Basic Steps to NYS Teacher Certification
- Apply to an approved New York State Teacher Education Program at a NYC college or university
- Take all exams in the following order: Liberal Arts
and Sciences Test (LAST), Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written Test (ATS-W)
and the Content Specialty Test (CST)
- Tests can be taken during or upon completion of your Teacher Education program
- Early Childhood Educators need to take the Elementary ATS-W
- Log on: www.nystce.nesinc.com
- Complete the NYS Mandated Training on Child Abuse Identification & Reporting Workshop
- Complete the NYS Mandated Training on School Violence Prevention and Intervention Workshop
- Get fingerprint clearance
- Request a fingerprint clearance package through the NYS Education Department email: OSPRA@Mail.NYSED.gov or call (518) 473-2998. The cost is $99
- Take fingerprint card and get your fingerprints taken at: a local police station or the NYC Department of Education (65 Court Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. - (718) 935-2666)
- Follow instructions in fingerprint clearance package for fingerprint processing
- Request a NYS Teacher Certification Application from the NYS Education
Department. Email: OSPRA@Mail.NYSED.gov
or call: (518) 474-3901. The following documents are necessary for the application:
- Your college transcript(s)
- Your LAST, CST, ATS-W test scores
- Your documentation of workshop completion
- An application fee of $100.00
- Follow the instructions in your application package for Teacher Certification processing
NOTE:
- For more information regarding NYS teacher certification:
- For certification advice from the United Federation of Teachers (UFT): call (212) 420-1830.
- For your specific teacher certification needs, work with a college/university advisor