Select Your Certification Path

• A candidate with a high school diploma can go to a local college for a bachelor's degree in a teacher preparation program. You can go to school out of state, but the school you attend must have a preparation program recognized by New York. A person with a bachelor's degree in another field can get a graduate degree in a teacher's preparation curriculum. A person who was educated out of the United States and a teacher who is already certified by National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is allowed to apply to the New York State Department of Education for certification consideration on a case-by-case basis.
  
  Passing scores on varying exams administered by the state department is necessary for certification. Both a written test on teacher skills and a content-specific exam for special subjects you want to teach, such as English, must be passed.
  
  

Verify You Meet the Requirements

• You must determine which certification you want and verify you meet the requirements. The certificate you need and the associated eligibility criteria varies by the grade you want to teach, what subject and other considerations, such as a desire to work with disabled children; you need to be fingerprinted and have a clear criminal background check for all certificates. The New York State Department of Education's official website maintains a database for checking the full requirements for each certificate type.
  
  

Apply for Certification

• You can apply for a teaching certificate online at the New York State Department of Education's official website. New York uses the "TEACH" system for online applicants. The application requests information about your education, identity and other areas of your life, depending on the certificate you are applying for. Paper applications are distributed by the state education department if you do not wish to use TEACH, but you can still check the status of a mailed application on the portal.
  
  

Submit Your Documentation as Needed

• Additional documentation is requested by the state education department in some cases. Official copies of your higher education transcripts are usually necessary and cannot be photocopies. Any teaching experience you submitted on your application needs to be verified in writing by your supervisor. Other papers may be asked for at the state department's discretion.