FAQ 2 – Re-Registering Certificates with the State Education Department
Q1: Who has to re-register?
A1: Permanently certified teachers/school building leaders, professionally certified teachers/school building leaders, and Level III Teaching Assistants must register with the State Education Department every five years. To check the start and end date of your registration cycle, select “View or Change Registration Status” on your TEACH home page. Registration & Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) Requirements.
Q2: Where can I find the state’s directions for re-registering my certificate(s)?
A2: The directions for re-registering are available at Re-registration and Conditional Registration Directions.
Q3: When should I re-register?
A3: Educators can re-register six months prior to their registration cycle expiration date.
Q4: Will the state notify me that my registration cycle is ending?
A4: Yes. Using TEACH, the state will email individuals six months, three months, and one month prior to the expiration of their registration cycle. A valid email, preferably a home email, is required in TEACH to receive these notices.
Q5: When re-registering, TEACH asked me how many years I was practicing during my 5-year cycle. If I was on leave for a year, should I enter 4 years and not 5?
A5: Yes. If you were not ‘practicing’ your response should reflect that. The term ‘Practicing’ is defined as ‘employed 90 days or more during a school year by a single applicable school in New York State. A day of employment includes a day actually worked in whole or in part, or a day not actually worked but a day paid.’
Q5a: What if I didn’t change my registration status to ‘Inactive’ in TEACH for the leave, should I still enter 4 years and not 5?
A5a: Yes. The state recognizes that guidance regarding switching one’s registration status during a registration cycle was not as comprehensive as it could have been when this process started. The state has emphasized that it wants accurate information as the re-registration process is implemented.
Q6: What is the ‘Conditional Registration’?
A6: Conditional Registration is the state’s way of providing flexibility regarding the CTLE hours’ requirement during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you could not complete the required 100 CTLE hours during this first registration cycle for any reason you can request a ‘Conditional Registration’ and the state will add an additional year to your 5-year registration cycle.
Q7: Do I need to submit any documentation to obtain a ‘Conditional Registration’?
A7: No. No documentation is needed.
Q8: If I get a Conditional Registration, what do I need to do once I complete the missing CTLE hours?
A8: Once you complete the missing hours you can register for your next 5-year registration cycle. Note: you can do this beginning six months before the Conditional Registration expiration date.
Q9: What is the difference between a ‘conditional registration’ and an ‘adjustment’?
A9: A Conditional Registration adds one additional year to your current 5-year registration cycle and does not require any supporting documentation. Adding a year to your current registration cycle means that you will only be completing the missing CTLE hours during that extra year.
An ‘Adjustment’ provides you with one more year to complete any missing CTLE hours yet requires documentation for the adjustment and the year provided does not get attached to your current 5-year registration cycle. In other words, you would need to complete any missing hours from your first registration cycle while simultaneously completing hours for your second registration cycle.
Q10: Is there a requirement to notify the State Education Department if I move or change my name?
A10: Yes. Registration regulations require that you notify the State Education Department within 30 days of moving or changing your name. These changes can be done on your TEACH account.