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Applying for Teacher Certification

School of Education students who successfully graduate from their teacher preparation program and complete any additional certification requirements needed such as exams, fingerprints or content core coursework, should then be ready to apply for their initial certification with the New York State Education Dept. The certification process is as follows:

  1. During their first semester of their teacher preparation program, students should consult with their Program Coordinator/ Advisor regarding their coursework plan to graduate. They should also contact the Certification Office (teacher.certification@lehman.cuny.edu) to learn about their personal New York State certification requirements based on their teaching program area. These requirements are intertwined based on their program area but also separate and additional from earning their degree.  

  2. The Certification Office will provide a personalized certification checklist based on a student’s teacher program area. The checklist should be used as a reference to mark off all the requirements a student should have completed by the time they graduate from their teacher program. This will ensure their readiness to obtain their initial certification from the New York State Education Dept after they graduate.

  3. After all certification requirements are completed including official graduation, students should contact the Certification Office to request a college recommendation submission to the state for their initial certification. The office will review their requirements to see if they qualify to receive it. The office will then submit the recommendation into their New York State TEACH Online Services account and provide the next steps to apply for the initial certification.

  4. After a student qualifies and receives the college recommendation, they should then apply for their initial certification through their New York State TEACH Online Services account using the program code provided by the college.

  5. The state takes over their application and conducts their own final review before they approve the initial certificate online. Only the state has final review and approval over all teaching certificates. Certificates are only issued online.