Drexel offers a number of education certification and degree programs that prepare students for formal teacher certification. Once a student has successfully completed their undegraduate course of study and all qualifying teacher certification exams required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Drexel recommends the student to the PDE for the appropriate teaching certificate.

Teaching Certification GPA Requirements

The School of Education requires that students maintain at least a "B" average (3.0 GPA) in content courses needed for teacher certification in addition to earning a grade of "B" or better in each core pedagogy course required for certification.

Pennsylvania Teacher Certification Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to obtain and submit updated and current copies of the required clearances to the School of Education annually in order to participate in classroom observations and student teaching in Pennsylvania. All full-time undergraduates will receive assistance in gaining these clearances during their first term. Non-PA students should contact their state's department of education or school district office for a list of clearances required in their state.

Teacher Certification Process

Instructional I Certification

This initial certification qualifies a teacher to teach for a maximum of six years. The six years need not be continuous. To continue teaching after the six years are completed, the teacher must receive an Instructional II Certification.

Instructional II Certification

The Instructional II Certification is considered a permanent certification. A teacher applying for Instructional II Certification must have:

• Instructional I Certification
• A minimum of three years and a maximum of six years of teaching experience on an Instructional I Teaching Certificate
• 24 semester-hour (or 36 quarter-hour) credits beyond a bachelor’ degree
• Completion of an induction program (generally provided by the teacher’ school of employment)

Elementary Certification (Grades PreK–4) and Special Education Certification (Grades PreK–8 and Grades 7–12)

The Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) are required for Grades PreK–4 and Special Education. All undergraduate and dual degree BS/MS students are required to pass the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) basic skills exam. In addition, students will be required to take the appropriate assessment test for each area of certification they wish to obtain.

For more information about examinations and registration:

Middle Level Certification (Grades 4–8) and Secondary Certification (Grades 7–12)

All undergraduate and dual degree BS/MS students seeking certification in middle (grades 4–8) or secondary (grades 7–12) levels are required to pass exams from the PA Education Certification Tests (PECT) and the Praxis II Series. Students must pass both the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) basic skills assessment test and the appropriate Praxis II Content Knowledge test for each area of certification they wish to obtain.

For more information about examinations and registration:

Pennsylvania Act 48 Requirements

To maintain Instructional I and Instructional II Certifications, the PDE requires a teacher to complete one of the following every five years:

• Six semester-hour (or nine quarter-hour) credits. Credits must be acquired from an accredited, four-year, degree-granting college or university.
• 180 hours of professional development
• A combination of credits and professional development hours every five years.

Note: For those working to acquire Instructional II Certification, the 24 semester credits or 36 quarter credits needed to apply for Instructional II may also count toward Act 48 requirements.

Download the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Frequently Asked Questions about Act 48 [PDF].

In order to be eligible for Alabama teacher certification, the Alabama State Department of Education requires students in undergraduate and Alternative Master's teacher education programs to complete a series of tests. These tests evaluate students' mastery of content knowledge in a specific certification area (Praxis Subject Assessments); and readiness to teach (Educative Teacher Performance Assessment ( edTPA)). These tests are taken at different points throughout the UAB Teacher Education Program. Please consult the guide below to confirm when the tests should be taken.

Praxis Subject Assessments

About the Praxis Subject Assessments

In order to receive teacher certification from the Alabama State Department of Education, undergraduate and Alternative Master's students must receive a passing score on the Praxis Subject Assessment in their given certification area. Praxis Subject Assessments are administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS).

When do I take this test?

Undergraduate Students: (Prior to Student Teaching)

Undergraduate students must receive a passing score as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education on the Praxis Subject Assessment(s) in their given certification area prior to starting student teaching.

* Students pursuing certification in Elementary/Early Childhood are also required to pass the Praxis Teaching reading prior to beginning student teaching.

Alternative Master's Students: (Prior to Admission)

Alternative Masters’ students must receive a passing score as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education on the Praxis Subject Assessments(s) in their given certification area prior to beginning coursework.

* Students pursuing certification in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education are required to pass the Praxis Teaching reading prior to beginning student teaching.

What is a Passing Score?

Qualifying score requirements can be found on the ETS website. To locate the qualifying score for your certification area, follow the steps below.

1. Navigate to https://www.ets.org/praxis/al/al_teacher_ed/
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page to the section titled Tests Required for Specific Certification Areas
3. Select your certification area and look under the column titled Qualifying Score

Study Resources

Visit the ETS website for information about Praxis study resources.

Register for the Praxis Subject Assessment(s)

Educative Performance Assessment (edTPA)

About the Educative Performance Assessment (edTPA)

edTPA is a pre-service assessment process designed by educators that includes a review of a teacher candidate’s authentic teaching materials as the culmination of a teaching and learning process that documents and demonstrates each candidate’s ability to effectively teach his/her subject matter to all students. Candidates must receive a passing score on the assessment as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education.

When do I take this test?

Undergraduate Students: (edTPA: During Student Teaching)

Undergraduate students must receive a passing score on the edTPA as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education during student teaching.

Alternative Master's Students: (edTPA: During Student Teaching)

Alternative Master's students must receive a passing score as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education during student teaching.

What is the Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification? 

The​ ​Post​ Bachelor’s​ Baccalaureate​ ​Teaching​ ​Certification​ ​program​ ​in​ Elementary Education​ ​(grades​ ​PreK-4)​, Middle Level (grades 4-8), ​and​ Secondary​ ​Education​ ​(grades​ ​7-12)​ ​are​ ​designed for​ ​professionals​ ​who​ ​hold​ ​a​ ​bachelor’s​ ​degree​ ​and​ ​who​ ​seek​ ​to​ ​qualify​ ​for Pennsylvania​ ​state​ ​teacher​ ​certification​ ​at​ ​the​ ​elementary, middle,​ ​or​ ​secondary​ ​level. Students take courses online that satisfy Pennsylvania teaching certificate requirements while completing the required number of weeks of students teaching. Pennsylvania has reciprocation agreements with nearly every state in the U.S. meaning you can transfer your teaching certificate to another state. 

What ​Can ​You ​Do ​with ​a ​Post ​Baccalaureate ​Teacher Certification?

The​ ​curriculum​ ​for​ ​this​ ​teacher​ ​certificate​ ​program​ at Drexel University ​is​ ​designed​ ​for​ ​those​ ​changing careers​ ​into​ ​the​ ​education​ ​field,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​those​ ​who​ ​already​ ​serve​ ​as​ ​temporary, emergency,​ ​or​ ​substitute​ ​teachers​ ​and​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​earn​ ​a​ ​formal​ ​teaching​ ​credential.

Students​ ​who​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​a​ master’s​ ​degree​ ​in​ ​Teaching,​ ​Learning​ ​and Curriculum​ ​have​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​transfer​ ​the​ ​credits​ ​earned​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Post​ ​Bachelor’s Teaching​ ​Certificate​ ​into​ ​the​ ​MS​ ​in​ ​Teaching,​ ​Learning​ ​&​ ​Curriculum program.

The​ PA teacher​ ​certification​ program​ requirements at​ ​Drexel​ ​University’s​ ​School​ ​of​ ​Education​ prepares ​students​ ​for​ ​a​ ​Pennsylvania​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​Certificate.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Teaching Certification?

A commonly asked question regarding our programs, is "how long is the teacher certification program"? If you already have a bachelor's degree, the elementary, middle level and secondary education programs typically take two years to complete. Drexel also offers a dual certification option for secondary and special education. A bachelor's degree program typically takes up to 4 years to complete.

How to Get a Teaching Certification

1. Earn your bachelor's degree

The first step towards becoming a K-12 teacher is to earn a bachelor’s degree. If you earn a bachelor’s degree in a program that leads to teaching certification, such as elementary education or teacher education, you will graduate with all the requirements necessary to become a licensed teacher. If your bachelor’s degree is in a non-teaching program, you will need to follow the next steps on this list to complete your educator certification program..

2. Decide what subject and/or grade level you want to teach

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can become a teacher through our teacher certification program. The first step is to determine what subject you would like to teach. Some students choose a subject that reflects their bachelor’s degree experience while others may choose a new subject that they are passionate about.

3. Complete a certification program

Once you have decided on a subject, you should enroll in a teacher certification program and focus on your chosen subject. You will complete required coursework for certification and gain the knowledge needed to complete the required Praxis exams.

4. Gain student teaching experience

While you complete your required coursework, you will also gain the required hours of student teaching experience. Most teacher certification programs require 12 weeks of student teaching experience. The School of Education’s Field Placement Office assists students with identifying student teaching opportunities in school districts close to where they live, anywhere in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

5. Pass your certification exams

Once you have completed your required courses and student teaching experience, you will schedule and sit for your Praxis exams. Passing the required exams is a critical final step to become a certified teacher. Passing the exams will allow you to begin teaching in classrooms on your own. Some school districts may allow emergency certifications to allow teachers who have not completed their exams to teach in their schools for a certain period of time until they can pass the required exams.

6. Become licensed

Once you have passed the required exams, you will be issued an Instructional I teaching certificate in the state where you took the exams. As a certified teacher, you will be eligible for teaching positions in the subject in which you are certified. You can add additional certifications or complete requirements for an Instructional II teaching certificate as you advance in your career.

Post ​Baccalaureate ​Teacher ​Certification ​Program Options

Post Bachelor's Middle Level Teaching Certificate (Grades 4-8)

Drexel's Post Bachelor's Teaching Certificate in Middle Level (grades 4-8) is ideal for students who would like to teach middle school students in the areas of Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. In addition to gaining knowledge of effective teaching methods, students will also learn how to create culturally responsive pedagogy and create a safe, productive, and positive classroom environment that facilitates learning for all students.

The coursework for a certificate for middle level education consists of 33 credit hours (13 courses) and includes mandatory field-based experiences and 12 weeks of student teaching.

The Post Bachelor's Teaching Certificate for Middle Level (Grades 4-8) curriculum and course descriptions may be found in the Drexel Online Course Catalog.

Post Bachelor’s Secondary Education Teaching Certificate (Grades 7-12)

The Post Bachelor’s Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education (Grades 7-12) is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree and who seek to qualify for PA state teacher certification at the secondary level. The curriculum is designed for those changing careers as well as those who already serve as temporary, emergency, or substitute teachers and wish to earn a formal teaching credential.

The coursework for a general certificate of secondary education consists of 30 credit hours (11 courses) and includes mandatory field-based experiences and 12 weeks of student teaching.

The Post Bachelor's Teaching Certificate for Secondary Education (Grades 7-12) curriculum and course descriptions may be found in the Drexel Online Course Catalog.

Teacher Certification Specialties

The School of Education offers eight content-specific areas of study each leading to their own certifications with required courses and Praxis exams:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Earth and Space Science
• English
• General Science
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Social Studies

Pennsylvania ​Teaching ​Certification ​Requirements

Once​ ​a​ ​student​ ​has​ ​successfully​ ​completed​ ​their​ ​course​ ​of​ ​study​ ​and​ ​all​ ​exams required​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Pennsylvania​ ​Department​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​(PDE),​ ​Drexel​ ​recommends the​ ​student​ ​to​ ​PDE​ ​for​ ​issuance​ ​of​ ​the​ ​appropriate​ ​teaching​ ​certificate.

Instructional​ ​I​ ​Teacher​ ​Certification Requirements

Pennsylvania’s​ ​initial​ ​state​ ​certification​ ​is​ ​known​ ​as​ ​“Instructional​ ​I”​ ​and​ ​is​ ​valid​ ​for​ ​a total​ ​of​ ​six​ ​years ​(the​ ​six​ ​years​ ​need​ ​not​ ​be​ ​continuous).​ ​To​ ​continue​ ​teaching​ ​after six​ ​years,​ ​teachers​ ​must​ ​receive​ ​an​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification.

Instructional​ ​II​ ​Teacher​ ​Certification Requirements

The​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification​ ​is​ ​considered​ ​a​ ​“permanent”​ ​certification.​ ​(It​ ​must, however,​ ​be​ ​renewed​ ​every​ ​five​ ​years​ ​through​ ​the​ ​fulfillment​ ​of​ ​continuing​ ​education requirements.)​ ​A​ ​teacher​ ​applying​ ​for​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification​ ​must​ ​have:

• Instructional​ ​I​ ​Certification
• A​ ​minimum​ ​of​ ​three​ ​years​ ​and​ ​a​ ​maximum​ ​of​ ​six​ ​years​ ​of​ ​teaching​ ​experience on​ ​an​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​Teaching​ ​Certificate
• 24​ ​semester-hour​ ​(or​ ​36​ ​quarter-hour)​ ​credits​ ​beyond​ ​a​ ​bachelor’s​ ​degree Completion​ ​of​ ​an​ ​induction​ ​program​ ​(generally​ ​provided​ ​by​ ​a​ ​teacher’s​ ​school of​ ​employment)

Required​ ​Exams​ ​for​ ​a Certificate of Elementary​ ​Education​ ​(Grades​ ​PreK–4)

The​ ​PA​ ​Educator​ ​Certification​ ​Tests​ ​(PECT)​ ​are​ ​required​ ​for​ ​Elementary Certification​ ​(Grades​ ​PreK–4).​ ​Students​ ​are​ ​required​ ​to​ ​take​ ​the​ ​appropriate​ ​exam for​ ​each​ ​area​ ​of​ ​certification​ ​sought.

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​about​ ​examinations​ ​and​ ​registration,​ ​visit​ ​the​ PA​ ​Educator Certification​ ​Tests​ ​(PECT)​.

Required​ Exams​ ​for​ ​a Certificate of Secondary​ ​Education​ ​(Grades​ ​7-12)

All​ ​Post​ ​Bachelor’s​ ​students​ ​seeking​ ​certification​ ​in​ ​Secondary​ ​Certification​ ​(Grades 7–12)​ ​are​ ​required​ ​to​ ​pass​ ​the​ ​Praxis​ ​II​ ​Series.​ ​Students​ ​must​ ​pass​ ​the​ ​appropriate Praxis​ ​II​ ​Content​ ​Knowledge​ ​test(s)​ ​for​ ​each​ ​area​ ​of​ ​certification​ ​they​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​obtain.

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​about​ ​examination​ ​and​ ​registration,​ ​please​ ​visit​ ​the​ Praxis Series​.

How​ ​to​ ​Maintain​ ​a​ ​Valid​ ​Teacher​ ​Certification​ ​through​ ​Act​ ​48

To​ ​maintain​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​and​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certifications​ ​in​ ​Pennsylvania​,​ ​the PDE​ ​requires​ ​a​ certified​ teacher​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​the​ ​minimal​ ​equivalent​ ​of​ ​six semester-hour​ ​(or​ ​nine​ ​quarter-hour)​ ​credits,​ ​180​ ​professional​ ​development​ ​hours, or​ ​a​ ​combination​ ​of​ ​credits​ ​and​ ​professional​ ​development​ ​hours​ ​every​ ​five​ ​years. College​ ​credits​ ​must​ ​be​ ​acquired​ ​from​ ​an​ ​accredited​ ​four-year,​ ​degree-granting college​ ​or​ ​university.

Note:​ ​For​ ​those​ ​working​ ​to​ ​acquire​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification,​ ​the​ ​24​ ​semester credits​ ​or​ ​36​ ​quarter​ ​credits​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​apply​ ​for​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​may​ ​also​ ​count toward​ ​Act​ ​48​ ​requirements.​ ​Undergraduate​ ​credits​ ​from​ ​a​ ​community​ ​college​ ​may not​ ​be​ ​counted​ ​toward​ ​Act​ ​48​ ​credits​ ​for​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification.

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​and​ ​to​ ​apply​ ​credits​ ​to​ ​your​ ​state​ ​record,​ ​visit​ ​the​ PA Department​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​Act​ ​48​ ​Continuing​ ​Professional​ ​Education​.

How ​to ​Apply ​to ​the ​Teacher ​Certification ​Program

Drexel University's Post-Bachelor's Teacher Certification courses are offered 100% online. You can get started by filling out the appropriate Drexel Online Application for an online Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification:

Updated August 2020

Our graduate and undergraduate programs are recognized by New York State Education Department (NYSED) as “approved teacher preparation program(s)” and as such prepare students to meet the requirements of Initial Certification in Visual Art, Grades Pre-K-12.

This page directs students to certification information but does not replace the State website on certification. It is a student’s responsibility to visit the New York State Office of Teaching Initiatives website to keep abreast of changes to certification requirements and to visit the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations website for all test and submission dates and fees.

Certification Requirements

In order to be recommended for NYSED Initial/Certification in Visual Arts, Pre-K–12, candidates must have completed the following procedures, workshops and tests as you move through the program so that by the time you have finished your last semester, you will have completed everything you will need to apply for certification.

New York State Education Department (NYSED) Teach Account

First, students must open an account with New York State Education Department TEACH System, select Initial or Professional Certification in Visual Art, all grades (Pre-K-12), pay the $50 fee, verify, and update their profiles. Students are responsible for regularly monitoring your TEACH accounts for accuracy. The TEACH account records and verifies your progress towards certification. Instructions for using TEACH online are available here.

Complete the Following Workshops:

• Child Abuse Identification Workshop (register)
• School Violence Prevention and Intervention Workshop (register)
• DASA: Training in Harassment, Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Discrimination in Schools (6-hour workshop)

The DASA workshop will be offered at Pratt Institute every Fall for current students only. Contact jjoshua@pratt.edu for the date of the next scheduled workshop and to register. If you take the DASA workshop outside of Pratt it must be taken with a provider approved by NYSED and it will be at your own expense.

Earn a Passing Score on the Following Exams:

• Educating all Students (EAS)
• Content Specialty Test (CST)
• Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA)

*Note: The test and test score dates are available from the NYSTCE website. Test Preparation Guides are also available from NYSTCE.

Institutional Recommendation Form

In order to be “recommended” for certification, students must complete an Institutional Recommendation Form (IRF) form prior to graduation. These forms are available from the ADE office (contact Jonell Joshua at jjoshua@pratt.edu). Completed forms must be submitted to the ADE office either in person or by mail at the completion of the program/graduation.

What’s Next?

Once the completed IRF forms and all supporting documents are approved by the ADE Office, they are turned over to the Registrar for review and the student is then “recommended” for certification. Students who are NOT currently in one of our “approved programs” leading to certification, should contact NYS Office of Teaching Initiatives for more information.

Questions?

Jonell Joshua
Assistant to the Chair of Art and Design Education
Main building, room 202
Pratt Institute
200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
718.636.3637

Programs

Teachers College offers a wide variety of educational experiences for teacher education students at the preservice and in-service levels. Programs are field-based, offering practica, internships, and student teaching. Departments offer, for qualified holders of a bachelor’s degree, programs that lead simultaneously to a master’s degree and to eligibility for New York State certification for teaching in elementary or secondary schools, as well as for specific subjects and to special populations (see sections below on additional New York State Department of Education (NYSED) requirements for initial teacher certification). Some of these programs also offer New York State teacher certification with a bilingual extension. The programs typically require a minimum of an academic year and a summer term to complete degree requirements. Applicants need not have included courses in education in their undergraduate programs, but inadequate preparation in the proposed teaching field may necessitate additional coursework to meet admission, certification or graduation requirements.

For a complete list of teacher preparation programs, please go to: http://www.tc.columbia.edu/admissions/areas-of-study/teacher-education-and-teacher-certification/

Office of Teacher Education

The Office of Teacher Education (OTE) offers many services to teacher education students and programs at Teachers College.  For example, OTE including conducts professional development workshops, provides information regarding certification requirements, offers information sessions on New York State Teacher Certification Exams, and supports students with student teaching requirements. Most importantly, OTE oversees and manages the certification process, recommending candidates for certification once all institutional and NYS requirements are met.

Student Teaching and Observation

Candidates for initial certification must complete a student teaching experience. This experience may take place in one, two, or even three settings, based on requirements set by NYSED and the student’s TC teacher education program. The student teaching experiences are structured to enable each student teacher to gradually develop pedagogical competence and skill, and typically begin with observation of an experienced cooperating teacher followed by incremental assumption of responsibility as the term progresses. The College provides on-site supervision to ensure that students are well-supported during this component of their teacher preparation program.

Student teachers are required to obtain clearance to commencestudent teaching and to carefully review the “Student Teaching Handbook.” A general orientation to student teaching is offered by OTE in the beginning of each semester. Please go to the “Student Teaching” tab of our website at www.tc.edu/ote for a full list of workshops, packets, and handbooks. 

New York State Certification

Teachers College has an array of programs which, upon successful completion, lead to an institutional recommendation for New York State Certification at the initial or professional level.  Students enrolled in programs that lead to New York State Certification are responsible for becoming knowledgeable about New York State Certification requirements and regulations. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) mandates the teacher certification requirements that are needed for program completion and graduation. These requirements are listed below.

General Core in Liberal Arts and Sciences.  NYSED requires that all students seeking initial certification complete coursework in Mathematics, Science, English, History, and Foreign Language.  The number of credits that candidates must complete in these areas varies, depending on certificate title and grade level.  These requirements must be satisfactorily met prior to degree conferral. For more information about these General Core Liberal Arts and Sciences requirements, please contact the Office of Teacher Education at 212.678.3502 or go to the Office of Teacher Education Website at www.tc.edu/ote.  NYSED requires that all students seeking professional certification hold a valid New York State comparable teaching certificate in the same teaching certificate title and grade level. This requirement must be met prior to degree conferral.

Content Core.  NYSED specifies general Content Core requirements according to the certification area.  For example, students in the MA program in Mathematics that leads to initial certification (7-12) are required to be Mathematics majors at the undergraduate level or hold 30 credits in pure mathematics.  For more information about these content core requirements, please refer to the NYSED website http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/, the Office of Teacher Education Website at www.tc.edu/ote or call the OTE Office at 212.678.3502.

Child Abuse Identification Workshop. Students may fulfill this requirement at Teachers College by taking a workshop offered through Continuing Professional Studies (CPS) in collaboration with the Office of Teacher Education.  For a list of dates and times, please go to the CPS Website at www.tc.edu/cps. Students may also fulfill this requirement at Teachers College by taking HBSS4116, Health Education for Teachers, which is offered by the Department of Health and Behavior Studies.  Alternatively, students may opt to take an on-line or in-person workshop offered by approved NYSED vendors.  This requirement must be met prior to degree conferral. For information about these workshops, please go to http://www.op.nysed.gov/training/caproviders.htm.

School Violence Intervention and Prevention Workshop. Students may fulfill this requirement at Teachers College by taking a workshop offered through Continuing Professional Studies (CPS) in collaboration with the Office of Teacher Education.  For a list of dates and times, please go to the CPS Website at www.tc.edu/cps. Students may also fulfill this requirement at Teachers College by taking HBSS4116, Health Education for Teachers, which is offered by the Department of Health and Behavior Studies.  Alternatively, students may opt to take an on-line or in-person workshop offered by approved NYSED vendors.  This requirement must be met prior to degree conferral. For information about these workshops, please go to http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/ssae/schoolsafety/save/SVPIWP_location.html.

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop. Students may fulfill this requirement at Teachers College by taking a workshop offered through Continuing Professional Studies (CPS) in collaboration with the Office of Teacher Education.  For a list of dates and times, please go to the CPS Website at www.tc.edu/cps. Students may also fulfill this requirement at Teachers College by taking HBSS4116, Health Education for Teachers, which is offered by the Department of Health and Behavior Studies.  This course may be offered on-line; however, to fulfill the DASA requirement, students must complete 3 hours of in-person preparation. In addition, a list of NYSED approved providers is available at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/dasa-applicant.html.  This requirement must be met prior to degree conferral.

Autism Workshop (only for students seeking certification in special education/teaching students with disabilities). Students fulfill this requirement at Teachers College by taking a course specified by their programs.

New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE):  Please see the chart below for exams required by certificate type. 

For more information regarding NYSTCE test registration and schedules please see the NYSTCE website at: http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/.

For more information regarding NYSED test requirements by certificate title and grade level, please see the NYSED website at: http://eservices.nysed.gov/teach/certhelp/CertRequirementHelp.do.

Please note that Teachers College programs lead to New York State certification.  If you would like to seek certification in another state, please contact that state’s Department of Education regarding requirements.

Applying for Certification

Students who are in programs leading to teacher certification must complete a two-step process.

Step 1: Create a NYSED TEACH account, and apply and pay for the teaching certificate(s) via the NYSED TEACH online system at: www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert.

Step 2: Submit a completed Institutional Recommendation Data Form (IRDF) to the OTE. The IRDF can be found on the OTE website at: http://www.tc.columbia.edu/office-of-teacher-education/office-of-teacher-education/certification/institutional-recommendation/.

Once all requirements have been met, and the Office of the Registrar has notified the Office of Teacher Education that candidates have been cleared for graduation, TC’s Certification Officers will electronically submit the institutional recommendation for certification via the NYSED-TEACH online system.

Students who are in the Literacy Specialist, reading Specialist programs must provide proof of either completion of an approved teacher preparation program or of a valid teaching certificate. Students who are in the Summer Principals Academy program must provide proof of teacher certification and hold a minimum of three (3) years of full-time classroom teaching/PPS experience.  If you have questions about this requirement, please contact the Office of Teacher Education at 212.678.3502 or ote@tc.columbia.edu.

Teacher Education Standards at Teachers College

Consistent with the College’s long tradition of serving the needs of urban and suburban schools in the United States and around the world, the vision and purpose of professional education at Teachers College is to establish and maintain programs of study, service, and research that prepare competent, caring, and qualified professional educators (teachers, counselors, psychologists, administrators and others). This vision is based on three shared philosophical stances that underlie and infuse the work we do:

Inquiry stance: We are an inquiry-based and practice-oriented community. We and our students and graduates challenge assumptions and complacency, and embrace a stance of inquiry toward the interrelated roles of learner, teacher, and leader in P-12 schools.

Curricular stance: Negotiating among multiple perspectives on culture, content, and context, our graduates strive to meet the needs of diverse learners, both students and other adults, in their school communities.

Social justice stance: Our graduates choose to collaborate across differences in and beyond their school communities. They demonstrate a commitment to social justice and to serving the world while imagining its possibilities.

Expectations of Teacher Education Candidates at Teachers College

Our candidates are inquirers/researchers who have breadth of knowledge and a variety of tools to ask questions about educational environments. They reflect on and continually evaluate the effects of their choices on others (children, families, and other professionals in the learning community).

Lifelong Learners:  Our candidates are continually engaged in learning and research. They take responsibility for their professional growth and seek/create learning opportunities for themselves and others.

Learner-Centered Educators:  Our candidates understand their subject matter/disciplines, learners and learning, and curriculum and teaching. They create learning experiences that foster development and achievement in all students.

Effective Collaborators:  Our candidates actively participate in the community or communities of which they are a part to support students’ learning and well being.

Advocates of Social Justice and Diversity:  Our candidates are familiar with legal, ethical and policy issues. They provide leadership in advocating for children, families, and themselves in a variety of professional, political, and policy-making contexts.

Expectations of Teacher Preparation Programs at Teachers College

Teachers College programs preparing teachers and other professional school personnel ensure that candidates have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required for effective teaching. By the conclusion of the program, candidates demonstrate:

Knowledge and Understanding of:

Skills in:

• self-critique and reflection;
• use of research and inquiry methods and application of research to practice;
• planning, implementation, and evaluation of professional growth;
• planning, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum/services;
• communication and collaboration; and
• addressing inequalities in the classroom, school and society.

Dispositions/Commitments to:

• inquiry and reflection;
• the profession, ethics, and lifelong learning leadership;
• the fullest possible growth and development of all students;
• cooperation and collaboration; and
• social justice and diversity.

Peace Corps Fellows Program

The Peace Corps Fellows Program recruits outstanding Returned Peace Corps Volunteer educators who are passionate about making long-term commitments to teach in New York City’s public schools. Since 1985, the program has recruited and prepared more than 750 urban educators. As the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows (formerly Fellows/USA) flagship teacher preparation program, we provide full scholarships covering all tuition expenses. Upon completion of our 13-week Intensive Summer Institute, new Jaffe Peace Corps Fellows teach full-time as salaried teachers of record in NYC public schools for a minimum of three years. All related Master's degree requirements are completed at Teachers College within two to three years. We prepare teachers for a variety of grade levels and subject areas. For more information, please review the Program website www.tc.edu/pcfellows or call 212-678-6622.

Teacher Opportunity Corps (TOCII)

The Teacher Opportunity Corps (TOCII) program is a New York State Education Department grant funded program designed to increase the number of New York State teachers from underrepresented backgrounds. To be eligible for TOC II at TC, candidates must be New York State residents who are enrolled in a TC teacher education program that leads to certification.  Participants are provided with tuition assistance for coursework at Teachers College in addition to a generous travel stipend.  All participants engage in a 10 month internship from September-June at one of our local partnership schools, seminars with renowned TC faculty who are committed to culturally sustaining pedagogies, and professional development opportunities that suit the needs and inquiries of the TOC cohort. 

Teaching Residents at Teachers College (TR@TC)

This 18 month intensive, full-time program prepares those who wish to teach in high-need New York City public schools. With support from the U.S. Department of Education, the Teaching Residents at Teachers College (TR@TC) program was developed to ensure that Teaching Residents receive exceptional preparation and multiple supports, while enrolled in a Master’s degree program leading to initial NYS teaching certification. Teaching Residents receive generous stipends. Upon graduation, alumni benefit from induction support for at least two years, while they fulfill their commitment to teach in a high-need urban school in New York City for a minimum of three years. For more information please visit: www.tc.edu/teachingresidents.

TyKesha Cross’ long road to becoming a certified business teacher in the Pine Bluff School District was featured Wednesday morning on NBC’s “Today” show.

Cross was reunited with Yolanda Prim, a former principal who gave Cross her first opportunity in education as a substitute teacher in the former Dollarway School District after she lost her job. Cross was a substitute teacher for two years before being hired full-time at then-Dollarway High School in 2019.

She recently earned full teacher certification from the Arkansas Teacher Corps, a partnership of the University of Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Education and public school districts in the state.

Earning full certification was “a dream come true,” Cross said, becoming emotional. “Promise kept. It was a promise kept.”

The promise Cross made was to Prim, who left Dollarway as principal in 2021. Prim, who now lives in the Dallas area, surprised her with an on-air visit inside her classroom.

“Look at you now. I’m so proud of you, Cross,” Prim said.

Sitting down with reporter and former sixth-grade teacher Priscilla Thompson, Cross shared with her former boss what she meant to her.

“I honestly don’t believe you know how important you are to me,” Cross said. “You saved my life. You weren’t just a counselor. And wanting to be you is what pushed me and motivated me. It means a lot.”

The moment moved Prim to tears.

“You never think you’re saving lives. You’re just doing what you do,” Prim told NBC. “I love doing it.”

Prim was not the only inspiration in Cross’ career. Cross named Diane Murrell, Faye Wimberly, Linda Simmons, Elouise Shorter and Tenita Shannon Gragg as the “Fab 5” who mentored her.

“I have been blessed to be surrounded by a wonderful group of elegant educators who took me in as their own,” Cross said.

Cross said NBC cameras followed her from her home at 6 a.m. to her classroom at Pine Bluff Junior High Ninth-Grade Academy, which is where Dollarway High was previously located. The PBSD’s secondary schools merged on July 1, two years after the annexation of the Dollarway and Pine Bluff school districts.

The junior high is a merger of Robert F. Morehead and Jack Robey schools. Returning Dollarway High students now attend Pine Bluff High School.

NBC also visited the Jane Oliver Apartments near the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where she grew up as TyKesha Gray.

Even then she had dreams of becoming a teacher.

“It was truly my calling,” she said. “When I was staying in the Jane Oliver Projects, when I was with my mom, I actually used to stay on the steps and have baby dolls, and I would teach my dolls on the steps.”

Cross was later raised by her grandparents, as her father died when she was 6 and her mother had been dealing with her own struggles. While in high school, she was shot in the head while visiting family in Little Rock.

“As my cousin got out to see his girlfriend, I was just in the car vibing, and he came back to the car,” she recalled. “As we were backing out to get out of the apartment complex, there was a gentleman on the side of the road. As he’s proceeding out of the complex, all I hear is [gunshots].”

Cross was pushed down by her cousin as the shots rang.

“My cousin gets off me and calls my name,” she said. “… But I cannot answer him. I can hear him call my name. As I hear him call my name, I hear him say, ‘You’ve been shot.’ I’m not able to communicate with him, but I can hear him.”

As she was driven to the nearest hospital, Cross recited a song by the Dallas Fort Worth Mass Choir that goes, in part:

“I’m sorry. Forgive me. Cleanse me up, Jesus. I never meant to hurt you or desert you, because I love you so much. I admit it that I did it. Cleanse me up and give me a second chance.”

Cross said she was released after a week of hospitalization.

She told NBC she became pregnant her senior year, and she thought her life “was over.”

Prim, then her guidance counselor at Dollarway, reached out to her at the time and encouraged her to return to Dollarway, where she graduated in 1997, and attended college. Cross became the first person in her family to graduate from college and earned business degrees from Southeast Arkansas College, UAPB and Webster University.

She went into real estate rather than education, however, and was successful at her job until an economic downturn caused her to lose her job. That’s when Prim reached out to her about achieving her childhood dream.

“As luck would have it, I had no desire,” Cross said. “Internally, that’s what my heart wanted to do. Financially, I knew being a teacher wouldn’t sustain the life I wanted to live, so I went to seek different avenues.”

Cross’ husband Dedrick is an assistant principal at James Matthews Elementary in the Pine Bluff School District. He, too, was certified as a teacher through the Arkansas Teacher Corps and encouraged his wife to do the same.

Although she passed the licensing test on her first attempt, Cross went through the Teacher Corps to learn how to manage the classroom.

“This was the divine journey,” Cross said. “I didn’t want it, per se, but it wanted me. God chose me.”

This story has been updated. It was originally published at 11 a.m. under the headline "Pine Bluff Junior High teacher featured on NBC’s 'Today'."

Teacher Certification Candidates

If you are a prospective recipient of a New York State teaching certification (including administrative/school leadership and pupil personnel services professionals) you will apply through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) using the TEACH System.

The Registrar's Office role in the certification process is limited to supporting recommendations at the point of degree conferral, providing program codes for SUNY Cortland programs and processing TEACH account authorizations. To speak with a trained counselor, and for most other types of student certification support, please review the Career Services Office site or contact the Career Services office for assistance.

Program Codes and TEACH Authorizations

1. Each student pursuing teacher certification must complete the TEACH authorization form, so we may provide required data to the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
2. You will first need to create a TEACH account to apply online for certification. You do not need to wait to complete all of the certification tests before applying. Instructions for creating a TEACH account can be found on the TEACH system site.
3. You will receive program codes and other important TEACH instructions (on a "Student Information Sheet" or SIS) from the Registrar's Office, as you prepare to have your degree conferred. Please retain the SIS for future reference. 

   Graduate and undergraduate students will be sent instructions and program codes in their Cortland email inbox after they have submitted the TEACH authorization form. If you are a graduate student, you must complete a an authorization for your current graduate level credential, even if you completed an authorization at Cortland previously. 

4. After you have been awarded your degree in our registered program, the SUNY Cortland Registrar's Office will recommend you to the New York State Education Department for the teaching certificate.
5. In order to graduate from a teacher certification program, students are currently required to complete all 3 mandated NYSED workshops DASA, CAR and SAV. Once you have applied for certification and the institution has made a recommendation, it signals NYSED to review the application process.

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program (PBTCP) is specifically designed to address the needs of two distinct populations:

• Experienced educators who want to become certified in another discipline; these individuals will have completed a baccalaureate degree and typically possess current teacher certification.
• Individuals who hold a baccalaureate degree and whose life experiences have led them to seek initial teacher certification; this group may range from the novice student who has no background or experience in educhttps://www.keene.edu/academics/graduate/ation to individuals who have a wealth of experience and/or are employed as teacher aides, tutors, paraprofessionals, or special education classroom teachers.

This program closely follows the undergraduate Educator Preparation model. It is composed almost exclusively of undergraduate courses. Through this program, students are able to meet New Hampshire competencies for certification in one or more of the following areas:

• Biology (grades 7-12)
• Chemistry (grades 7-12)
• Early Childhood Development (nursery-3)
• Earth Science (grades 7-12)
• Elementary Education (grades K-8)
• English (grades 5-12)
• French (grades K-12)
• General Science (grades 5-9)
• General Special Education (grades K-12)
• Middle/Junior High Mathematics (grades 5-8)
• Music Education (grades K-12)
• Physical Education (grades K-12)
• Physical Science (grades 7-12)
• Secondary Mathematics (grades 7-12)
• Spanish (grades K-12)
• Social Studies (grades 5-12)

Development of an Educational Plan

Selection of a Content Area is required for admission. Prior to admission, it is strongly recommended that applicants have at least 100 hours of contact with children in a public school setting. This track requires an initial review of all post-secondary course work. The Office of Educator Preparation and Graduate Studies coordinates the examination of official transcripts, relevant standardized test results and other application materials to develop an individualized educational plan that will address the KSC Educator Preparation Themes while meeting New Hampshire state standards for Teacher Certification. The educational plan will typically address licensure competencies not met by the student’s baccalaureate degree. Required courses will guide students toward the acquisition of the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to demonstrate competence in their selected area of certification and as a professional educator.

Extra academic preparation may be required for applicants whose baccalaureate degree is not closely related to the area of certification they are seeking. Prior to engagement in the Student Teaching experience, it is strongly recommended that a student have at least 500 hours of contact with children of various ages in different public school environments.

Admissions Requirements

• Passing scores for the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test in reading, writing, and mathematics. Having earned a master’s degree does not exempt an applicant from this requirement.
• Preference will be given to candidates who submit passing scores for the Praxis II content tests (typically: content knowledge and essay) as specified by the New Hampshire Department of Education.
• Bachelor’s Degree or higher with 2.50 GPA. A GPA below a 2.50 may be considered when certain conditions are met. Preference given to candidates with GPA of 2.75 or higher.
• All candidates for Graduate Education Programs are required to complete an application, interview, essay, and provide three recommendations.
• Once admitted, Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure candidates will follow Undergraduate Decision Point process established by program area.

For more information see Graduate Studies, email GraduateStudies@keene.edu or call 603-358-2378.