Certification primer, Part 2

Certification Primer, Part 1 ran in the Feb. 17 issue of the New York Teacher. It explained the requirements for provisional, permanent, initial and professional state certificates.

Why are there so many different paths to state certification? It’s not just to confuse you.

As Ann Rosen, UFT special representative for certification and licensing, explained, “The state provided alternative routes to certification to give prospective teachers greater flexibility, and that’s a good thing. But new teachers don’t always know which type of certificate they have, and that could get them into trouble if they don’t understand their requirements and meet their deadlines.”

Special situations

Under special circumstances, the New York State Education Department may issue temporary certificates to candidates who do not meet all the qualifications for an initial certificate but who fill a specific educational/recruitment need. Here are a few examples:

Transitional A Certificate. Districts that need teachers in specific technical or vocational fields may offer this temporary certificate to candidates who have related work experience but who do not meet all the requirements for an initial certificate. With this certificate, you have three years from the issue date to complete the requirements for a career and technical education initial certificate. For details on those requirements, call an educational liaison in your UFT borough office or UFT Certification Services at 1-212-420-1830.

Transitional B Certificate. This temporary certificate is issued to those enrolled in an alternative teacher certification program, such as Teaching Fellows. The college in which you are enrolled for the master’s degree under this alternative teacher certification program is responsible for recommending you to the State Education Department for a Transitional B certificate. To ensure that you will fulfill the state and No Child Left Behind mandates as a “highly qualified” teacher, it is very important that the title of your Transitional B certificate matches: 1. the master’s program in which you are enrolled; and 2. the teaching position for which you were hired. You have three years from the issue date of this certificate to complete your master’s and fulfill any test or other requirements for the initial or professional certificate. When you have done so, your college will recommend you for either the initial or professional certificate, whichever pertains.

Internship Certificate. Students enrolled in an approved graduate teacher education program may qualify for this certificate if they have completed half of the program’s credit hours. The graduate school has to request this certificate for you and it allows you to teach full time in a position that matches the certificate title. You have two years to complete your course and test requirements for the initial certificate; in addition, your college must recommend you for the initial certificate. You cannot renew or extend your internship certificate.

Conditional Initial Certificate. If you hold a teaching certificate in the same or equivalent title from another state, the State Education Department may determine that you are eligible for a conditional initial certificate even if you do not meet all New York State requirements. If you hold this certificate, you must meet the following requirements within two years of the issue date:

• Pass the LAST, ATS-W and CST certification exams (the UFT Teacher Center offers coaching sessions for the LAST and ATS-W exams)
• Complete the Child Abuse Recognition Workshop (available at low cost through the UFT)
• Complete the Violence Prevention Training Workshop (offered at low cost through the UFT School Safety Department).

In addition, within five years of the issue date of your conditional initial certificate, you must complete all requirements for the professional certificate.

Time-Extended Certificate. Rarely, the State Education Department issues this temporary certificate to give a candidate with a provisional/initial certificate some extra time to complete all requirements for permanent/professional certification. If you hold an extended certificate, be sure to fulfill your remaining requirements within the time limits specified in the extension.

NOTE: Starting Feb. 1, 2010, the State Education Department will no longer print and mail time-limited certificates. It will continue to print and mail certificates that do not expire, i.e. Professional and Permanent. The TEACH online system serves as the official record for all certificates so go to your TEACH account if you are not sure which certificate you hold.

Am I done yet?

Even after you have passed all your tests, fulfilled all your mandates and achieved all your degrees, you’re still not quite done.

Remember that no certificate is issued automatically. Once you complete your requirements, you have to apply to the State Education Department online at www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert for your permanent or professional certificate. Check your TEACH online account for the documents you need to submit together with your $100 application fee (reduced to $50 if your college recommends you). Make copies of everything before you send it in. Mail your packet “Return Receipt Requested” and file the receipt with the copies of your paperwork.

Since it takes time to process your application, it’s a good idea to complete all your requirements early and to apply at least six months before your provisional or initial certificate expires.

Also, if you move, remember to notify the DOE, the State Education Department and the UFT about your change of address. Otherwise you may not receive mailed notices or certificates and may miss important deadlines or other vital information.