new teacher q & a
Can I apply excess undergraduate credits
Jan 31, 2008 4:07 PM
A: If you earned more undergraduate credits than your college required for a bachelor’s degree, you may apply those excess credits toward your first differential (C2) or the intermediate differential (ID). For example, if your college required 128 credits for a bachelor’s degree and you earned 135 credits, you can apply seven credits toward your first differential, “BA + 30” (C2), and could qualify for this salary increase sooner.
Today, that would permanently add $1,518 to your base annual salary (C1). In addition, most teachers who qualify for the C2 are also eligible for a professional differential (PD) based on 36 credits in their area of concentration. The PD would add another $4,096 to your yearly base pay. Together, these two differentials could increase your earnings by $5,614 a year under the current salary schedule.
You should apply for any differential as soon as you qualify and certainly within six months of eligibility so that your differential pay will be retroactive to your date of qualification. If you apply after six months, the differential will be paid only from your application date. To use your excess credits toward a differential, you will need to submit an original letter signed by the school’s registrar and bearing the school’s seal. The letter should clearly state the number of credits required for the bachelor’s degree and the number of excess credits you earned.
To access information about salary differentials and to download an application. After completing the application, make a copy for your records, together with all required documentation. You can hand-deliver your application to 65 Court St., Room 815, or mail it, return receipt requested, to the address indicated on the application.
The Department of Education has improved its record on timely payment significantly in recent years following UFT-backed legislation that required interest added for payment delays. Today, most applicants receive their differential pay within a month or two of applying.
