Office of Teaching and Certification

The Office of Teaching and Certification serves all teacher education students on campus with information on certification-related issues and is open all year from 8 am to 4:30 pm.  From June 16th through August 11th all visitors with certification specific questions should stop by the office on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can reach us at 607 274 1488 or at dkinne@ithaca.edu.

The office also supports area mentor teachers by issuing tuition waivers and mentor teacher payments.

Applying for Teacher Certification in New York State: If you graduated from a college teacher education degree program, you will use the "Approved New York State Program" route to certification.

Applications for certification must be submitted online using the process outlined below:

Initial Certification:

1.  Complete a New York State registered bachelor’s degree or master's degree that leads to certification.

2.  Attain passing scores on the required certification exams for your area. Only two tests can be taken on a single day. Test preparation guides and test registration information can be downloaded at www.nystce.nesinc.com and they are available in the Office of Teaching and Certification, Muller 213.

3. No later than your junior year, set up a TEACH account by going online to the following website: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert  Your first step would be to Self Register in order to create an account and to register with a username and password.  After registering applicants will be able to access the TEACH program and their account through the "TEACH on-line service" button at the above web address and within the purple box in the top right.  Once established, this account will house all of your certification information including test scores, fingerprint results, and certificates issued. On all forms that you complete for certification, be sure to use your permanent address. Do not use local or campus addresses. Also, be sure to use your full name when you fill out anything to do with your certification. This includes certification exams, fingerprinting, certification applications, and your TEACH account. Your name must match on all forms (including exams) in order for your certificate to be issued.

4.   When you open your TEACH account in your junior year, you should also get fingerprinted for background check. Fingerprinting packets are available from Diane Kinne in the Office of Teaching and Certification, Muller 213; the Office of Public Safety can roll prints.  There is a a $99.00 fee required (money order or certified check only) made out to NYSED.  Ithaca College does not charge an additional fee for fingerprinting.

5.  COMPLETE THE ON-LINE APPLICATION: This should be done in the final month of your studies and before you leave campus at the completion of your studies.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT APPLICANTS USE THE APPROPRIATE PROGRAM CODE DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS.  STUDENTS SHOULD USE THE PROGRAM CODE THAT APPLIES TO THEIR PARTICULAR DEGREE.

For an Initial Teaching Certificate -

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Art Education 27889

Biology (7-12) 23322

Chemistry (7-12) 23323

English (7-12) 23325

French  23326

German 23327

Math (7-12) 23329

Physics (7-12) 23331

Social Studies (7-12) 23330

Spanish 23328

Bachelor of Music Degree

Music Education  23333

Performance & Music Education 23334

Bachelor of Science Degree

Chemistry (7-12) 23324

Health Education Teaching 23319

Math-Computer Science (7-12) 23321

Physical Education Teaching 23320

Teaching Students with Speech & Lang. Disabilities 23332

Masters of Arts in Teaching Degree

Adolescence Education 7-12  30925

Masters of Music Degree

Music Education 29383

Masters of Science Degree

Health Education  29558

Music Education 29382

Physical Education 29559

Teaching Students with Speech & Lang. Disabilities 27719

Childhood Education 31463

Thoroughly read these instructions before beginning the application process to avoid making costly mistakes in the process.

Step 1. Create/update personal profile.  This is is where you enter your personal information and preferences. 

The applicant will enter their education in the following format:

1. Click in the radio button that states “Approved New York State Certification Programs: Select this radio button if you completed an approved program at a New York State institution that leads to a recommended teaching certificate.” Once you click this button, do not click any other options.
2. Enter education information - If you are in a graduate program leading to initial certification, enter only the degree program leading to the certificate you are applying for; do not enter your undergraduate, non teaching degree.
3. Institution: drop down list of New York State higher education institutions with teacher preparation programs - select Ithaca College from the list.
4. Award Title: drop down list of awards associated with the chosen institution; select proper award title.
5. Program: drop down list of programs available at the chosen institution and with the chosen award title; select appropriate program.
6. Major: this is a generic list of common majors; identify the correct major
7. Date Degree Received: enter date of graduation. Be exact here. This date must be accurate.
8. Attended From: enter date education began (use 1st day of month you began studies)
9. Attended To: enter graduation date
10. Number of Credits: enter number of credits earned. Do not estimate. The number of credits you enter must agree with your transcript at the completion of your degree.
11. In the section marked "teaching/school experience" enter only paid teaching experience in schools. Do not enter work associated with courses, paid coaching, or volunteer experiences This category is primarily for those seeking professional certification after having taught successfully.

Step 2 - Fingerprinting - this section is not needed if you have already submitted your fingerprints and money order through the mail.   For any fingerprinting problems, applicants should contact OSPRA (Office of School Personnel & Accountability) at 518-473-2998.

Step 3 - Account Information - This section shows you the contents of your TEACH file.  By using Ctrl key you can select all areas of information to see everything that is within your file.  

Step 4 – Select Certificate(s)

This is where you choose your certificate type and title.  You will choose from a series of 5 dynamically filtered dropdowns to arrive at the appropriate certificate for the program you completed.  These dropdown menus are exactly the same as in Search Certification Requirements.

• You  must select a certificate that is appropriate to the program you indicate in the self-reported education portion of the applicant profile.
• Select the radio button Pathway: Approved Teacher Preparation Program
• If you have completed a dual degree program, you may apply for more than one certificate in the same session

Step 5 – Sign Affidavit

Answer the child support and moral character questions here and then sign the affidavit.  If you answer “yes” to any of the moral character questions, you must enter an explanation in the text box provided.  Sign the affidavit by clicking on the button “Sign Affidavit.”

Step 6 – Sign Application

You will sign the application by clicking on the button “Sign Application” attesting that all statements and information provided in the application are true.  Please note, up to this point (signing the application), the applicant may back-out of the application process – no certificate or affidavit information will be saved.  After the application is signed, the application is saved and submitted.

Step 7 – Make Payment

You have the choice to pay your application fee online using a credit card or to print out the payment coupon and mail in a US Postal Money Order.  Upon completing the payment process, TEACH will perform an automated evaluation and return a list of unmet requirements.  You can print this out and use it to track your completion of unmet requirements.

We hope you find these ‘tips’ helpful and that you use them to assist you as you submit your recommendations.  In the event you experience problems or have technical difficulties, TEACH provides technical support via email at TeachHelp@mail.nysed.gov and telephone at (518) 486-6041. 

COLLEGE RECOMMENDATION: Once your degree has been posted by the Office of the Registrar at Ithaca College, we will submit the college recommendation.You can check the status of your application by going to the NYSED website at www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert

If you have job interviews before your certificate arrives, the Office of Teaching and Certification is happy to provide you with an official letter stating that you have applied and been recommended for certification. Contact Diane Kinne in the Office of Teaching and Certification.

The initial certificate is valid for five years and may not be renewed.  However, a one year extension is possible if you have completed 24 semester hours of approved graduate study.

 Professional Certification:

• Complete three years of teaching, with the first year mentored.

• Complete a registered master’s degree (check with NYSED to make sure the program is applicable towards a professional certificate.)

• Apply for your professional certificate using the same online process outlined above.

All candidates for teaching certification are encouraged to be informed and to educate themselves regarding policies, procedures, and deadlines for certification.  Information on certification in other states can be obtained from each state’s Department of Education website.

.