Background
In October 2025 the NYS Education Department implemented new regulations governing the certification of Teaching Assistants in New York. These changes included the creation of Initial and Professional Teaching Assistant certificate titles. The regulations also provides a phaseout timeline for Level I, and Level II TA certificate holders to continue to a Level III TA certificate or switch to the post October 2, 2025 Initial or Professional TA certificate titles. These regulations increased the preparation requirements for teaching assistants and created a career ladder for teaching assistants.
This Fact Sheet focuses on certification requirements for teaching assistants post October 2025. It also summarizes the duties of teacher aides and teaching assistants in the areas of employment, job duties, licensing and certification, including New York State laws and regulations governing each area. Finally, it addresses the most frequently asked questions related to certification and licensure.
Currently certified Teaching Assistants are not required to apply for either the Initial or Professional TA Certificate. They Can continue in the Level I, II, III system if they progress to a Level III TA certificate by August 31, 2031.
The document is provided for general information purposes only. An official response on the interpretation of certification regulations or the determination of individual certification status can only be obtained from the Office of Teaching Initiatives of the New York State Education Department.
Teaching Assistants
According to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, Section 80-5.6: A teaching assistant “is appointed by a board of education to provide, under the general supervision of a licensed or certified teacher, direct instructional service to students.
(ii) Duties
(a) Teaching assistants assist teachers by performing duties such as:
(1) working with individual pupils or groups of pupils on special instructional projects;
(2) providing the teacher with information about pupils that will assist the teacher in the development of appropriate learning experiences;
(3) assisting pupils in the use of available instructional resources, and assisting in the development of instructional materials;
(4) utilizing their own special skills and abilities by assisting in instructional programs in such areas as: foreign languages, arts, crafts, music and similar subjects; and
(5) assisting in related instructional work as required.
(b) Teaching assistants who hold the pre-professional teaching assistant certificate [or professional teaching assistant certificate] shall have the same scope of practice as other teaching assistants, in accordance with the duties prescribed in clause (a) of this subparagraph.
Within that scope of practice, teaching assistants holding a pre-professional teaching assistant certificate may, at the discretion of the employing district, and while under the general supervision of a teacher, perform such duties as:
(1) working with small groups of children so the teacher can work with a large group or individual children;
(2) helping a teacher to construct a lesson plan;
(3) presenting segments of lesson plans, as directed by the teacher;
(4) communicating with parents of students at a school site or as otherwise directed by a teacher; and
(5) helping a teacher to train other teaching assistants.
Phase Out Timeline of Level I-III Teaching Assistant Certificates
No applications accepted for TA Level I after 9/30/2025
Initial and Professional TA titles available on 10/1/2025
All TA Level I application requirements must be completed by 12/31/2025
TA Level I Renewal applications available until 2/1/2029
TA Level II applications available until 8/31/2028
All TA Level II application requirements must be completed by 12/31/2028
TA Level III applications available until 8/31/2031
All TA Level III application requirements must be completed by 02/01/2032
Summary of Level I-III Teaching Assistant Certification Requirements
Level I (valid for three (3) years, one renewal)
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Pass ATAS*
- Child Abuse Identification workshop
- School Violence Prevention workshop
- DASA Workshop
- May be renewed once for three (3) years with a commitment for employment; verified by district/BOCES
Level II (valid for three (3) years)
- Must have one (1) year of experience as teaching assistant
- 9 college credits
- Not renewable
Level III (valid continuously)
- Must have one (1) year of experience as teaching assistant
- A total of 18 college credits
- Continuously valid with completion of 100 CTLE hours every five (5) year registration cycle
- Many members who work as career Teaching Assistants remain continuously certified at Level III.
Pre-Professional (for TAs planning to become teachers; valid for five (5) years)
- Must have one (1) year of experience as teaching assistant
- Possess 18 college credits
- Matriculation in teacher preparation program
- May be renewed if individual has taken 30 credits in the previous five (5) year period
Summary of of New Teaching Assistant Certification Requirements (effective Oct. 1, 2025)
As of October 1, 2025, Teaching Assistants can apply for an Initial or a Professional TA Certificate. The Initial certificate is the new entry-level certificate for teaching assistants and can be continuously renewable. The Professional certificate is for teaching assistants who have completed a specified set of courses that mirrors the pedagogical requirements for an initially certified teacher.
Initial
- High school diploma or equivalent
Pass ATAS*
- Child Abuse Identification workshop
- School Violence Prevention workshop
- DASA Workshop
- Continually renewable every 5 year registration cycle with satisfaction of 100 CTLE credits** ($35 application fee required each renewal)
Professional (valid for three (3) years)
- 3 years of experience as a certified teaching assistant (Level I-III, Initial, Pre- Professional, CQ) or 1 year as a certified classroom teacher
- Bachelor’s degree OR
- Completion of a college program leading to Professional TA certification OR
- 18 college credit hours with at least 9 in specific pedagogy, and up to 9 accepted in core subject area coursework (ELA, math, science or social studies)
- 1 year as Professional TA satisfies student teaching for Classroom Teacher certification
Updated Pre-Professional (for TAs planning to become teachers; valid for five (5) years)
- Valid for five (5) years or when leaving a certificate program, may be renewed
- Must have one (1) year of experience as a certified teaching assistant
- Possess 18 college credits
- Matriculation in teacher preparation program or a Professional TA program, OR
- Has met the education required for a Professional TA
- 1 year as Pre-Professional TA satisfies student teaching for Classroom Teacher certification
*New York State Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills Test
**CTLE specified professional development hours, records must be retained by participant for three years beyond the registration period. College credits in any area may be taken after initial TA certification to apply towards CTLE clock hours.
Options:
If you held a Level I or II before October 1, 2025, you may continue to Level II or III TA certification, or you can apply for the Initial, Professional, or Pre-Professional TA certificate.
A Level III TA certificate holder can keep the Level III certificate or apply for the Initial, Professional, or Pre-Professional TA certificate.
See Teaching Assistant Certificates (nysed.gov) for TA certificate options based on the TA certificate you currently have.
Applying for a Teaching Assistant Certificate
All applications for teaching assistant certificates are done using the State Education Department’s TEACH online system (nysed.gov).
When applying for a certificate, please note the following:
- The state requires that all documents (letters, high school diplomas, college transcripts) submitted for certification purposes must include the applicant’s name as it appears on TEACH, which must be your full legal name presented on your government issued ID. If you have been known by any other names, you must request the change be made in your TEACH account or the documents will not be associated. To add or change your name, please use this link to begin the process: Name Change (nysed.gov).
Effective June 1, 2025, high school diplomas and transcripts will no longer be accepted from the applicant. These documents must be sent directly by the school.
- The State Education Department (SED) provides guidance for submitting proof of a high school diploma or equivalent for Level 1 or Initial TA certificates at:
Submitting High School diplomas and transcripts, High School Equivalency (HSE), and GED/TASC Transcripts (nysed.gov).
- The Child Abuse Identification workshop has periodic updates which must be taken and posted to applicant TEACH accounts. Most current information is available at:
Second Update Child Abuse Identification Workshop (nysed.gov)
- The Level III TA certificate is continuously valid, provided that the Continuing Teacher & Leader Education (CTLE) hours’ requirement of 100 hours every five (5) years is met.
- It is possible to move from Level I to Level III directly after one year of employment as a TA if the applicant has the appropriate number of college credits completed.
- College credits required for Level II and III do not have to be earned in education courses; they just need to be earned at the accredited colleges.
The State Education Department website provides a summary of the requirements for each teaching Assistant certificate (Level I, II, III; Initial, Professional, and Pre-Professional) and useful information regarding the application process.
Portability of Teaching Assistant Credential
All NYSED issued Teaching Assistant certifications (continuing certificate, Level I-III, Initial, Professional, Pre-Professional) are portable across school districts and BOCES boundaries, in the same way a teaching certificate is portable. A Teaching Assistant is not required to obtain a new certificate if they choose to seek employment in another school district or BOCES.
Teacher Aides
According to Education Law, Section 3009 (2)(a):
A teacher aide is appointed by a board of education to assist teachers “in the performance of their teaching functions by performing those non-teaching duties otherwise performed by such regular teacher or teachers.”
Commissioner’s Regulations, Section 80 – 5.6, Supplementary School Personnel, describe the duties of a teacher aide. They include:
- Managing records, materials and equipment;
- Attending to the physical needs of children; and
- Supervising students, and performing such other non-teaching duties which support teaching when such services are determined and supervised by the teacher.
Teacher aides are classified employees, whose employment rights are governed by Civil Service Law. They are not subject to licensure and certification requirements under Education Law. Certified Teaching Assistants, unlike teacher aides, are members of the teaching staff and must be given a probationary appointment as a teaching assistant and are eligible for tenure according to Section 30.1-8(d) or the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there different job duties assigned to each of the levels leading to the pre-professional teaching certificate?
The description of job duties contained in Section 80-5.6(c) (1) (ii) (a), applies to all Teaching Assistants, whether they hold an Initial, Level I, II, III, or Professional certificate. Professional or Pre-Professional TAs may have an expanded scope of practice as 80-5.6 (c) (1) (ii) (b), but this should be addressed in local collective bargaining agreements.
- All Initial, Level III and Professional teaching assistants are required to complete 100 CTLE during their five (5) year certificate cycle to maintain their certificate – who is responsible for providing the CTLE activities and will it be available to Level I and Level II teaching assistants?
School districts or BOCES are required to comply with regulations (Part 100.2(dd)) that govern the development, content, and implementation of professional development plans. School districts or BOCES are required to provide CTLE hours to Level III and Professional TAs to ensure faculty and staff remain current with their profession, meet the learning needs of their students, and maintain their certificates in good standing. These criteria are deemed met upon successfully completing 100 CTLE hours every five (5) years as prescribed in Part 80.6 of Commissioner’s Regulations.
Thus, districts that employ Level III and Professional Teaching Assistants are required to provide opportunities to accumulate CTLE hours necessary to maintain their certificates. Districts are highly encouraged, but not required, to provide these opportunities to Initial TA certificate holders who must also complete 100 hours.
- What are the requirements for certified teachers to be hired as teaching assistants?
Certified teachers may be hired as Teaching Assistants based upon possession of a valid classroom teaching certificate, and with one year of previous classroom teaching experience they are eligible to apply at Level III. They may also waive ATAS if they have a CST exam score.