Your Path to Teacher Certification

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires teachers to obtain certification before they can teach. It is the candidate's responsibility to stay current on deadlines for graduation, certification applications, NYSED rules/regulations, workshops, and exam requirements for the certificate(s) sought.

Stay on track for your New York State certification by completing the required workshops.

Complete the required teacher certification exams and transmit your scores.

New York State requires fingerprint-supported criminal history background checks for applicants seeking teacher certification. Follow the instructions for your campus to complete this required step.

Planning to teach outside New York? Explore resources to help you navigate out-of-state certification, including interstate agreements, verification forms, and state-specific certification requirements.

Additional Resources

Have questions or need additional guidance? Find helpful resources or connect for support with certification, applications, and more.