Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE)?
The NYSED in Albany, NY is the state agency that issues your NYS teaching certificate(s) which are required to work in public schools across NY state. The NYCDOE (formerly known as the NYC Board of Education) is your employer if you work for NYC Public Schools.
2. I am completing a Steinhardt teacher certification program, must I apply for NYS certification or does it issue automatically?
You must apply for NYS certification, please see application instructions here
3. Must I also apply to the NYCDOE if I wish to work for NYC Public Schools?
Yes, please visit the TEACH NYC website here
4. A NYC public school interested in hiring me is asking for my file number. What is a NYCDOE file number?
In the past, NYCDOE file numbers were issued when a NYS certified teacher applied for a NYC teaching license whether or not there was an offer of a teaching position. The NYCDOE no longer issues licenses.
An NYCDOE file number is a unique identifier issued to educators in the NYCDOE for payroll purposes. You are not issued a file number until after you have been hired. It will be issued after your first paycheck. If you were previously issued a file number as a substitute teacher or employee, you will keep that file number.
You do not need a file number to be hired (payrolled), it is processed through your social security number. Also see NYCDOE link here, scroll to bottom of page
5. I also wish to work for NYS public schools outside of NYC. Where can I apply and view job listings?
Please visit the OLAS JOBS website here
6. I was fingerprinted by the NYCDOE for student teaching but my fingerprint clearance does not appear in my NYSED TEACH account, what should I do?
Complete the OSPRA 104 Form here, do not check a box in Section 2 if none apply, mail or fax the form to the NYCDOE at the address or fax number at the bottom of the form. The NYCDOE will transfer your fingerprint clearance to the NYSED.
7. I completed my certification program at Steinhardt and have not been recommended for certification to the NYSED, why not?
Program completers are not recommended automatically, you must request that Steinhardt recommend you after you've applied online, see question 3 above. The Request for Recommendation Form can be found in the application instructions.
8. I submitted my Request for Recommendation Form, why haven't I been recommended yet?
We recommend May and January completers only after all grades have been posted on your NYU record and your degree has been awarded. We recommend Summer completers once your summer grade(s) have all posted on your NYU record.
9. Will I receive my NYS Initial or Provisional (School Counseling only) Certificate in the mail?
The NYSED no longer issues paper Initial or Provisional Certificates, please see NYSED link here. However, if you need or wish to have a paper copy, you may request one for an additional fee. Once your certificate has issued in TEACH, log in to your account, click on TEACH Home on the top menu and then click on "I would like a printed certificate" under Online Application heading.
10. The effective date of my certificate is in the future, am I not certified until then?
Both May and Summer completers will receive a NYS Initial or Provisional Certificate with an effective date of September 1 (January completers, February 1st) but you are certified effective immediately once your certificate issues, please see NYSED link here. You may be hired as a certified teacher or school counselor prior to your effective date once the certificate has issued. If prospective employers are confused about the effective date, please share the link above with them.
11. How can I apply for additional areas of certification (or extensions) now that I'm certified without having to complete another certification program?
The NYSED allows already certified individuals to apply for most additional areas of certification (or extensions) on their own (not through Steinhardt) through the Individual Evaluation for Additional Classroom Teaching Certificate Pathway or the Individual Evaluation Pathway, you may view those requirements here
To apply for additional areas go back to the TEACH Online system here, apply for the additional certificate(s) or extension(s) online following the instructions on the website. When prompted for a program code, select "no", reciprocity?, select "no" again, the system will default to the Individual Evaluation for an Additional Classroom Teaching Certificate Pathway or Individual Evaluation Pathway.
You'll then have to mail your transcripts (and/or other documentation) and wait for them to review. You can request an NYU transcript here If your or an employing school wants to expedite the process once the NYSED has received your transcripts, please see here
You may wish to include course descriptions in your correspondence with the NYSED.
Steinhardt course descriptions may be found here or in current or past bulletins here
Include cover letter with name and SSN and mail with transcript(s) and course description(s) to:
Office of Teaching Initiatives
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Ave, 5N EB
Albany, New York 12234
*When your transcript(s) are first received your application will be listed as Ready for Review. Ready for Review means just that - your application hasn't been reviewed by an evaluator at the NYSED yet. The system defaults to "deficient" or "unmet" for some requirements until the application is evaluated, it should actually state "not yet reviewed" next the those requirements. The evaluation will change once your application is reviewed.
12. I hold Childhood 1-6 Initial Certification, how can I add Early Childhood Birth-2nd Grade (which includes Kindergarten) Certification?
As answered in question 11 above, the NYSED allows already certified teachers to apply for additional certificates on their own (not through Steinhardt). To add Early Childhood B-2 (if you hold Childhood Ed 1-6) and/or Students with Disabilities (SWD) B-2 (if you also hold SWD 1-6) you will need to re-apply to the NYSED online and mail them your transcript(s). The NYSED will want to see at least 3 credits specifically in Early Childhood which you may have already completed as part of your program. If you have, go back to the TEACH Online system here, apply for the additional certificate(s) online following the instructions on the website. No additional exam required. When prompted for a program code, select "no", reciprocity?, select "no" again, the system will default to the Individual Evaluation for an Additional Classroom Teaching Certificate Pathway.
You'll then have to mail your transcripts and wait for them to review. Request an NYU transcript here If your school wants to expedite the process once the NYSED has received your transcripts, please see here
You may wish to include the course description(s) for the Early Childhood course(s) in your correspondence with the NYSED.
Course descriptions may be found here or in current or past bulletins here
Include cover letter with name and SSN and mail with transcript(s) and course description(s) to:
Office of Teaching Initiatives
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Ave, 5N EB
Albany, New York 12234
*When your transcript(s) are first received your application will be listed as Ready for Review. Ready for Review means just that - your application hasn't been reviewed by an evaluator at the NYSED yet. The system defaults to "deficient" or "unmet" for some requirements until the application is evaluated, it should actually state "not yet reviewed" next the those requirements. The NYSED will only look for 3 credits in Early Childhood on your transcript(s). The evaluation will change once your application is reviewed.
13. Am I eligible to apply for certification in other states? Which states have reciprocity with NY?
Many states have signed an interstate agreement on reciprocity but it does not necessarily waive exam or fingerprinting requirements, see details here
Many states do not require that you hold NYS certification to apply in their state, only that you've completed a traditional state approved certification program plus complete their additonal requirements such as exams and fingerprinting.
California and Texas require that you hold the NYS Certificate to apply for certification in their state.
Direct link to the education departments of all fifty states and territories from the United States Department of Education here
14. Where can I send an out of state program verification form to be completed?
Please click here
15. I hold NYS Initial Certification through a program I completed at NYU Steinhardt and have now taught for 3 years. How do I apply for NYS Professional Certification?
Please see application instructions here, scroll down to Professional Certifcation
16. What is my Professional Development obligation once I hold NYS Professional Certification?
Please see details here from NYSED website
17. What if my Initial Certificate is nearing expiration or has expired and I haven't completed the requirements for Professional Certification?
You may be able to apply for a time extension or re-issuance, please see details here
18. I've applied for Professional Certification and my Mentored Experience is listed as Deficient, how can I have it verified?
Please details see here
If you were mentored in a NYC Public School, please email Melvin R. Thompson, Ed.D., New Teacher & Supervisory Mentoring, at Mthomps2@schools.nyc.gov