New York State Teacher Certification

Six Steps to Certification
Required Workshops
NYSTCE Results for Binghamton

The New York State Education Department, Office of Teaching Initiatives provides extensive information about the types of teacher certification, requirements, and pathways to fulfilling those requirements.

Six Steps to Certification

To become eligible for teacher certification in New York State, you must complete these six (easy and not so easy) steps:

1. Register with TEACH, the system that the New York State Education Department uses to process applications for teacher certification. TEACH also records fulfillment of all other NYS requirements for teacher certification, specifically –
2. Submit fingerprints for background check; a fingerprinting packet is available in AB-133. Please note that school districts are starting to require these background checks before students can do fieldwork or student teaching, so completing this requirement early will assist with field placement in schools.  Please note: The fee for GSE to roll prints is $25, and payment is accepted only in the form of a check or money order made out to BUF Acct 50316.  Please include student B-number on payment.
3. Complete workshops in Child Abuse and School Violence. GSE offers these workshops every fall.  Workshop information is on the TEACH website.
4. Take (and pass) New York State Teacher Certification Examinations required for your field. To save yourself time, money, and frustration, it is best to take each examination as you complete relevant coursework.
5. Complete a teacher education program that is registered with the New York State Education Department.
6. Apply for certification. Students completing a program in Binghamton's Graduate School of Education can complete their application following these detailed instructions. If you have questions, please contact Tami Mann at 607-777-5322 or by email at tmann@binghamton.edu.

NYSED has reviewed and approved Binghamton's teacher education programs, indicating that each one fully meets all requirements established for teacher certification for that particular age group and subject. Upon successful completion of one of our registered programs, the Graduate School of Education will recommend you for certification. (Students who do not complete an approved program need to apply for "transcript review" by a certification officer at BOCES, a process that is time-consuming and often reveals "deficiencies" in coursework.)

Keep in mind that Binghamton University confers masters degrees, not teacher certification. In New York State, only the State Education Department can grant teacher certification. Teacher certification conveys that the applicant is prepared to teach a particular subject at the prescribed grade level, having fulfilled all education, experience, and examination requirements, including knowledge and skills to address state learning standards. Binghamton's teacher education programs are designed to give students the coursework and field experiences to meet these requirements.

NOTE:  It is possible for New York State licensed teachers to acquire certification in other states. See "Information About Certification in Other States".

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Required Workshops

To become a certified teacher in New York State, you must complete two specific workshops (in addition to completing an approved teacher education program). The Graduate School of Education offers these workshops once per year (usually in the month of November).  Please revisit this webpage for updates and registration information.

Workshop # 1  PROJECT SAVE Setting the Stage for Safer Schools: Violence prevention training for professionals seeking educational certification.
          Handouts (Download here. Please read prior to attending this workshop)
          Date:     Saturday, November 3, 2012, 10:00am - 12:00 pm
          Location: Fine Arts, Room 258

Workshop #2 Child Abuse and Maltreatment Identification and Reporting Procedures
          Date:     Saturday, November 3, 2012, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
          Location: Fine Arts, Room 258

To register for workshops, remit payment with the attached form. For further information, stop by AB-133 or call (607) 777-5322.

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NYSTCE Results for Binghamton

Individuals seeking teacher certification in New York State must achieve qualifying scores on the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE). The purpose of these examinations is to help ensure that certified teachers have the knowledge and skills required to be effective teachers in New York State’s public schools. To help prospective students in making informed decisions about what college to attend, teacher education programs in New York State are required to publish the performance of their program graduates on the NYSTCE.

The New York State Teacher Certification Examinations program includes the following:

• Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST)
• Elementary and Secondary Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W)
• Content Specialty Tests (CSTs)
• Language Proficiency Assessments (LPAs) and
• Assessment of Teaching Skills-Performance (ATS-P) (video)

Below are the most recent results made available to Binghamton (as of March 2013), for tests with at least 10 test takers:

Total Number of Eligible Program Completers for Program Year 2010-2011: 116