYS TA certificate.

    6. Experience must be completed in New York under any valid TA certificate (e.g., - Level 1, 2, or 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

  6. A passing score on the ATAS exam OR Foundations of Classroom Support and Instruction exam.

    7. Information about certification exams can be found here: https://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/certexam.html

    Note: If you were previously issued a TA certificate based on passing the LAST, it is not acceptable for this certificate, and you will need to pass one of these tests.

  7. All workshops required for certification.

    8. Workshop requirements are updated over time, so you may be required to complete updated workshop(s).

  8. Fingerprint clearance

    9. Fingerprint clearance is not handled by the Office of Teaching Initiatives. You can monitor your application to see if the fingerprint clearance requirement is verified met. Any questions about fingerprint clearance must be directed to the Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability.

Pre-Professional TA Option C: Individual Evaluation

  1. Paid application on file.
  2. Conferral of a High School Diploma or GED

    3. This has already been verified when you earned your previous TA certificate(s). You do not need to have documentation sent to OTI.

  3. 18 SH (Semester Hours) of college coursework with acceptable grades

    4. 18 semester hours are required in total:

    • First, 9 semester hours of pedagogical (professional education) coursework from one or more of these topics: Human Development; Teaching Students with Disabilities; Teaching Literacy Skills; Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment; and/or Foundations of Education.
    • Then, 9 additional semester hours must be completed in any combination of:
      • More pedagogical coursework (in the topics detailed above) and/or
      • Coursework in English language arts, math, science, and/or social studies.

    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.

    For information on how to satisfy this requirement, see our Coursework to Satisfy Unmet Requirement webpage.

  4. One year of TA experience under a valid TA certificate.

    5. Experience must be completed in New York under any valid TA certificate (e.g., - Level 1, 2, or 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

  5. A passing score on the ATAS exam OR Foundations of Classroom Support and Instruction exam.

    6. Information about certification exams can be found here: https://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/certexam.html

    Note: If you were previously issued a TA certificate based on passing the LAST, it is not acceptable for this certificate, and you will need to pass one of these tests.

  6. All workshops required for certification.

    7. Workshop requirements are updated over time, so you may be required to complete updated workshop(s).

  7. Fingerprint clearance

    8. Fingerprint clearance is not handled by the Office of Teaching Initiatives. You can monitor your application to see if the fingerprint clearance requirement is verified met. Any questions about fingerprint clearance must be directed to the Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability.

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

    3. This has already been verified when you earned your previous TA certificate(s). You do not need to have documentation sent to OTI.

  3. 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.

    4. We require a letter from your college/university on official letterhead - in PDF format - from the chairperson of the Education department containing the following information:

    • The date the letter was written
    • A statement confirming that the candidate is currently enrolled in a degree program that has an articulation agreement with a 4-year SUNY college/university which has an approved teacher preparation program
    • Applicant's full name - as it appears in TEACH, and either their date of birth or the last four digits of their SSN
    • Name, signature, and position/title of the person submitting the form

    The letter must be submitted by the chairperson of the Education department - from their official IHE email address to TCERT@nysed.gov

  4. 18 SH (Semester Hours) of college coursework with acceptable grades

    5. 18 semester hours are required in total:

    • First, 9 semester hours of pedagogical (professional education) coursework from one or more of these topics: Human Development; Teaching Students with Disabilities; Teaching Literacy Skills; Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment; and/or Foundations of Education.
    • Then, 9 additional semester hours must be completed in any combination of:
      • More pedagogical coursework (in the topics detailed above) and/or
      • Coursework in English language arts, math, science, and/or social studies.

    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.

    For information on how to satisfy this requirement, see our Coursework to Satisfy Unmet Requirement webpage.

  5. One year of TA experience under a valid NYS TA certificate.

    6. Experience must be completed in New York under any valid TA certificate (e.g., - Level 1, 2, or 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

  6. A passing score on the ATAS exam OR Foundations of Classroom Support and Instruction exam.

    7. Information about certification exams can be found here: https://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/certexam.html

    Note: If you were previously issued a TA certificate based on passing the LAST, it is not acceptable for this certificate, and you will need to pass one of these tests.

  7. All workshops required for certification.

    8. Workshop requirements are updated over time, so you may be required to complete updated workshop(s).

  8. Fingerprint clearance

    9. Fingerprint clearance is not handled by the Office of Teaching Initiatives. You can monitor your application to see if the fingerprint clearance requirement is verified met. Any questions about fingerprint clearance must be directed to the Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability.

Last Updated: May 13, 2026
May 13, 2026