Translate Your Professional Experience
Into a Teaching Practice.

Because of the field placement component students are typically not able to hold another job while going through the program. That said, if you are able to obtain a paid teaching position you may be able to use your place of work for your yearlong fieldwork experience with the approval of the program director, as long as your classroom serves children in the intended program of study. If you are completing fieldwork as a working teacher, you will need to complete additional field hours with alternate age groups and/or setting types depending on your workplace. Bank Street will work with you to identify a series of times (summer break, spring break, etc.) when you can complete these additional field requirements.

At Bank Street, you have the option of doing fieldwork as a student teacher, resident (dependent on program),or a working teacher. For student teaching, we will place you into different classrooms across age bands so that you get a feel for the experience across a range of developmental levels. For teaching residencies, students are placed in one of our partner schools for which an interview is required.

For those currently working as an associate, assistant, or head teacher, you are typically able to keep your job during your  fieldwork as long as it is within the age band and setting type of the master’s degree you’re getting. Bank Street is one of the few graduate programs for teachers that allows you to do this, and our Office of Career Services can offer support in finding these types of positions.

We take a holistic approach to the application process and consider all of the materials you submit in our assessment. If you have references that can attest to your work with children in some capacity, an autobiography that gives us insight into your experiences, and can speak to these experiences in your admissions interview, you’re off to a good start! We also encourage you to reach out to us directly at gseenrollment@bankstreet.edu if you have clarifying questions about the application process or requirements.

Your master’s degree is just one element of the teaching certification process, which also includes workshops, New York State tests, fingerprinting, and navigating the state’s application website. If you do not already hold NYS certification, once you graduate and meet the requirements for the certification application, you’ll receive your initial NYS certification, which lasts for five years. Within this five-year period, you will need to serve as a head/lead teacher for at least three years in order to turn your initial certification into a permanent professional certification. Professional certifications do not have an expiration date. Please note that not all programs at Bank Street lead to certification, so make sure you pursue the right program if you’re seeking to get certified!

Teachers who have been in the classroom for a few years can provide coaching, mentorship, and model teaching to those new to the field. Your expertise in this work is important in helping shape the next generation of teachers. There are also opportunities in and out of classrooms that your foundation as a teacher can help you explore, such as: 

• Curriculum and instructional design
• Professional development with adults
• Work as a specialist (depending on your certification) to offer more individualized assistance in areas like literacy, special education, or ESL.
• Research
• Policy work
• Educational consulting
• Educational leadership (see Bank Street’s leadership programs)

Our Office of Career Services can help you navigate the educational landscape.

No. Although the master’s degree provides an institutional recommendation for certification, it does not automatically mean you’re issued a certification. You will need to go through the state’s application process, complete the necessary workshops, pass the appropriate test, and provide other documentation so they can review your eligibility. After this assessment, New York State grants the certification. The Bank Street Certification Office is committed to guiding you every step of the way, offering dedicated support, expert guidance, and personalized assistance throughout the entire process.

Schools actively hire mid-career professionals, and many principals value the depth of experience they bring. Career changers enter teaching with strong transferable skills—such as communication, leadership, team management, project planning, problem-solving, and subject-matter expertise. These are core strengths in today’s classrooms and school communities.

We consistently hear from school leaders that career changers bring professionalism, maturity, and real-world perspective that enrich students’ learning experiences. Completing a master’s degree program further strengthens this foundation by developing your instructional practice, deepening your understanding of child development, and preparing you to translate your prior experience into effective, responsive teaching.

Bank Street offers a range of advanced degrees and graduate programs for certified teachers or educators looking to deepen or expand their skills. View our full list of programs and use our search tool to find a program that is best suited to your interests and needs.