CTE Certification
In May 2017, the Board of Regents adopted regulations that amended the requirements necessary to obtain Career and Technical Education (CTE) certificate titles. The state used the nationally recognized Career Clusters structure as a framework for CTE certification titles and streamlined the requirements for certification.
A CTE certificate authorizes the certificate holder to teach a specific CTE subject in an approved career and technical education program in a New York State public high school or BOCES. In NYS, certified teachers progress from entry level certificates (Transitional A or Initial) to the Professional certificate by completing specific educational and teaching experience requirements.
While some Classroom Teaching Certificates (agriculture teaching, business and marketing, family and consumer sciences, computer science and technology education) can be used to fulfill certain middle level CTE requirements, Career and Technical Education certificates are distinct titles that cover teaching occupational disciplines that comprise the career clusters structure (see complete document for Appendix 1).
The State Education Department (SED) has released updated school accountability determinations under the current ESSA plan. These updates include changes to both the identification process and the terminology used for school designations.
Transitional A Certificates:
Transitional certificates are designed to help transition industry professionals in CTE fields to state certified CTE teachers. The Transitional certificate is available to applicants who have not yet met all of the requirements for the initial CTE certificate but will be able to fulfill them concurrently with employment as a CTE Teacher.
A Transitional A certificate is valid for three (3) years and requires a commitment of employment and support from a NYS school district or BOCES. During these three (3) years, the CTE teacher will complete the remaining requirements for the Initial certificate.
A potential CTE teacher can obtain a Transitional A certificate by using one of many Options; these Options are designed to provide entry into teaching by using combinations of education (HS diploma or college courses), work experience, and industry-related credentials.
Option A: The applicant possesses an associates or higher degree in the CTE field plus two (2) years of work experience in the CTE field.
Option B: The applicant possesses a high school diploma, four (4) years of occupational work experience in the CTE field, and a passing score on the Communicative and Quantitative Skills (CQST) exam.
Option C: The applicant possesses an associate’s degree in the CTE field and two (2) years of teaching experience at the postsecondary level in the CTE field.
Option D: The applicant possesses a NY Full Private Career School Teacher License in the CTE field and two (2) years of paid teaching experience under such license in the CTE field.
Option G: The applicant possesses an Industry Related Credential or passed an Industry Accepted CTE Exam, and two (2) years of occupational work experience in the CTE field.
Option H: The applicant is enrolled in an approved NYS registered CTE program that leads to a certificate in the subject area of the certificate sought, holds a program recommendation for a Transitional A certificate, and has either one (1) year of work experience in the CTE field or a passing score on an industry exam in the CTE field.
Option I: TThe applicant possesses a classroom teaching certificate in grades 7-12 (any subject not CTE or Transitional) and either two (2) years of work experience in the CTE field or an industry related credential.
Option J: The applicant possesses a Bachelor’s degree or higher and either one (1) year of occupational work experience in the CTE field or an industry credential in the CTE field.
Visit the Office of Teaching Initiatives website and click on ‘Search Certification Requirements’ for additional information on the specific requirements for these Options, such as the documentation the state will accept as proof that the requirements have been fulfilled.
Note: All options require SED fingerprint clearance and completion of the three certification workshops: School Violence Intervention and Prevention, Child Abuse Identification with all current updates, and Dignity for All Students.
Initial CTE Certification
To obtain Initial certification applicants need to complete 40 days or more verified CTE teaching experience, nine credits of pedagogical coursework, and the work/education combinations in one of the Options for the Transitional A certificate. The nine (9) credits must include course work in:
- Human development and learning including, but not limited to, the impact of culture, heritage, socioeconomic level, and factors in the home and community that may affect a student’s readiness to learn. Acceptable studies include courses in human development, child psychology and educational psychology.
- Teaching students with disabilities and special healthcare needs within the general education classroom, including assistive technology; and an examination of the general education teacher’s role working with a team of collaborating professionals and family members of students with disabilities. Study also includes the legal foundations of special education as well as the historical and cultural context of special education services and inclusive practices that guide school policy and procedures. Acceptable study would include a general familiarization with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and the associated curricular, behavioral, instructional, and testing accommodations to assist students with disabilities in the general education classroom.
- Curriculum and/or instruction, including instructional technology.
Applicants for CTE certificates can apply for the Transitional A certificate and then progress to the initial CTE certificate OR apply directly for the initial CTE certificate based upon their individual work/education backgrounds.
Initial certificates are valid for five (5) years. During that time, CTE teachers complete the requirements for the Professional certificate.
Professional CTE Certification
To obtain Professional certification applicants need to have fulfilled the requirements for the initial certificates and complete an additional nine (9) credits of pedagogical coursework in the following:
- Teaching Literacy Skills Methods
- Instruction and/or Assessment
- Classroom Management.
Applicants for the professional certificate must also:
- Pass the Educating All Students (EAS) certification exam; and
- Have three (3) years of teaching experience in the CTE field of their certificate.
CTE Certification: Where to Start
Applicants first identify the specific CTE title that matches their educational background, work experience, or both. Applicants can verify available teaching positions using the OLAS system and/or checking individual school/BOCES websites.
Applicants then choose from one of two starting points, the Transitional A certificate or the Initial Teaching certificate, depending upon what requirements have already been met. To verify the requirements for either certificate, go to Office of Teaching Initiatives and click on ‘Search Certification Requirements’; the fields of choice and enter either Transitional A or Initial for the ‘Certificate Type’. Note that the Transitional A certificate requires that the applicant has already received a job offer as a CTE teacher.
Once the entry-level certificate type has been identified, applicants can apply directly to the state for a CTE certificate, or they can choose to complete a state-approved teacher preparation program that leads to certification in Career & Technical Education.Program options are offered by SUNY Oswego, Buffalo State College, and New York City College of Technology.
Individuals interested in the college program path should contact the colleges that offer CTE preparation programs: SUNY Oswego, Buffalo State College, and New York City College of Technology. Those applying on their own can do so at the Office of Teaching Initiatives’ website or through any local BOCES certification office.
All applications for teacher certification are done using the state’s TEACH system. All applicants create their own TEACH account with a unique login ID and Password, and apply for certificates on TEACH. To set up a TEACH account, please visit: TEACH Resources: TEACH System :OTI:NYSED. Helpful user instructions are also available at: highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/teachappfaq.html.
To fulfill the education course requirements, applicants can choose from a few options including but not limited to:
- College courses at regionally accredited colleges or universities. In NYS, applicants can take courses at colleges that offer teacher education programs as well as community colleges that offer education courses that feed into teacher education programs at 4-year institutions.
- NYSUT Education & Learning Trust: also known as ELT, the Trust partners with NYS colleges and universities to offer undergraduate and graduate courses in education that can be used to fulfill certification requirements.
- CLEP exams: applicants can earn college credit by successfully completing an exam.For example, the Human Growth & Development CLEP exam can be used to fulfill the competency area of human development and learning, required for the initial certificate.
- SUNY provides access to education courses that are offered online by SUNY colleges and universities. Applicants for CTE certification can search for available courses at this site.
- NYS Teacher Centers: individual teacher centers often partner with NYS colleges and universities to offer courses for undergraduate or graduate credit.Applicants for CTE certification can contact a local teacher center to determine if the center offers courses that fulfill CTE certification requirements.
Middle Level Flexibility: Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS), Technology Education (Tech Ed), and Career and Technology Education (CTE)
Since the 2018-2019 school year, all districts have had flexibility in terms of fulfilling the middle level program requirements of one (1) unit of study in Technology Education and the .75 unit of study in FACS. Districts have the option of continuing to fulfill this 1.75 unit of study with Agriculture, FACS and Technology Education or they can now fulfill this requirement by using any of the CTE content areas: technology education, family and consumer sciences, business, health sciences, agriculture, computer science, or trade and technical education.
More information specific to the Middle Level CTE curricular guidance can be found at Fact Sheet 23-07: Middle Level Flexibility: Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS), Technology Education (Tech Ed), and Career and Technology Education (CTE).
Additional CTE Resources and Information
Download complete document (including Middle Level FAQs and Career Clusters)
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