Internship Certificate

Internship Certificate

The Internship certificate is available to eligible candidates who are enrolled in a NYS registered graduate educator preparation program leading to classroom teacher, school counselor, and educational leadership certification that includes internship experience(s).

Internship Definition

The Internship certificate enables candidates who are enrolled in a NYS registered graduate educator preparation program leading to teacher, school counselor, school psychology, or educational leadership certification to work in New York State public schools in the area of the certificate during their internship experience. An “internship” is the student teaching experience (or its equivalent) in teacher preparation programs, the full-time leadership experience in educational leadership programs, and the internship in school counselor and school psychology programs. Clinical experiences prior to the internship are not considered part of the internship (e.g., 100 clock hours of field experiences prior to student teaching are not part of the internship). Candidates must be supervised by program faculty and appropriately certified school personnel in the area of the certificate sought, according to the regulations and program requirements. Since the Internship certificate enables candidates to work in New York State public schools during their internship experience, programs cannot submit the institutional recommendation for this certificate for candidates after their internship ends.

Institutional Recommendation for Certification

Candidates must have an institutional recommendation for certification to receive the Internship certificate. They are eligible for the Internship certificate if they have completed at least 50% of the semester hour requirement for the program and meet any additional criteria set forth by their institution. The educator preparation program could submit the institutional recommendation for this certificate for eligible candidates if they have:

  • Met the 50% semester hour requirement and any additional institutional criteria (i.e. exams, workshops),
  • Not completed the internship for their program, and
  • Been hired by a school district or BOCES for their internship, as defined above (e.g., clinical experiences prior to the internship are not considered part of the internship).

Candidates need to apply and pay the fee for the Internship certificate. After they have applied, received the institutional recommendation, and completed their fingerprint clearance, the certificate will automatically issue in the candidates’ TEACH account.

Since the Internship certificate enables candidates to work in New York State public schools during their internship experience, programs cannot submit the institutional recommendation for this certificate for candidates after their internship ends.

Requirements for Internship Certificate Recommendation

  • Currently enrolled in a NYS registered graduate program.
  • Completed at least 50% of a NYS registered graduate program.
  • Completed the NYS Required Workshops
  • Passed the required CST and EAS Exams.
  • Have a letter from your Program Coordinator stating that you have completed at least 50% of your program, are in good standing, and that you are eligible for an Internship Certificate.
  • Have a letter from a school offering you a position.  The letter must be on school letterhead, signed by the principal, and must include the following:
    1. The title and subject area of the position which you are being offered (must be consistent with your program of study).
    2. The term of employment.
    3. That the school is willing to hire you under an Internship Certificate.

Validity Period

The Internship certificate is valid for up to two years.

When candidates successfully complete the educator preparation program, the Internship certificate is no longer valid when the program submits the candidates’ institutional recommendations for certification in the TEACH system (e.g., Initial and/or Professional, Provisional and/or Permanent).

Should a time extension beyond two years of the issued Internship Certificate be necessary AND the candidate is still enrolled in the educator preparation program, the certificate can receive one, three-year time extension. However, should the candidate leave the program or graduate, the time extension will expire. Please see the Time Extension webpage: Time Extension of a Transitional, Internship, or Residency Certificate

How to Request Institutional Recommendation for the Internship Certificate

​To request institutional recommendation for an Internship Certificate you must submit the following to the Queens College Teacher Certification Office:

  1. College Recommendation Request Form – Sign-in to Office 365 with your CUNY Credentials (firstname.lastnameXX@login.cuny.edu where XX are the last two digits of your EMPLID) and CUNYfirst password. You may need to open an incognito (private browsing) window to access the form.
  2. Letter from your Program Coordinator recommending you for the Internship Certificate.
  3. Letter from a school offering you a position.
  4. Proof of completion of the required workshops and passing exam scores.

​Apply for the certificate by entering an application on your NYSED TEACH Account. (Do not enter the application until after the Internship Certificate recommendation has been entered on your TEACH Account.)

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When the student completes or leaves the program, the certificate is no longer valid.

tcert@qc.cuny.edu

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