Table of Contents
New York Teacher Requirements
Requirements For Becoming a New York Teacher
Below are the steps you must take to become a New York teacher:
- Bachelor’s degree in your subject area for certification
- Completion of a New York teacher preparation program
- Completing the necessary NYSTCE exams
- Fingerprint file for background check purposes
New York Teacher Exams to Complete
- LAST basic skills exam
- AST-W writing skills test; this may be in a middle or secondary form
- NYSTCE content area exam
Upgrading Your License
- Attain your master’s degree in your field within five years after you acquire your initial educator’s license
- Complete three years of teaching, including one year of mentorship
Renewing Your New York Teacher License
- Complete a hundred continuing education hours in five years
- At least fifteen of your education hours must be dedicated to ESL and EEL teaching.
Who Provides Licenses in New York?
The New York State Education Department provides licenses to New York teachers. The state offers licenses to all people throughout the state, including in the New York City area and the Upstate region.
The General Standards For Becoming a New York Teacher
People aiming to become New York teachers must earn a bachelor’s degree at the start. The degree should focus on whatever subject area you plan on teaching. You should also consider the grade level you plan on teaching when reviewing your bachelor’s degree area.
You must undergo a New York teacher preparation program after you attain your bachelor’s degree. The program entails pedagogical studies and further teacher training. You may also receive extra experience through in-person teaching. Furthermore, teacher education programs are available throughout the state at campuses dedicated to the State University of New York. Those in the New York City area can also participate in a program at a City University of New York campus.
You can also complete a teacher preparation program from outside the state. However, the state education department can review your program and identify any unique courses you still need to complete before you can confirm you have finished your exam.
Completing the Proper Tests
You must complete the necessary exams after you complete your training program. The New York State Teacher Certification Examinations group requires you to complete these tests:
1. LAST
The Liberal Arts and Sciences Test is a basic skills exam. The test focuses on math and reading, although it may also concentrate on other study activities of value.
2. ATS-W
The Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written exam focuses on your writing skills. You will complete either the elementary or secondary version, depending on the students you plan on teaching with your certification.
3. Content area test
The NYSTCE Content Specialty Test focuses on the unique certification you will qualify for when teaching. As a result, there are individual certifications available for middle school education, secondary education, literacy, and K-12 education.
The foreign language tests include middle childhood (grades 5-9) and Adolescent (7-12) students. Many foreign language tests entail both levels, but some of the more advanced or less common languages are only available for Adolescent teaching. These include the Irish, Haitian Creole, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese languages.
Fingerprint Clearance
You must also provide fingerprint clearance to the state before becoming employed as a New York teacher. The education department will collect your fingerprint data and use it for general record-keeping purposes.
The fingerprint file will work as part of your final application to become a teacher in the state. The application should include reports on all the testing scores you attained, your education experience, and anything else necessary to your work. The state department can help you review your license and report on whatever you might be missing when handling your application.
Attaining Professional Certification
Your teaching license in New York will last for five years. You can renew your license as necessary, but you could also attain a valid professional license for life. The license provides access to many educational opportunities in the state, including ones where you can provide teaching in high-end institutions throughout the state.
Professional certification with a lifetime license is possible if you have a master’s degree. You must take graduate courses in your field to receive your certification. You would have to attain your master’s degree within five years after you receive your initial certification. You would also require three or more years of teaching experience in your certification area. One year of mentored teaching is also necessary for your certification purposes when trying to handle your application the right way.
Renewal Points
The state requires teachers to complete a hundred hours of professional learning every five years. This learning requirement is necessary for people aiming to continue teaching in the state.
Each semester hour of credit will count for fifteen hours of learning. You can attain your learning credits through studies at various schools throughout the state, including ones in the SUNY and CUNY systems.
At least fifteen of your learning hours must focus on the state’s language acquisition requirements. These include English as Second Language courses and lessons on how to teach English language learners. The state education department will help you with the recertification process and provide details on whatever studies you can complete to renew your license in the state.
Is the NYC Area Different?
The rules for becoming a teacher in New York are consistent regardless of where in the state you will teach. But you may come across some other standards for becoming a teacher in New York City. These include rules for applying with different parties associated with the city. The New York City Department of Education can provide additional support for teachers aiming to teach in this part of the state, but most of the standards should be consistent with whatever else is required in the state.
Resources
http://www.nysed.gov/content/teacher-certification – New York State Department of Education teacher certification information
https://www.nysut.org/resources/special-resources-sites/look-at-teaching/becoming-a-teacher-legacy – A guide for how to become a teacher in New York
http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/ – New York exams to complete
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/careers/teachers/teacher-certification – NYC certification