• Completion of your entire Queens College program (Including student teaching for your first certification)
• Masters and Bachelors students remember to file for graduation before the semester deadlines 
  • Fall: November 1st  
  • Spring: May 1st
  • Summer: July 1st 

Students applying for summer graduation who wish to attend the Commencement Ceremony must file a graduation application by April 1. The Commencement Ceremony is held only once a year--at the end of the SPRING semester.

To apply for certification: During your last semester, before you complete your program, you will be contacted by the Teacher Certification Office to sign up for a Certification Application Information Session to begin the process of applying for and being recommended for certification. Print the Certification Information Handbook prior to attending the certification Information Sessions. 

• Completion of the required seminars (which are described directly below): Please Contact the Professional & Continuing Studies Department in Kiely Hall room 111 to Sign Up-718-997-5704 (see link under Queens College Links).
  • Bachelors Degree - Child Abuse, School Violence, School Safety, and Alcohol & Drug Abuse 
  • Advanced Certificate Program (Initial Certificate) - Child Abuse, School Violence, School Safety, and Alcohol & Drug Abuse 
  • Master’s Degree - Required seminars are determined based upon program  
    • If Initially certified through a university other than Queens College, you must complete the School Safety Seminar (Does not apply to School Psychology & School Counseling)
    • Please note that the Autism seminar is not required if you are completing an entire program in Students with Disabilities and applying for certification through the Queens College Certification Office. 
  • Post Master’s Advanced Certificate Program -  Required seminars are determined based upon program             
    • If previously certified through a university other than Queens College, you must complete the  School Safety Seminar      
    • Please note that the Autism seminar is not required if you are completing an entire program in Students with Disabilities and applying for certification through the Queens College Certification Office.

New York State components needed to obtain certification in addition to the above: 

• New York State Teacher Certification Examinations
  • For First Initial Certification: 
    • LAST (Liberal Arts and Science Test)* 
    • ATS-W (Assessment of Teaching Skills – Written)* 
    • CST (Content Specialty Test in Area of Study)*
  • An additional Assessment Test is projected to be required as of     
    • Spring 2014 for Teachers 
    • Spring 2014 for School Building Leaders & School District Leaders 

*NEWS ABOUT THE LAST, ATS-W, AND CST.  If you are not completing your program for your first Initial Certification by the Fall of 2013 semester, new exams will be required.  Do not take the LAST, ATS-W, nor the CST if you are completing your program after Fall 2013. New NYSTCE Testing Program Update information is included on the right.

For additional certifications:  

• CST – is required for each certification you are seeking 
• 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 Certification
• To transfer fingerprint clearance from the NYC BD of Ed, use the OSPRA 104 Form (see link under General Certification Links for form) 
• To transfer fingerprint clearance from the NY State Education Dept, use the OSPRA 103 Form (see link under General Certification links for form).