It is so important that someone in your school steps up and takes this important role. If your chapter is not organized, there won't be the necessary checks and balances on administration and UFT members will not have the same voice at the school level. Maybe it can be a topic for discussion at the next UFT member meeting at your school.  Please reach out to your borough office or District Representative for further support within this process.

The main exams required for state certification are the EAS (Educating All Students) and the CST (Content Specialty Test). If the person is applying for a bilingual or special education certificate, additional exams are also required. As of April 27, 2022, candidates who apply for state certification will no longer need to complete the edTPA exam. See additional information about this change »

Apply through NYSED at: www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/home.html. If you have problems logging in, email tcert@nysed.gov and type "forgot username/password" on the subject line. 

If your certification is expiring you need to do the following:

1. You will need to apply for the appropriate certificate through your Teach account.
2. You will need to complete an OT 37 Verification of Paid Experience Form and submit to your Human Resource Director.
3. Send an email to mentorverification@schools.nyc.gov to submit your mentored experience.
4. Follow up with a certification specialist in your UFT borough office, especially if you have further questions.

Every case is different. Arrests can have serious consequences. Members should speak to their private attorney and then to a UFT Representative in the Investigations Department.

Yes. The principal must be informed immediately in writing about all arrests.

Immediately.

All arrests, regardless of the issue involved, the location of the arrest, or when it took place MUST be immediately reported in writing to the Office of Personnel Investigations and your Principal. The best way is by e-mail to OPIarrestnotification@schools.nyc.gov and cc your Principal.

DOE employees must immediately report all arrest to the Office of Personnel Administration and to their supervisor (Principal) in writing. DOE employees should email: OPIArrestNotification@schools.nyc.gov.

Checks for appointed pedagogues and annualized paraprofessionals are issued on a semi-monthly basis, on the 15th and 30th of each month.  

You can verify your current pay by logging in to the DOE Payroll Portal: https://payrollportal.nycboe.net.

For more information about your salary, steps and differentials, you can go to the UFT website at: https://www.uft.org/your-rights/salary.

On your QPP retirement application, you must decide how your TDA funds will be distributed. You may receive your TDA funds as an annuity separate from your QPP retirement allowance. You may instead elect TDA Deferral status, and thereby defer distribution of your TDA funds past the initial payability date of your QPP retirement allowance. A third choice is to make a Direct Withdrawal, Direct Rollover, or Direct Transfer of all or part of your TDA funds; if you make a partial withdrawal, you may annuitize or defer your balance. For more information, please see the TDA Options at Retirement brochure.

You should not make a decision without first discussing these options with a UFT pension consultant.