Registrar's Office

Certification FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

What follows is the New York State Department of Education's list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding state certification. For more detailed information about the certification process, visit Certification and Licensing Details and Instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions about Your TEACH Account

Account Information

• How do I know which certificates I hold?
  If you hold a New York State certificate, it will appear in your electronic record.  If you hold certification from another state, please mail a copy of the certificate to the Office of Teaching Initiatives, 89 Washington Avenue, EB RM5N, Albany, NY 12234.

Apply

1. After choosing the approved teacher preparation pathway, why do I get an error stating that my education does not support the certificate I'm applying for?
   Please contact your institution's certification office/advisor to confirm that you have entered in the correct program code and that you have selected the correct certificate title and type.
2. I am applying for certification. Why aren't all the requirements checked off in the pathway section?
   The pathway section of the online application shows check marks by the requirements you have met. Some requirements, such as experience or college recommendation, may not be checked off. This is because a certification specialist must review your experience and manually check off that requirement. The college recommendation requirement will not be checked off until your institution has entered its recommendation. You may still complete the application process, even if all of the requirements are not yet checked off.
3. I have applied for a PreK-12 certificate and took and passed the ATSW exam. Why isn't this requirement checked off?
   If you have applied for a PreK-12 certificate, the ATSW testing requirement may be met by passing either the elementary or secondary ATSW. If you have taken and passed either of these tests and this requirement is not checked off, please send an email to TCERT@mail.nysed.gov stating the above.  A certification specialist will verify and credit that requirement. You may still complete the application process, even if all of the requirements are not yet checked off.
4. May I apply for certification even though my fingerprints have not cleared?
   Yes. Once your fingerprints are cleared, TEACH automatically updates your record to show that this requirement has been met.
5. How do I apply for reciprocity in New York State?
   Please review our What Pathway is Right for Me? Web page, then click on the TEACH Online Services icon at the top of that page to self-register and apply online for certification. 

Deleting Information Entered

• How do I delete an Education or Employment entry I added to my TEACH Profile in error?
  At this time, the TEACH system does not allow for the deletion of any education or employment data once added to the TEACH system. If you enter education or employment information incorrectly, you should edit the entry to make it correct. Please do not make a duplicate entry to correct an error.  However, if you have a duplicate entry already, please edit the incorrect entry so that it matches the correct entry.

Editing Information Entered

• How do I edit personal, education, or employment information in my TEACH account without applying for a certificate online?
  To edit your personal, education, or employment information without applying for a certificate online, go to TEACH Online Services and login to your TEACH account. On the TEACH Home page, click the link called Verify/Update Profile and make whatever changes to your profile you need to make.  

Education and Employment

1. I selected "Approved New York Teacher Certification Programs".  Why isn't my institution in the drop-down list?
   If you completed a teacher preparation program at a New York State college or university that is recommending you for certification, and the institution does not appear in the drop-down list, please report the problem to us.
2. I selected "All Other Programs and Coursework".  Why isn't my institution in the drop-down list?
   To enter information on coursework or programs that do not result in a recommendation for certification, please follow the steps below:
   1. Once logged in to your TEACH account, go to Verify/Update Profile on the TEACH home page.
   2. Click Edit/Add Education Info.
   3. If you have not added the education, go to the top of the page and choose the radio button for All Other Programs and Coursework. Add your education here.
   4. If you have added an institution incorrectly, click the radio button next to entry you want to edit, and then click edit. Go to the top of the page and choose the radio button for All Other Programs and Coursework. Add your education here.
   5. You should now be able to find your institution in the drop-down box.  If the institution does not appear in the drop-down list, please report the problem to us.
      
3. When entering employment experience, can I submit volunteer school experience or non-school paid experience?
   No, you should report only paid school experience.

Login

1. I received an error message that my SSN or Name or Date of Birth do not match. What do I do next?
   Login and before clicking the TEACH Online Services button, please click the Update My Account button. Verify that the information is correctly entered. If not, correct it.
   • If you have previously taken a New York State Teacher Certification Exam and have not submitted any other information to our office, please enter your name exactly as you entered it when registering for the test. (You may update your account to reflect a name change later if necessary.)
   • If you have previously submitted a certification application or have an issued certificate, edit your name to match the name on your previous application or issued certificate. (You may update your account to reflect a name change later if necessary.)
   • If you have entered your married name, but have not previously notified the Office of Teaching Initiatives of this change, update your last name to your maiden name, so that it will match your existing record. (You may update your account to reflect a name change later.)
   • When you have made these changes to your account, click the TEACH Online Services button. After entering your Social Security Number, if you get the same message, please please report the problem to us.
2. When trying to access TEACH, I entered my Social Security Number and received an error message stating my SSN is already being used by another user. Why?
   Please please report the problem to us to have your correct account reset and the other accounts removed.
3. I have forgotten my user name and password for TEACH Online Services. How can I access my account?
   Please report the problem to us to have your account reset. 
4. I need to apply for certification and fingerprinting. Can you send me a username and password?
   To obtain a username and password to apply online, you must create a TEACH account. To self-register, go to http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/.

Name Change or Social Security Number Update

• How do I change my name or update my social security number?
  After you have logged into TEACH and you are on your homepage, click the Verify/Update Profile link, then click the Enter/Edit Personal Info button. Click the Request Name Change button to request that your name be changed.  Click the Request a SSN Update button to request that your social security number be updated.
  
  For both requests, you must mail a copy of the documentation that supports your request.  For example, if you request a name change, mail us a copy of your marriage license or divorce decree, etc. If you requested a social security number update, mail a copy of your social security card.
  
  Mail to:
  Office of Teaching Initiatives
  89 Washington Ave, EB RM 5N
  Albany, NY 12234

Incomplete Records in my TEACH Account

1. Why can't I see my evaluation in TEACH?
   If you submitted an application for certification and received an evaluation from the Office of Teaching Initiatives dated before March 14, 2006, your TEACH records will not include this evaluation history, correspondence, or a complete TEACH personal profile. Only the data that was originally maintained in an electronic format on the old mainframe database was converted into TEACH. Generally, this information includes only portions of your personal profile (name, date of birth, Social Security Number), examination scores, fingerprint clearances, and workshops completed.
2. Why is my TEACH record incomplete?
   If you received a certificate or other credential from the Office of Teaching Initiatives prior to March 14, 2006, your TEACH records will not contain a complete record of your submitted documents or transactions. Instead, you will only see the portions of your personal profile (name, social security number) and your certification history that were originally maintained in the old mainframe database.
3. I submitted a paper application. Why isn't it showing up in my TEACH account?
   TEACH is designed for online applications. The Office of Teaching Initiatives must manually enter each paper application that is received. Therefore, it takes longer for this information to become available on TEACH.

Payment

• How do I pay for an application I submitted online?
  On your TEACH Homepage, click on the Account Information link, click the certificates topic, and then click the Go button. In the certificates application table, click the Make Payment link to pay by credit card or to print the coupon and mail-in your payment.

Status of Application

• Please Note: Online application through the TEACH system increases the efficiency of the application review process. However, if you have recently submitted a paper application and can't find it on the TEACH system, we ask for your patience until we are able to do some preliminary processing of your file. Paper applications require additional work by Office of Teaching Initiatives staff. Once the paper application is processed and we have added basic information to your file, the application will be recorded in TEACH.

1. How do I check on the status of an application I submitted online?
   In order to check the status of your application, you must have a TEACH account. If you do not have a TEACH account, you must self-register to establish one. If you already have a TEACH account, login and on your TEACH homepage click on the Account Information link. Click the Certificates topic within the selection box, and then click Go. In the certificates application table, you will see the status of your application(s). Each status is explained below.

• Not Ready for Review: Payment has not been made or your transcripts have not been received. For graduates of approved teacher education programs, if the college recommendation has not been received, the application would also be not ready for review. 
  NOTE: For Teaching Assistant applications, the High School Diploma/GED requirement will be credited when the application is being reviewed.
• Ready for Review - No Evaluation History Link: Your application is waiting to be reviewed by a certification specialist. 
• Ready for Review - Yes Evaluation History Link: Your application has been evaluated. Click on the Evaluation History link to view the evaluation. There are a number of processes that create an evaluation history:
  • Receipt of Fee and/or Official Transcript
  • Receipt of Exam Result(s)
  • Receipt of Workshop(s)
  • Receipt of Fingerprint Clearance
  • Change of Certificate Title, Type, and/or Pathway
• Review Complete - Pending Information: Your application has been reviewed by a certification specialist. You will receive a letter (Notice of Incomplete Requirements) confirming the outstanding requirement(s). Once you have completed ALL outstanding requirements, you must submit documentation verifying that you have done so. You may also click on the Evaluation History link to view the evaluation and the outstanding requirements.
• Evaluation Complete - Pending Final Review: All academic requirements have been met. TEACH conducts a final review to be sure that there are no outstanding issues, such as a name/SSN change request on file or a hold or other restriction preventing issuance of a certificate. If there are no outstanding issues, the certificate will print overnight and be mailed. Once printed, the certificate status will change to ISSUED. You should receive your certificate in the mail within 2-3 weeks. 

Test Scores

• Why aren't my test scores showing up in my TEACH account?
  Check the SSN and spelling of your name on your score report to confirm that it is the same as in your TEACH account. If the SSN or the spelling of your name on the score report is incorrect, contact our Testing Administrators, National Evaluation Systems Inc. (NES), at http://www.nystce.nesinc.com.

Important TEACH Information for College Students and Recent College Graduates

College Students and Graduates: Choosing a Pathway

1. I'm confused. What does "pathway to certification" mean and how do I select the right one?
   There are a number of ways to obtain certification in New York State, depending upon your credentials and preferences. See Pathways to Certification for a description of each. Another helpful feature on our web site is Which Pathway is Right for Me?, which matches types of candidates (such as college graduates, career changers, out-of-state applicants, etc.) with the pathways available to each.
2. What does it mean to apply for certification through an "approved teacher preparation program"?
   Graduation from an approved teacher preparation program offered by a New York State college or university allows an individual to apply through the Approved Program pathway. (If you're not sure whether or not your program is approved, check the Inventory of Registered Programs (IRP), a database of all registered programs offered by New York State higher education institutions, and search for programs leading to teacher certification.) Some of the distinctions between these two pathways are displayed below:

1. What do I need to do to apply for certification if I am enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program?
   Applying for certification through the approved teacher preparation program pathway is easy. Once you've completed your program, your college certification officer will enter a recommendation for certification through TEACH Online Services. In addition, you must create your own account by registering through TEACH Online Services, and must submit your online application using the information in the Student Application Information Sheet that your certification officer will provide upon graduation.
2. I checked the IRP and I'm enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program through my college, but I haven't completed it yet. Can I apply now?
   No. Make sure you understand all the steps required to successfully complete the college program, as well as to satisfy the other requirements for a certificate, such as the certification examinations and fingerprinting. You will then be poised to apply for certification immediately upon program completion. It is CRITICAL that you obtain and follow the steps on the Student Application Information Sheet and apply according to your college's procedures.
3. I'm in a hurry to get my certification and find a job. Will I get certified faster if I apply now online using the Individual Evaluation pathway and then apply later through my college using the Approved Teacher Preparation Program pathway?
   No. This approach will require extra review and communication time for your application to be correctly sorted for appropriate certificate processing and issuance.
4. Oops! I just applied using the Individual Evaluation pathway. Now I realize that I completed an approved teacher preparation program at my college. What can I do?
   Contact the TEACH helpline at (518)486-6041 to have your pathway changed.
5. How fast will my "college recommended" application be processed?
   That depends on the type of certificate you are applying for - Initial or Professional:
   • If you are completing a NYS teacher preparation program leading to an Initial certificate, and apply through TEACH Online Services, your application can be processed and your certificate issued in as little as one or two business days after we receive your college's recommendation. Of course, this assumes that all other requirements have been met and recorded in your TEACH account, such as passing scores on the certification exams and a fingerprint clearance, and that your application fee has been paid online.
   • If you are completing a NYS teacher preparation program leading to a Professional or Permanent certificate, and apply through TEACH Online Services, your application can be reviewed and your certificate issued in two to four weeks. Of course, this assumes that all other requirements have been met and recorded in your TEACH account, such as satisfaction of the mentoring requirement and/or the required professional teaching experience, and that your application fee has been paid online. The longer processing time for a Professional or Permanent certificate is due to the fact that a Certification Specialist must evaluate these records.
6. Are there any advantages for individuals who apply for certification using the Individual Evaluation pathway?
   While there are several advantages to applying through the Approved Teacher Education Program pathway, it is not for everyone. The Individual Evaluation pathway was designed to allow individuals with relevant college coursework to obtain New York State certification by meeting the prescribed requirements or "competencies."
   
   Note: the Individual Evaluation pathway for a first classroom teaching certificate is not available for the Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) certificate, and is available in the other classroom teaching titles only until February 1, 2009. Effective September 1, 2007, the Individual Evaluation pathway will no longer be available for the school leadership certificates. 
   
   
7. If I'm not enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program, how do I apply through Individual Evaluation?
   Submit your application online using TEACH Online Services and pay the fee, send us your original transcripts, workshop verification, and file your fingerprint application, cards, and fee if you have not already received clearance. Make sure you have completed all requirements for the certificate. Please note that your application will not be evaluated until we have received all required original college transcripts.
8. I did not complete an approved teacher preparation program in college. How can I be sure of the requirements for certification?
   See Search Certification Requirements, a feature on our Web site that lists the specific requirements for every certificate title, and also lists all of the pathways available to obtain that certificate.
9. I attended college several years ago and recently completed additional coursework at a college with approved teacher preparation programs. Can I apply through this college now for a college recommendation?
   Probably not, if you did not complete the entire program.