Certification Primer for New Teachers
Do you know whether you have a Provisional or Initial Certificate? Are you clear about your requirements under a Transitional A or Transitional B Certificate? Are you aware of your deadlines for completing your requirements if you are working under an Extended or Renewed Provisional Certificate?
If you are confused about these or other aspects of your state certification, you’re not alone. In recent years, the State Education Department (SED) increased the number of certificate categories to more than 10, each with different requirements and deadlines. And the UFT is fielding many questions from newer teachers looking for clear, understandable and reliable answers.
“The state provided alternative routes to certification to give prospective teachers greater flexibility, and that’s a good thing,” notes Ann Rosen, UFT special representative for certification and licensing. “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.”
To help teachers find their way, the union has a team of UFT consultants and educational liaisons. They, in turn, offer workshops in schools or UFT borough offices and respond to teachers’ questions in person, by telephone and via e-mail.
To address the most common points of confusion, we’ve prepared this brief certification primer. If you need more specific information, make an appointment with the UFT Certification Services Department at UFT headquarters at 52 Broadway (1-212-420-1830). You can also e-mail or speak to an educational liaison in your UFT borough office.
Check your credentials
To answer any questions about your certification, you first must know the type of certificate you currently hold. You’ll find that by checking the face of your state certificate. Also, first-year teachers can consult a recent New York City Department of Education (DOE) e-mail that clearly identifies individual appointment, licensing and certification details, including codes and dates. (The UFT has asked the DOE to issue a similar document to previously hired teachers, as well.)
Once you know your certificate type and the expiration date, it’s possible to determine the requirements you need to fulfill and how much time you have to complete them.
If you have not already done so, be sure to register on the SED Web site for a TEACH online account ( click the box on the right). This will enable you to track the requirements you have already met and those you still need to meet.
Here are the most common types of certificates New York City teachers hold:
Provisional Certificate. The only teachers who still hold a valid provisional certificate are those who have been granted a time extension by the SED. If you have this certificate, be sure to complete all of the following requirements for a permanent certificate before your new deadline:
- A master’s degree. The UFT Teacher Center, in collaboration with area colleges, offers master’s degree programs, some at reduced rates, to help you meet this requirement. Also, check the SED Web site for other options.
- A passing grade on your Content Specialty Test (CST) and the ATS-P (the performance video), if required for your certificate. Those with a pre-K-6 certificate must take the multisubject Content Specialty Test, whether you are appointed under an early childhood or a common branches license. The UFT Teacher Center holds coaching sessions to prepare you for the ATS-P. Look for announcements in New York Teacher ads and at www.ufttc.org.
Permanent Certificate. This is the final certificate issued to teachers with a valid provisional certificate, provided they complete all requirements and file an application before their provisional certificates expire.
Initial Certificate. This entry-level certificate became available on Sept. 1, 2004, under new state requirements. With this certificate, you have five years from the issue date to complete the following requirements for a professional certificate:
- A master’s degree;
- 12 graduate credits in the certificate area’s content core or a related field;
- Three years of full-time teaching experience;
- One year of mentoring; and
- U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
Professional Certificate. With this advanced certificate, you have met all current state requirements. However, even after you achieve your professional certificate, the SED requires you to complete 175 hours of professional development (35 hours per year) within five years of the issue date to keep your certificate valid.
The UFT is urging the DOE to count toward this 35-hour annual requirement the hours of mandated professional development that teachers take each year during the days designated for staff development and at other times during the school day, in accordance with the terms of the current contract. Until an agreement is reached with the DOE, the union advises you to keep in your personal file a log and all paperwork showing the professional development you have taken. You will be notified as soon as an agreement with the DOE is reached.
Special situations
Under special circumstances, the SED 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 SED 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: a. the master’s program in which you are enrolled; and b. the teaching position for which you were hired. You have three years from the issue date of your Transitional B certificate to complete your master’s degree and fulfill any test or other requirements for the initial or professional certificate. When you have done so, your college must 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, provided 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 SED 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 SED issues this temporary certificate to give a candidate with a provisional certificate some extra time to complete all requirements for permanent certification. If you hold an extended certificate, be sure to fulfill your remaining requirements within the time limits specified in the extension.
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 SED 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. Make copies of everything before you send them 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 SED 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.
TeacherLine for Certification Questions
The UFT’s TeacherLine provides phone help for questions about certification and your New York City teaching appointment.
Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m.
For assistance, e-mail TeacherLine or call 1-212-253-8800.
To Keep Your State Professional Certificate Valid
New York State requires teachers who have obtained professional certification
to complete 175 hours of professional development every five years (35
hours per year) to keep their professional certificate valid. It is the
responsibility of the New York City Department of Education to provide
the guidance for completing this requirement and the mechanism for reporting
to SED. We expect to have more details in fall 2009. Tor further information
read the New York Teacher and talk to your UFT chapter leader.
Meeting State and City Requirements
The UFT offers many programs and services to help you hone your skills and meet certification and licensing requirements. You can turn to the union for:
- Certification. Get advice or assistance about your certification requirements through TeacherLine (1-212-253-8800).
- Coaching for tests. Low-cost coaching sessions help you prepare
for these state-mandated exams:
– The Liberal Arts and Science Test (LAST).
– The Assessment of Teaching Skills –Written (ATS-W).
– The LAST – Writing for the Essay. - Child abuse detection and reporting. A low-cost two-hour course in child abuse recognition and reporting, for those who have not already fulfilled this state requirement. Times and locations appear in the New York Teacher educational supplement, which the UFT mails in August, January and June, or you can find them online at www.ufttc.org (click on “conferences”).
- Violence prevention. A low-cost violence prevention workshop required of all new teachers by the New York State Education Department. This two-hour course, offered throughout the school year by the UFT School Safety Department, meets state requirements for certification.
The coaching sessions familiarize you with the test formats and emphasize test-taking techniques.
Meeting Credit or Degree Requirements
You undoubtedly know that you have to earn a master’s degree. But did you know that you’;ll also earn more money when you get your master’s — and that you’ll earn even more if you have a masters, plus 30 credits and qualify for the “second differential”.
By taking courses or enrolling in a master’s or certificate program through the UFT Teacher Center, you’ll not only get a good education, but often save money, too, at most of the participating colleges. These courses are taught by UFT colleagues, experienced classroom teachers who combine theory with practical applications you can use every day.
- Credit-bearing courses, some with reduced tuition. The UFT Teacher Center schedules more than 500 undergraduate and graduate courses each year. Look for the special educational supplement to the New York Teacher, mailed to all members before each term, in the fall, spring and summer. Or go to www.ufttc.org for listings.
- Master’s degree and certificate programs. These Teacher Center programs, offered in conjunction with several area colleges and universities, are fully described in the educational supplement to the New York Teacher.
Questions about certification or appointment? Call
the certification expert in your UFT borough office. Ask to speak to an
educational liaison.
To register or find dates for state examinations go
to www.nystce.nesinc. com.
For the schedule of UFT test coaching courses — including the performance
video — watch the new teacher pages of the New
York Teacher or go
to www.ufttc.org and click on “conferences.”
Click here for a pdf of the Record of Your New York State Certification and New York City Licensing/Appointment form.
Next page: Professional Growth