Type of Certificate: Initial - Yes
Description: 1. Explanations of Pathways to an Initial certificate:
Currently, the following pathways are available for a candidate to seek an Initial certificate: a) through college recommendation, including both traditional and alternative teacher preparation programs, b) through individual transcript evaluation, and c) through reciprocity agreement with other states.
a.
Is this renewable? Yes
The Initial certificate is valid for 5 years. An Initial certificate, if expired, may be re-issued only once, for 3 years, if the following conditions are met:An individual has been unable to secure employment as a teacher. They must have completed 1.5 hours of professional development for each month counted from the effective date of their original Initial certificate through the date they applied for a re-issuance of the Initial certificate, up to 75 hours of professional development. Persons who are required to complete the maximum of 75 hours must complete 45 of those hours within one year prior to applying for the reissued Initial certificate and they must have achieved a satisfactory score on the New York State Teacher Certification Examination (NYSTCE) tests, including the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W), and the appropriate Content Specialty Test (CST), within one year prior to applying for the re-issuance of their Initial certificate.
Bachelor's Degree Yes
- At the elementary level, Is a degree in the subject/content area required: No.
N/A
- At the secondary level, is a degree in the subject/content area required: No.
N/A
- Other degree: No.
N/A
Classes in pedagogy and professional knowledge
Yes
The program shall provide study that will permit candidates to obtain pedagogical knowledge, understanding, and skills in Human Development, Teaching Students with Disabilities and Special Health-Care Needs, Teaching Literacy Skills, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, etc.
GPA Requirements
No
For candidates seeking an initial certificate through college recommendation, the GPA requirement varies as it is established by individual institutions. For those seeking an initial certificate through individual transcript evaluation, there is a minimum grade requirement of C for undergraduate courses and B minus in graduate courses in the Content core and Pedagogical core areas. In addition, there is a requirement for an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher for an undergraduate degree used to satisfy the requirements for certification.
Testing
Yes
The Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST)
The Assessment of Teaching Skills Test - Written (ATS-W)
Content Specialty Test in area of certificate (CST)
Student Teaching
Yes
The program shall include at least two college-supervised student-teaching experiences of at least 20 school days each; or at least two college-supervised practica with individual students or groups of students of at least 20 school days each.
Mentoring/Professional Development
No
N/A
Fingerprinting Yes
Background check Yes
Police record examination Yes
Reciprocity with other states?: Yes