Certification Types

certification

The content on this page is from Fact Sheet 25-10: Teacher Certification in New York State.

It is important for members to know which certificate(s) they possess and how to maintain these credentials in order to protect their career and livelihood. Local leaders should be aware of the variety of certificate types and the purpose and validity of each certificate.

If you should have any questions about certification or these certificate types, please contact NYSUT Research & Educational Services.

Certificate Types for Teaching Titles

CERTIFICATE

PURPOSE

NOTES

Provisional

Entry credential between 9/2/98 and 2/1/04; was replaced by initial certification

  • No longer issued by NYS after 2/1/04
  • Must apply for current Initial or Professional Certificate 

Initial

Replaced Provisional certification; designates Classroom Teacher entry-level certificate

  • Issued in specific subject/grade level
  • Valid for five (5) years
  • Leads to Professional Certificate
  • Eligible for Reissuance

 

Initial Reissuance 

A reissuance of an Initial certificate that has expired. 

Permanent

Final credential for Provisional certificate holders

  • Remains continuously valid
  • No longer issued for Classroom Teacher titles by NYS

Professional

Replaces Permanent certification; designates next step in sequence of Initial to Professional certification; advanced-level for Classroom Teachers & CTE Teachers
  • Available beginning 2/2/04
  • Valid continuously with fulfillment of Continuing Teacher & Leader Education (CTLE) hours during five (5) year Registration period 

Supplementary Certificate

 

Allows already certified teachers to teach in a different subject area where a need exists

  • Valid for five (5) years while completing requirements for the Initial or Professional certification in the new subject area
  • Requires school district recommendation on TEACH
  • Leads to an Initial or Professional certificate, depending upon previous teaching experience

Transitional A  

Credential for individuals in specific career and technical (CTE) subjects

  • Valid for three (3) years
  • Requires Occupational Experience and school district recommendation on TEACH
  • Leads to CTE Initial Certificate
  • A single Time Extension available for three (3) years; requires statement of continued employment from school district and completion of Conditions for Time Extension Attestation (NYESD) form

Transitional B

Credential for individuals enrolled in a Transitional B alternative certification program

 Transitional C

Credential for career changers holding a graduate academic or graduate professional degree enrolled in a Transitional C alternative certification program

Transitional G

Credential for higher education faculty with post secondary teaching experience in a Grades 7-12 certificate area or closely related subject; alternative certification pathway

  • Valid for two (2) years
  • Requires graduate degree and either undergraduate degree or graduate degree in the subject area of certification 
  • District Recommendation on TEACH required
  • Leads to Initial Certificate
  • A single Time Extension available for two (2) years; requires statement of continued employment from school district and completion of Conditions for Time Extension Attestation (NYESD) form

Transitional J

Credential for for military spouses of an individual on full-time active duty with the Armed Forces whose permanent duty station is in New York State 
  • Valid for one (1) year from its effective date to give military spouses time to pass the EAS and CST exam(s). 
  • Requires employment and support commitment from school district on TEACH
  • May be renewed once for an additional two (2) years if the EAS and CST exams(s) were passed before original certificate expiration.

Internship

Issued to candidates who are enrolled in a graduate-level, teacher preparation program leading to teacher certification; must have completed 50% of teacher preparation program 
  • Valid up to two years
  • College recommendation on TEACH required
  • Certificate holder can be teacher of record
  • Educational setting (District, grade level, subject) specific
  • Graduation or leaving the program invalidates certificate
  • Leads to an Initial or Professional certificate, depending upon previous teaching experience
  • A single Time Extension available for three (3) years; requires verification by higher ed institution of continued enrollment in the teacher prep program (NYSED)

Residency

Issued to individuals who are enrolled in a New York State registered residency program and have an employment and support commitment from a partnering school district. The ‘residency’ is a structured, college-supervised experience connected to program learning goals that is at least one academic year long and includes at least 1,000 hours of clinical experiences.

  • Valid for up to three (3) years while matriculated in program
  • Leads to Initial Certificate
  • Educational setting (District, grade level, subject) specific
  • College recommendation on TEACH required
  • Requires employment and support commitment from school district on TEACH as well
  • Cannot be the teacher of record
  • Graduation or leaving the program invalidates certificate; expiration date  three months after the date of the recommendation  

Statement of Continuing Eligibility (SOCE)

No SOCE titles are currently issued by State Ed;

Allows individuals to continue teaching subjects they taught in the areas of Theater, Gifted Education, American Sign Language, Special Education, and Computer Science before certification requirement changes where made

Theater, Gifted Education, & American Sign Language

  • Valid continuously
  • Must had taught in area before September 1, 2006
  • Transferable from one NYS School district to another

Teachers of Students with Disabilities Grade 7-12 Special Classes

  • Valid continuously
  • Specific to the subject of the SOCE (biology, chemistry, earth science, English Language Arts, general science, languages other than English, mathematics, physics, and social studies)
  • Only valid for Special Classes
  • Valid in school district where teaching when issued (not transferrable to other school districts) 

Computer Science

  • Valid for 10 years from the date issued
  • Valid in school district where teaching when issued (not transferrable to other school districts)
    •  

Permit for Service in Areas where No Certificate Exists

For districts to employ an individual in a position for which no certificate currently exists (e.g.: NJROTC)

  • Valid for two years
  • District must request from State Ed
  • May be extended for five year intervals
  • Issued only for service in request this permit

Permit for Service Under an Out-of-state Certificate for Certain Service members and Spouses

For military service member or service members’ spouse who relocates their residency because of a military order or orders for military service in New York State; hold a valid, comparable educator certificate or license in good standing from out-of-state; actively used certificate or license during previous two years
  • Valid for duration of the military orders or for the time period during which the out-of-state certificate or license is valid, whichever ends first
  • Must submit to the full disciplinary and regulatory authority of the Board of Regents and the New York State Education Department (Attestation Form - NYSED)
  • Permit holder subject to the moral character review process (NYSED) pursuant to Part 83 of the Commissioner’s regulations
  • If full-time educator, will be considered a professional educator and appointed to tenure or to a probationary period in a tenure area
  • Service for fives years or more subject to CTLE requirements pursuant to Part 80-6 of the Commissioner’s regulations

Visiting Lecturer

For districts to employ an individual with unusual qualifications in a specific subject

  • Valid for one year
  • Typically issued to teachers from other countries
  • District recommendation on TEACH required