Certification
Time Extension of a Provisional, Initial, or Transitional Certificate
Initial and Provisional Certificates
Effective May 20, 2020, the time validity of an Initial certificate, Initial Reissuance, Provisional certificate, or Provisional Renewal may be extended once for three years from the expiration date. The start date of the three-year time extension is the day after the certificate expiration date, not the date that the time extension is issued.
The time extension would add three years to the expiration date of either the Initial certificate, Initial Reissuance, Provisional certificate, or Provisional Renewal. Individuals would not be able to earn a time extension on both the Initial certificate and Initial Reissuance, or the Provisional certificate and Provisional Renewal, per certificate title.
Transitional Certificates
The time validity of Transitional A, B, C, and G certificates may be extended once for three years from the expiration date. Transitional D and H certificates are non-renewable. The start date of the three-year time extension is the day after the certificate expiration date, not the date that the time extension is issued.
Individuals who received a time extension on their Transitional certificate may receive a time extension on their Initial certificate or Initial Reissuance in the future, as described above.
Individuals can apply for a time extension in the TEACH system. Transitional A, B, C, and G certificate holders who are seeking a time extension must also have a statement/letter submitted as outlined below.
- Transitional A and G certificate holders must have their school district or BOCES submit a Superintendent Statement or letter verifying that they will be employed after the expiration date of their Transitional certificate.
- Superintendent Statement – The hiring district would enter a Superintendent Statement in TEACH, showing the new or continuing hire date that is after the expiration of the Transitional A or G certificate. This is the preferred method.
- Letter – The district or BOCES would submit a letter on official school letterhead verifying that the applicant will continue to be employed with the district or BOCES after the expiration date of their current Transitional certificate. The letter must include the applicant’s full name as it appears in TEACH and either the date of birth or last four digits of their social security. The letter must be sent by the district or BOCES (not a principal nor the applicant) to tcert@nysed.gov with “Time Extension Transitional A (or Transitional G)” in the subject line. NOTE: New York City applicants would obtain the Superintendent Statement or letter from NYC DOE Human Resources.
- Transitional G certificate – The Superintendent Statement or letter must be from the same district or BOCES that hired the applicant and submitted original employment and support commitment for the Transitional G certificate.
- Transitional B and C certificate holders must have their advisor submit a letter on official college letterhead verifying that the applicant will continue to be enrolled in the Transitional B or C program after the expiration date of their current Transitional certificate. The letter must include the applicant’s full name as it appears in TEACH and either their date of birth or the last four digits of their social security number. The letter must be sent by the college (not the applicant) to tcert@nysed.gov with “Time Extension Transitional B (or Transitional C)” in the subject line.
Application
The time extension application fee is $50 and is non-refundable. Applications for time extensions will not be accepted more than six months before the expiration date of the certificate.
After completing the application and paying the fee, time extensions for the Initial certificate, Initial Reissuance, Provisional certificate, or Provisional Renewal are issued the next day, pending any holds on the TEACH account. Applications for Transitional A, B, C, and G certificates are manually evaluated by staff.
Conditions
To receive the time extension, applicants must meet one of the following conditions during the validity period of the certificate that expired or will expire.
- Individuals who are on leave from his/her teaching duties because of childbearing, child rearing, serious illness, or extended illness. They need to maintain a copy of the Board of Education resolution authorizing such leave of absence for a potential audit by the New York State Education Department.
- Individuals who are serving with the Peace Corps or other volunteer organization. They need to maintain a statement on official letterhead of the organization showing dates of service for a potential audit by the New York State Education Department.
- Individuals’ service as a teacher has been discontinued as a result of abolishment of teaching position(s) in the school district in which employed. They need to maintain a statement from the school district, including the date such action was taken, for a potential audit by the New York State Education Department.
- Individuals, because of extreme hardship or other circumstances beyond his/her control, was unable to complete the requirements for the Permanent or Professional certificate in a timely manner, excluding normal family commitments or inconvenience. They need to provide an explanation of the circumstances in the text box provided in the online application, including dates, and need to maintain any supporting documentation for a potential audit by the New York State Education Department.
- Individuals has been unable to secure employment as a teacher or has been pursuing a career other than teaching. They need to maintain a list of school districts contacted, including dates, for a potential audit by the New York State Education Department. If you were pursuing a career other than teaching, please enter this information in the text box provided in the online application.
Military Exception
Individuals who hold an expired certificate or a certificate that will expire within six months, and were on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces during the life of the certificate, may have the validity of their certificate extended for the time period of their active service plus one year.
In addition to the time extension application, individuals need to submit Form DD-214 that verifies the dates of active service to tcert@nysed.gov with “Time Extension Document” in the subject line.