The New York State Department of Education website (NYSED) informed the content shared in Sections 1.1 and 1.2. Requirements can change quickly, therefore please monitor the NYSED site for changes during your teacher education program.

The requirements for level 1 teacher assistant certification include the following:

1. Completion of high school or GED. 
2. Completion of required workshops: Workshop – Child Abuse Identification; Workshop – School Violence Intervention and Prevention; Workshop – Training in Harassment, Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Discrimination in Schools: Prevention and Intervention (DASA training)
3. Completion with passing scores of the New York State Teacher Certification Exam – ATAS
4. Fingerprint clearance (link for outside of NYC).

Additional information about teacher assistant certification including Level 2 and 3 teaching assistants can be found on the NYSED website.

The requirements for teacher certification include the following:

1. Completion of your teacher education program with a GPA of 3.0. Once you have completed this requirement, the teacher education program will issue a letter recommending you for your initial teaching license.
2. Completion of required teaching exams. These exams often change so refer to NYSED guidance.

Some educators work in settings that don’t require NYSED certification, but have other requirements. For example, early childhood educators may need to meet requirements for OCFS or other agencies. Teachers in private or charter schools may have requirements for their accrediting agency.  Your employer should be able to guide you on what credentials you will need. Make sure to keep track of whatever you do to meet these requirements. It’s recommended that you have a file on your computer and a paper file of all of your credentials.