Certification

As an Admissions Prerequisite

Did you complete an approved certification program in another US State but are not certified?

If you intend to enroll in one of our programs here at Bank Street that requires you to hold a valid New York State certificate in general education for acceptance (i.e., areas such as special education, literacy, or curriculum and instruction), you must have a valid New York State certificate in general education. If you hold a certificate from another state, you can apply for New York certification with the following instructions.

We urge you to begin the process as soon as possible, as it can take many months to complete your part, and then the state needs time to process and review your completed application.

Using Another State Certification to Help You Obtain New York Certification

  • Create a Profile in the TEACH System

    TEACH is the New York State’s online certification database. Create a profile and click on “Self-Register.” You also want to apply for an Initial Certificate in TEACH via the Pathway: Completion of a College Teacher Education Program in another U.S. State. Bear in mind that creating a profile and actually applying are separate processes.

  • Get Fingerprinted

    For more information, visit Bank Street’s Fingerprinting Page.

  • Enter Your Educational Information and Work Experience In Your TEACH Account

    Be as accurate as possible and be sure to include all relevant work experience.

  • Register for New York State Exams

    Visit the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations Page for the current exam schedule and to register for the appropriate New York State exams. If you are unsure which exams are required for the certificate, please visit our Exams Page. Your test scores will be reported to you and to the New York State Department of Education (NYSED) about four weeks after your exam.

  • Request Transcripts From All Institutions That You Attended

    We suggest that you have the transcripts sent to yourself first and then send them to the address below with a return receipt requested. Do not open official transcripts. You should write your Teacher ID number (located in your TEACH account) and you social security number on the outside of the transcript envelopes to ensure that they are applied to your account appropriately. Be sure to include a photo copy of any teaching certificate(s) that you hold.

    Office of Teaching Initiatives
    New York State Department of Education
    5N Education Building
    Albany, NY 12234

  • Take the Child Abuse Identification, School Violence Prevention (SAVE), and Dignity for All Students (DASA) Workshops

    Completion certificates or transcripts indicating completion of all three workshops must be submitted to NYSED. These workshops are available at Bank Street and are free of cost to matriculated students. Please check the Graduate School Course Schedule for a list of dates and times.

  • Notify Bank Street

    When you see your New York State certificate in TEACH, be sure to notify the Certification Office at certification@bankstreet.edu.

    Check your application status frequently through your TEACH account, as New York State will not send you a paper certificate or any status updates for your application. It is also recommended that you send all of these materials in one packet with a return receipt requested to the state. Write your social security number on each item you send.