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New York certification desk

New York teacher certification requirements and paths

Find the steps for your first New York teaching certificate or the next certificate you need.

Build my path
First certificate
College, alternative, individual, out-of-state and international routes
Initial to Professional
Degree, experience, mentoring and application
Additional certificate
Coursework, CST and exact NYSED route
School Building Leader
Approved program, experience and tests 109 + 110

New York certification desk

What do you want to do next?

What this solves

A certification search gives you requirements. This gives you an order

New York’s official search remains the final record for your exact certificate. The finder turns a route it can plan today into the next task, records to gather, current exam and application destination.

01

Choose the route

Start with the route that matches the preparation and credentials you already have.

02

Check the work

Mark the degree, experience, coursework, workshops and exams already finished.

03

Open the next step

Go directly to NYSED or NYSTCE when the action must happen there.

Routes this finder can plan today

New York only

First New York teaching certificate

Six starting points with separate checklists: a New York college program, alternative program, Individual Evaluation, out-of-state program, foreign credentials and National Board certification.

Initial classroom teacher to Professional

Approved-program progression or certificate progression, with the master’s degree, 540-day experience, mentoring, workshops and TEACH application kept in order.

Another classroom certificate

Individual Evaluation or a district-backed Supplementary certificate for five current subject tests. The official requirements search still controls the exact title and grade level.

Initial School Building Leader

The New York approved-program route, including the master’s degree, experience, workshops, fingerprint clearance, both current assessments and college recommendation.

Where the finder stops

Some routes need facts this page does not collect

Career and technical education, pupil personnel titles, Speech and Language Disabilities progression, out-of-state leadership programs and subjects outside the exam list used here still go to the appropriate official page.

New York certification questions

How do I get my first New York teaching certificate?

Start with the route that matches your preparation: a registered New York college program, a job-linked alternative program, Individual Evaluation, an out-of-state program, foreign credentials or a National Board certificate. Then choose the exact subject and grade range because it controls the coursework and exams.

How do I move from an Initial to a Professional New York teaching certificate?

NYSED’s progression route generally includes an acceptable master’s degree, three years or 540 days of acceptable experience, mentored experience, required workshops and an application in TEACH. Whether a New York college entered a Professional recommendation determines the application path and current fee.

Can I add another subject to my New York teaching certificate?

A teacher with a valid New York classroom certificate can use the full Individual Evaluation route or, with an employing district recommendation, a temporary Supplementary route. The exact title controls the coursework, pedagogy and Content Specialty Test requirements.

Which test is required for an additional New York certificate?

The required Content Specialty Test depends on the exact certificate subject and grade level. The finder currently gives reviewed details for English Language Arts 003, Mathematics 004, Social Studies 115, Students with Disabilities 060 and ESOL 116. Use NYSED’s requirements search for every other title.

What are the current School Building Leader tests in New York?

The current School Building Leader assessment uses Part One 109 and Part Two 110. Each part has a passing score of 520. The current combined fee is $395.

Official sources

Reviewed 2026-08-30

New York State Education DepartmentAdvancing from the Initial to the Professional certificateNew York State Education DepartmentExperience required for a Professional classroom certificateNew York State Education DepartmentProfessional certificate application and employer verificationNew York State Education DepartmentSuperintendent Statements and School District RecommendationsNew York State Education DepartmentVerification of Paid Experience Form for TeachersNew York State Education DepartmentMentored experience requirementNew York State Education DepartmentMaster’s degree requirement for Professional certificationNew York State Education DepartmentWhich New York certification pathway fits your backgroundNew York State Education DepartmentSearch Certification RequirementsNew York State Education DepartmentChart of classroom teaching certificate titlesNew York State Education DepartmentAccepted educator certification exam tableNew York State Education DepartmentApproved New York teacher preparation program pathwayNew York State Education DepartmentSearch programs leading to New York teacher certificationNew York State Education DepartmentAlternative teacher preparation programsNew York State Education DepartmentTransitional B certificateNew York State Education DepartmentTransitional C certificateNew York State Education DepartmentIndividual evaluation of U.S. credentialsNew York State Education DepartmentNew York pathways for out-of-state applicantsNew York State Education DepartmentEvaluation of credentials earned outside the United StatesNew York State Education DepartmentUsing a National Board certificateNew York State Education DepartmentApply for a certificate in TEACHNew York State Education DepartmentSend supporting documents for certificationNew York State Education DepartmentFingerprinting for New York educator certificationNew York State Education DepartmentWhen an application is ready for reviewNew York State Education DepartmentWorkshops required for educator certificationNew York State Education DepartmentCertification application feesNew York State Education DepartmentExperience required for School Building Leader certificationNew York State Education DepartmentApplying through a New York approved preparation programNew York State Education DepartmentSchool Building Leader path for out-of-state program completersNew York State Teacher Certification ExaminationsCurrent New York State Teacher Certification ExaminationsNew York State Teacher Certification ExaminationsNYSTCE score report dates and accessNew York State Teacher Certification ExaminationsEnglish Language Arts CST 003New York State Teacher Certification ExaminationsMathematics CST 004New York State Teacher Certification ExaminationsSocial Studies CST 115New York State Teacher Certification ExaminationsStudents with Disabilities CST 060New York State Teacher Certification ExaminationsEnglish to Speakers of Other Languages CST 116New York State Teacher Certification ExaminationsSchool Building Leader Parts One and Two