Section Contents

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  MEETING STATE AND CITY REQUIREMENTS
• MEETING CREDIT OR DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
• DOE Professional Development Opportunities
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS
• UFT PROFESSIONAL COMMITTEES

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. 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:

• 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.

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 – or that you’ll earn even more if you reach 30 credits above your master’s 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.

DOE Professional Development Opportunities

• The After-School Professional Development Program offers a wide range of classes that you may use when working toward your pay differential. Go to http://www.nyaspdp.org.
• The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers teachers the opportunity to receive college credits by earning qualifying scores on CLEP tests. Subject to limitations, CLEP credits earned in Professional Education subjects and other appropriate subjects may be applied toward meeting the certification/licensing requirements of the New York State Education Department and/or the New York City Department of Education. In addition, appropriate CLEP credits may be applied toward salary differentials. Go to www.nycenet.edu/offices/dhr/training/clepregistration/schdle/clephome.aspx.

To view a listing of CLEP tests available, visit: www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/ scr_cgs.html.

Professional Development Requirements

To enhance your teaching skills and further your knowledge about the subjects you teach, the UFT Teacher Center offers a variety of conferences that can help you. New York State requires new teachers to have a professional development program that it provides during the first year on the job.

In addition, the 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 certificate valid. It is the responsibility of the New York City Department of Education to provide the opportunity to complete this requirement on school time.

UFT Professional Committees

UFT Professional Committees can enhance your academic growth through such activities as conferences, seminars, trips and newsletters. Organized according to subject areas, ethnic heritage and special interests, they allow teachers to meet with like-minded colleagues to keep abreast of the latest developments in their areas of interest. Look in the Events column or the UFT Calendar in the New York Teacher for upcoming activities. Call 1-212-598-7772 for contact information for specific committees.

African American Heritage
Albanian American Heritage
Asian American Heritage
Association of Family & Consumer
Science Educators/UFT (AFCS)
Association of Teachers of Social
Studies/UFT
Capably Disabled
Computer & Technology
English as a Second Language/Bilingual
English Language Arts Council (ELAC)/UFT
Hellenic American Educators Assn/UFT
Hispanic Affairs
Humane Education
Irish American
Italian American
Jewish Heritage
Library
Math Teachers
Media
NYC Art Teachers Association/UFT (NYCATA)
NYC Association of Foreign Language
Teachers/UFT
NYC Coaches Association/UFT
NYC Dance Educators/UFT
NYC Music Teachers Association/UFT
Outdoor Environmental Education
Per Diems
Players
Runners
Science
Social and Recreational
Veterans
Women’s Rights

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