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Once you become a Bank Street graduate student, you are encouraged to get fingerprinted as soon as possible. Processing time by the New York State Department of Education can take approximately 12 to 16 weeks. Delays in processing can cause you setbacks as you try to obtain certification and employment, even as a student teacher.
Please familiarize yourself with these instructions on how to get fingerprinted.
Many of Bank Street's degree-granting programs are registered with the New York State Department of Education as programs that enable graduates to qualify for New York State initial and/or professional certification in teaching or in supervision and administration. When you graduate from a Bank Street certification program and apply for New York State certification, the College recommends you for State certification and, in effect, vouches for your having met the State's academic requirements. Click to download the brochure detailing Steps Toward New York State Teacher Certification.
It is your responsibility to complete all exam requirement(s) as determined by the certification(s) that you will apply for. Exam registration and information is available at www.nystce.nesinc.com. Bank Street does not need evidence of exam completion since it is not a requirement for graduation. The New York State Education Department will automatically get results from the test administrators. Bank Street recommends that you complete the exams while matriculated in the Master's program so that all requirements are met at the time of Bank Street's recommendation to the state.
New York State Certifications and the Corresponding Exams:
Early Childhood Education
3 Exams: Elementary versions of LAST, ATS-W, Multi-subject CST
Childhood Education
3 Exams: Elementary versions of LAST, ATS-W, Multi-subject CST
Middle Childhood Education
4 Exams: LAST, Secondary ATS-W, Multi-subject CST, CST in content area(s)
Students with Disabilities
1 Exam: CST for Students with Disabilities
Literacy
1 Exam: CST for Literacy
Bilingual Extension
1 Exam: Bilingual Education Assessment in target language (Spanish)
Bank Street graduates with degree completion dates prior to September 1, 2006, must notify Ann Cox, Associate Registrar, via e-mail (or in writing) once they have completed their online TEACH application. Applicants must also supply proof of completion of the Child Abuse and School Violence (SAVE) Workshops to Ann Cox. No recommendations can be made without documentation of both workshops in accordance with New York State regulations.
Please note that certification recommendations requested on or after May 1 will be honored following the Spring Bank Street Commencement, beginning on June 1.
As of September 1, 2006, all applications for New York State Certification must occur through the online TEACH system. You should apply for certification once you have officially completed your master's degree, but you can set up your profile ahead of time.
To apply for certification:
1. Click to download Instructions for Applying Online for New York State Certification. (These instructions are for programs that were completed at Bank Street only. Other applicants, see the Individual Applications section below.)
2. Go to TEACH and set up your profile, using steps 1 through 6 in the instructions you have downloaded. Use this chart to determine which NYSED Program Code corresponds to your Bank Street program.
(If you are already a Bank Street graduate, skip to step 4 below.)
3. Graduate from Bank Street.
4. After you graduate, return to TEACH and complete the process, using the Student Application Information Sheet in your graduation packet. (This sheet has information specific to you that you will need to complete this process.)
5. Be patient. After two weeks, log back into TEACH to check your status. (Two weeks is just an average; sometimes it can take longer. If after a month nothing has happened, send a message to tcert@mail.nysed.gov requesting a review of your application.) Once the certificate status is "issued," it will take two weeks for the hard copy certificate to reach you.
6. Congratulations! You are certified!
Initial certification from New York State is valid for five years. It may be earned as an undergraduate or as a graduate student. Individuals may apply one time for a one-year extension if the individual has completed 24 credits toward a master's degree that is needed to qualify for the professional certificate. For the certification to remain valid after that time, the individual must earn his or her professional certification. Click to download the brochure detailing Steps Toward New York State Teacher Certification.
Professional certification from New York State is valid continuously, as long as the holder of the professional teaching certificate completes the professional development described below. To earn a professional certification, you must complete the requirements for the initial certification and also complete the following:
1. Earn a master's degree. Those who earn initial certification as undergraduates need a master's degree in a certification area that is linked to the initial certificate, such as Literacy or Special Education. Those who earn an initial certification through Bank Street have completed the master's needed for professional certification.
2. One year of mentored teaching in the first year of employment, unless you have successfully completed two years of teaching experience under an initial certificate in other schools prior to teaching in the public schools. You must get the Superintendent Verification of Mentored Experience form (found at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/pdf/otmentoredexp.pdf) signed. If you work in a private school, the Nonpublic Chief School Officer should sign the form.
Submit the form to the New York State Education Department for professional certification:
New York State Education Department
Office of Teaching Initiatives
Room 5N, Education Building
Albany, NY 12234
For a FAQ about the mentor requirement, visit http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/faqmentoring.htm.
If you hold provisional or permanent certificate in another title, you are not required to have a mentored year of experience in order to obtain professional certification. This requirement should be waived by your application evaluator; however, you may need to follow up with the state at tcert@mail.nysed.gov if this requirement is not waived automatically based on your provisional or permanent certificate.
3. Three years of satisfactory teaching experience beyond the mentored experience.
Once you have completed these three steps, you can apply for Professional certification through the Registrar's Office at Bank Street. To maintain Professional certification, you must complete 175 hours of professional development every five years. This work maintains the validity of the professional certificate in good standing and allows you to continue to teach.
Click to download the brochure detailing Steps Toward New York State Teacher Certification.
More information about New York State certifications can be found at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/.
Questions? Review the New York State Certification and Licensing FAQ.
International students should check the New York State Education Department's Web site for detailed information regarding citizenship requirements. Non-citizens with permanent residency status may be able to obtain the full range of certificates. Non-citizens without permanent residency status may be eligible for time-limited certificates.
New York State Internship Certification Credential
Bank Street College offers the New York State Internship Certification Credential. This is an opportunity for graduate students who are seeking teaching positions to obtain New York State certification before graduation, provided they meet the eligibility requirements set for them by the State.
Those who have a valid certification from another state may be able to obtain New York State Enhanced Conditional Initial Certification if their state has reciprocity with New York. Reciprocity is only for the academic work, and does not cover state tests. Bank Street has compiled an instruction sheet for Getting Certified in New York Through Reciprocity.
A list of states that have reciprocity with New York is available at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/teachrecother.htm.
If you complete a Bank Street program and wish to apply for certification in another state, you must first complete all of the requirements (including exams) in New York State and apply for New York State certification.
You must contact the relevant State Department of Education for details on requirements and application procedures. Certification regulations vary by state, so it is best to obtain the information well in advance of the intended program completion date. If your reciprocity application requires a form or letter to verify the earned degree, you must send or fax forms or requests to Ann Cox. Letter requests must contain your name (including maiden or previous name), your social security number, the information that needs to be verified, and the address to which the letter should be sent.
If you held a provisional or initial New York State certificate at the time of matriculation, or if you received certification while you completed a Bank Street program, you will be required to apply for permanent or professional certification individually. Bank Street can only recommend a student for certification based on coursework that was completed at Bank Street.
If you apply for certification individually, you must still apply via TEACH, but you will select a different pathway for evaluation. Depending on the certification, you will select either Individual Evaluation or Certificate Progression. To determine the appropriate pathway, visit http://eservices.nysed.gov/teach/certhelp/CertRequirementHelp.do and enter the parameters for the certificate(s) you will apply for. The various available pathways and their requirements are listed.
Please note these applications will require submission of all transcripts and workshop completions to the New York State Department of Education. Materials should be sent to:
Certification Unit
New York State Education Department
5N Education Building
Albany, New York 12234
We suggest that all correspondence to the state clearly indicate your name and social security number so that it is properly applied to your file. You may want to send the documents with a return receipt requested, so that you are confident that the state receives the credentials.
Processing time for all certification applications varies. To facilitate quick processing, you should be sure to complete all portions of your profile and exam requirements prior to submitting the application.
New York City Department of Education licensing is a separate process from New York State certification. Note that in order to be a regularly licensed teacher, you must be state certified.
For more information on New York City licensing, visit http://schools.nyc.gov/offices/dhr/admin_services/licensing/application.pdf.
You may also want to explore the New York City Department of Education website: http://schools.nyc.gov/teachnyc.
All students in programs leading to New York State certification are required to complete two clock hours of coursework or training regarding the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse and maltreatment in accordance with Sections 3003(4) and 3004 of the Education Law. Upon completion of the workshop, the applicant will be given a Certification of Completion.
For a schedule of workshops offered free of charge to students at Bank Street College, please visit http://www.bankstreet.edu/gs/certificationworkshops.html.
All students in programs leading to New York State certification are required to complete two clock hours of course work or training in school violence prevention and intervention in accordance with Section 3004 of the Education Law. Upon completion of the workshop, the applicant will be given a Certification of Completion.
For a schedule of workshops offered free of charge to students at Bank Street College, please visit http://www.bankstreet.edu/gs/certificationworkshops.html.
Annual Institution Report for the academic year 2005-2006:
Institutional pass rates are a key measure of the performance of teacher preparation programs in Title II (Higher Education Act). Institutions must report pass rates on teacher assessments for all graduates of their teacher certification programs. Program completers include all students who are documented as having met the requirements of the program.
Bank Street College of Education reported that the total number of eligible program completers was 234 students for the 2005-2006 year (7/05-6/06). Out of the 234 students, 181 registered for and took the Liberal Arts and Science Test (LAST) and 180 students were reported as having passed, for a (higher than) 99% pass rate. The total number of students who registered for and took the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W) exam was 174. 174 students passed, for a 100% pass rate.