Teacher Certification Office

What is an OSPRA 104 form?
The OSPRA 104 Form is to be filed by individuals who have been previously fingerprinted (after July 1, 1990) for a license and/or employment by the New York City Public Schools (NYC Public Schools) and are authorizing the NYC Public Schools to forward their criminal history to the New York State Education Department for certification application and/or employment purposes.

How do I submit the OSPRA 104 form?

1. Obtain the OSPRA 104 form. This is also available via the NYS Education Department website: http://www.nysed.gov/educator-integrity/fingerprinting-forms.
2. Complete applicant sections 1 and 2. For section 2 select the checkbox that BEST describes your situation, even if it doesn’t fit 100%. Please note that ALL fields are required. Failure to complete all fields accurately will delay processing.
3. Sign and date applicant section 3.
4. Submit the completed form by uploading the form to the HR Connect Web Portal. Once logged into the portal, follow these steps:
5. Click “Upload Documents” which appears at the top of the screen.
6. All fields on the Upload Document page must be completed to submit your form.
7. From the Category drop down menu select “Walk-in Center OSPRA 104”.
8. Enter in the Subject field “OSPRA 104 form.”
9. Enter any additional details in the Notes field.
10. Attach the form/supporting document(s) by clicking the Choose File button.
11. When you have uploaded all pertinent documents, Click Submit.

Note:  To check the status of your request at any time, go to My Account which appears at the top of the screen and select Account Overview.

Important Tips:

Ensure that the information listed in your NYS TEACH account and the information in your Applicant Gateway profile matches correctly. If your personal information does not match (i.e., different last name, or date of birth), your OSPRA 104 process will not be successful.

How long will it take for my OSPRA 104 form to be processed?
OSPRA 104 requests will generally be processed within 15 business days.

For assistance call HR Connect 718-935-4000.

• New York City Fingerprinting for School Employment

Read about which tests are required for certification in New York

Search specific exam requirements for your certificate → Search Certification Requirements

List of NYS Teacher Certification Exams

Registrar (Graduation)

The college cannot recommend students for certification until the Graduation Audit Unit (Registrar) completes its final degree audit and the degree or advanced certificate conferral is awarded on your transcript.  The college recommendation will be entered on your TEACH Account within approximately 5 business days after your degree or advanced certificate has been awarded. 

Degree conferral does NOT take place immediately upon completion of your program.  After grades have been posted and the college’s grading process is complete, the Graduation Audit Unit will conduct the final degree audit and post the degree conferral on students’ transcripts.  Only students who have met all requirements for graduation will be conferred.  Your conferral date is the official graduation date on your transcript and diploma.  Participating in the commencement ceremony does NOT mean your degree has been conferred.

Degree Audit Process

The official audit is conducted by the Registrar Graduation Audit Unit, and supersedes all other indications that the student has completed all the degree requirements. The degree audit is the final step before degree conferral.

• Step 1: File for graduation via your CUNYfirst account. Please be aware of the application deadline.
  Once complete your graduation status will be listed as “Applied for Graduation.”

• Step 2: Your student record will be reviewed for completion of the college’s general education requirements, pending the completion of the current semester’s coursework.
  Once complete your graduation status will change to “Program in Review.”

• Step 3: Your student record will then be reviewed for major/minor specific requirements.
  Once complete your graduation status will change to “Needs to Finish Pending Work.”

• Step 4: After grades have been posted to your account and the college’s grading process is complete, a final review of your application will be completed, and the graduation notation will be posted. Once complete your graduation status will change to “Degree Awarded.” Check your unofficial student transcript through Self Service > Academic Records to see your if degree has been “Awarded”.

This process cannot be expedited.

​Yes. You must enter an application for certification on the NYSED TEACH Online Services system.

• Check Status of Application

​The NYSED allows already certified individuals to apply for most additional areas of certification (or extensions) on their own through the Additional Classroom Teaching Certificate (Must hold a valid certificate) Pathway or the Individual Evaluation Pathway.

– To apply for additional areas log-in to the TEACH Online system, apply for the additional certificate (or extension) following the instructions on the website.

– When prompted for a program code, you DO NOT enter a program code, instead select: “(B) No, I have not completed, nor am I enrolled in, an Approved Teacher Preparation Program at a New York State College or University for this certificate and this type.”

– On the Interstate Reciprocity screen, select “No, I am not eligible to apply through the Interstate Reciprocity Pathway”.  Then select the Individual Evaluation for an Additional Classroom Teaching Certificate Pathway or Individual Evaluation Pathway.”

– You will then have to submit your official transcripts (and/or other documentation) and wait for them to be reviewed.

*When your transcript(s) are first received your application will be listed as Ready for Review.  Ready for Review means just that – your application hasn’t been reviewed by an evaluator at the NYSED yet.  The system defaults to “deficient” or “unmet” for some requirements until the application is evaluated, it more accurately should state “not yet reviewed” next to those requirements.  The evaluation will change once your application is reviewed.

• Check Status of Application
• Coursework to Satisfy Unmet Requirements
• Search Certification Requirements
• Submitting Documents

– As you would be applying directly to the NYSED, please contact them with any questions you may have: Contact Information

– As a matter of policy Queens College does not evaluate transcripts for individuals applying through an Individual Evaluation Pathway. Any evaluation completed other than by the NYSED would be unofficial and possibly inaccurate.

To order official transcripts from Queens College click here.

QC Registrar – Transcript and Grading Information