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You must complete the following requirements in any order to receive certification. For the most up to date information, visit the New York State Office of Teaching Initiatives.
Create a New York State Certification TEACH account.
How To Check Your TEACH Account (PDF)
You will need to check your Brooklyn College e-mail account, as many important and time-sensitive messages from CUNY are only sent to your official college e-mail account (@bcmail.cuny.edu).
If you selected your personal e-mail as your preferred address at BC WebCentral in the past, it is no longer used for currently enrolled students. You must check your Brooklyn College e-mail.
More information is available here.
Record your personal e-mail address in CUNYfirst. After you graduate, we may need to contact you about steps needed for New York State certification, and we will use your personal e-mail address if it is on file. Otherwise, you will need to sign in to your Brooklyn College e-mail, as described here.
Check the resources here.
Relevant education is needed for all educator certification titles. Learn how your degree will affect your certification, and review deadlines for filing your graduation audit.
Learn more about which certification tests you need to complete if you are a new teacher without certification or a certified teacher who is applying to teach another age group or subject.
Workshops are a required for New York State certification. Your workshops must be verified by the Brooklyn College certification officer before your recommendation for certification can be entered by Brooklyn College. These workshops are not test prep workshops.
Follow the fingerprint verification instructions for fieldwork, student teaching, or other college-related work in New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), formerly known as New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) schools.
Be sure to check your TEACH account to check if your fingerprint status is posted there. You can go to Account Information, Fingerprinting, and click “submit.”
If you see a note on your TEACH account that states “Teach does not have your fingerprint information…” and if you already processed your fingerprint records with the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), formerly known as New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), then you need to follow the instructions at the bottom of the form to create an account with DOE HR Connect and upload the OSPRA 104 form (PDF). If the information in section two of the OSPRA 104 form does not apply to you, you can leave it blank. Select the category “Walk-In Center.”
Allow about one month for your records to be processed, and then check your TEACH account to be sure your fingerprint records were received. When your records are received by TEACH, your account will only indicate if your records were received, not if your records are currently “cleared.” Records on TEACH cannot be used to confirm your current fingerprint clearance status.
We will guide you through the step-by-step process for applying for certification, including certifications for teaching students with disabilities, school psychology, counseling, and leadership positions.
Learn how to check the status of your application and how long it will take for New York State to process. In addition, learn about the next steps for your certification since most certifications have multiple steps.
Office of Teaching Initiatives. Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) Professional Fees Mandated Workshops for All School Professionals Internship Certification for Teacher Candidates
Fingerprint Verification Requirement Instructions for Additional Certification New York State Education Department Links Career Information and Additional Resources
Helen Spencer, Certification Officer 2201 James Hall P: 718.951.5000, ext. 3946, Mondays–Thursdays Office hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Review the instructions for fingerprint verification.
The college PETS administrator is Helen Spencer.
The Personnel Eligibility Tracking System, PETS, is a New York City Department of Education office that manages fingerprint clearance records.
P: 718.951.4800 Roberto Martinez, Teaching Fellows Program Manager Ellen Kreger, Teaching Fellows Administrative Assistant
