Important New Testing Requirements and Deadlines
If you are graduating in or before fall 2013 and are applying for your first initial New York State certification:
You have a choice of which certification tests to take for first initial New York State Teacher certification based on the date you will complete all requirements. Please carefully consider if you will take and complete all current requirements or will choose to wait and take the new required tests, which will be available beginning in fall 2013.
If you are graduating on or before April 30, 2014, you must complete the following:
- Passing grade posted for all current certification tests:
- The Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST)
- The Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W)
- The available Content Specialty Test(s) (CST) for your subject(s) - Register for the earliest available teacher certification tests at www.nystce.nesinc.com. The LAST, ATS-W, CST English Language Arts, CST multi-subject, CST Social Studies and CST Students with Disabilities tests are only available at computer-based centers after July 20, 2013. Refer to http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/NY_annpbt.asp and http://www6.pearsonvue.com/nystce. You must make an appointment for your test.
- Graduation requirements completed on time on or before fall 2013 graduation and confirmed by the registrar and Faculty Council, which ensures your recommendation for certification to be entered by the certification officer. Be sure to apply for graduation before October 15, 2013 at the Enrollment Services Center.
- Completion of the mandated workshops.
- New York State Education Department TEACH application completed, including fingerprint clearance.
If you cannot complete all of these steps on or before April 30, 2014, you will have to take the new tests for certification.
Note: The available dates for certification tests are only currently posted until July 2013.
If you are graduating in or after spring 2014 and are applying for your first initial New York State certification, or if you cannot complete the requirements for your first initial certification on or before the 4/30/14 deadline:
Starting May 1, 2014 the required tests will be:
- The edTPA Teacher Performance Assessment, which is a portfolio-based assessment that involves submitting video clips of your teaching, lesson plans and other assessment material, which will be completed during student-teaching.
- Educating All Students test (EAS)
- Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST)
- The available CST test(s) for your subject(s)
