New York State Certification
All candidates/students who complete Queens College Teacher Preparation Programs that lead to New York State Certification are eligible to be recommended for New York State Certification through the Teacher Certification Office. NYS Certification is the primary credential needed to teach anywhere in New York State including New York City.
The Queens College Teacher Certification Office is an on-going resource for certification questions, testing information, and workshop information. It is available to you throughout your time with Queens College and beyond. We are here to assist you with all of your certification needs.
All students completing Teacher Preparation Programs at Queens College leading to New York State Certification must complete an On-Line Application on the New York State TEACH website for certification. All certifications must be applied for – the process is never automatic. To this end, the Teacher Certification Office holds Certification / Application / Information / Sessions every semester to guide individuals applying for certifications after completing their programs. It is through these sessions the Teacher Certification Office is prompted to recommend you for certification.
Queens College and New York State Components Needed to Obtain Certification
General Components Within Your Queens College Program
- Completion of your entire Queens College Teacher Preparation Program (including student teaching, internship, or practicum.
- For the First Initial Certification completion of the four seminars (Child Abuse, School Violence, School Safety, and Alcohol and Substance Abuse) – contact the Professional and Continuing Studies Department on-campus to sign up for these seminars – 718-997-5700.
- Masters and Bachelors students remember to file for graduation before the semester deadlines
- Fall: on or before November 1st
- Spring: on or before March 1st
- Summer: on or before July 1st
Students applying for summer graduation who wish to attend the Commencement Ceremony must file a for a graduation application by April 1. The Commencement Ceremony is held only once a year – at the end of the Spring Semester.
Obtaining certification: During your last semester, before you complete your program but have applied for graduation, you will be contacted by the Teacher Certification Office via mail to sign up for a Certification / Application / Information / Session to begin the process of applying for and being recommended for certification.
- Items that must be completed within the education programs
- Completion of a Teacher Preparation Program at Queens College including student teaching, internship, or practicum.
- Completion of the required seminars (which are described below): Please contact the Professional and Continuing Studies Department in Queens Hall (Former CUNY Law School) to sign up – 718-997-5700
- Bachelor’s Degree – (First Initial Certification) Child Abuse, School Violence, School Safety, and Alcohol and Substance Abuse
- Post Bachelors Advanced Certificate Programs – (First Initial Certificate) Child Abuse, School Violence, School Safety, and Alcohol and Substance Abuse
- Masters Degrees – Required seminars are based upon the program you are completing.
- If your Master’s Degree leads to the First Initial Certification you will have to take the Child Abuse, School Violence, School Safety, and Alcohol and Substance Abuse
- If your Master’s Degree is for a second certification the required seminars are based on your program
- If you are initially certified through a university OTHER than Queens College, you must complete the School Safety Seminar (Does not apply to School Counseling and School Psychology)
- Please note that the AUTISM SEMINAR IS NOT REQUIRED if you are completing a MSED program in Students with Disabilities and applying for certification through the Queens College Teacher Certification Office.
- Post Masters Advanced Certificate Programs – Required seminars are based upon the program you are completing.
- If you are initially certified through a university OTHER than Queens College, you must complete the School Safety Seminar.
- Please note that the AUTISM SEMINAR IS REQUIRED if you are completing a Post Masters Advanced Certificate in Students with Disabilities.
New York State Components Needed to Obtain Certification in Addition to the Above
- For First Initial Certification (up to the Fall Semester ending 2/1/2014)
- *LAST (Liberal and Arts Test)*
- *ATS-W (Assessment of Teaching Skills – Written on the Elementary or Secondary level)*
- *CST (Content Specialty Test in your area of study)*
- If you are NOT completing your program for your First Initial as of the Fall Semester ending 2/1/2014 new tests will be required – for First Initial Certification for a Teaching Certificate the following tests will be required
- **EAS (Educating All Students)**
- **ALST (Academic Literacy Skills Test)**
- **CST (Revised Test)**
- **edTPA (education Teaching Performance Assessment Test)**
- If you are NOT completing your Initial Certification in School Building Leadership Program as of the Fall Semester ending 2/1/2014 new tests will be required – for Initial Certification for the School Building Leader Certificate the following tests will be required
- **EAS (Educating All Students)**
- **Revised School Building Leader Assessment Test (SBL)**
- If you are NOT completing your Professional Certification in School District Leader Program as of the Fall Semester ending 2/1/2014 new tests will be required – for Professional Certification for the School District Leader Certificate the following tests will be required
- **EAS (Educating All Students)**
- **Revised School Building Leader Assessment Test (SDL)**
- For Additional Certifications
- CST is required for any additional certification you seek after Initial Certification
- BEA – (Bilingual Evaluation Assessment) for Bilingual Extensions ONLY
- Please Note: Pupil Personnel Programs leading to Provisional and Permanent Certification are not required to complete any exams
- Fingerprint Clearance is required for the State to issue certifications
- To transfer fingerprint clearance from the New York City Department of Education to the New York State Department of Education, use the OSPRA 104 Form
- To Transfer fingerprint clearance from the New York State Department of Education to the New York City Department of Education if you want to work in New York City, use the OSPRA 103 Form.
If you have any questions regarding certification, please call the Teacher Certification Office at (718)-997-5547 or visit during office hours – Delany Hall – Room G-10.
***Applying for New York State Certification using the Teacher Certification Office is recommended because you have the backing of Queens College. It is a quicker process and requires no additional requirements that are usually required when you apply individually.***
