You’ll have to earn a degree to teach most subjects. Choose a major that matches the subject you want to teach.
Many programs combine a teaching certificate with a bachelor’s degree, so you can get certified while you finish your undergraduate coursework.
If you have vocational experience, you may also be able to teach a Career & Technical Education subject without a degree.
The teaching certificate you earn will depend on the subject and grade level you want to teach. At any level, getting certified in a shortage area subject—such as special education, science or bilingual education—provides more job opportunities.
Explore your certification options at our Certification Areas page.
Keep in mind that you can often accomplish steps 1 and 2 at the same time!
It is important to check with your advisor to make sure the teaching program at your school offers your chosen certification area.
If you’re not already enrolled in a college with a teaching program, you can find programs with the TeachNY Program Explorer.
As a future teacher, you’ll need to pass a few tests to show you’re ready to teach your own classroom. Getting certified in New York usually includes one or more exams from the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) program.
Testing requirements can also vary based on the specific certificate you decide to pursue, such as math or elementary education.
Almost there! First, your teaching program will need to confirm you’re eligible to apply for your certificate. Once you get confirmation, you’ll create an NY.gov ID TEACH account to submit your certificate application.
You’ll need to submit the teaching certificate application fee and documentation of your education and test scores. This could include:
The TeachNY Certification Guide has everything you need to start your journey. Get details about teaching pathways, certification areas and steps to certification, all in one place!
It’s all free.
Talk to an experienced local educator about how to become a certified teacher in New York. Get free advice on how to choose what subject and grade to teach and apply to the right program.
Read MoreApplying to teacher prep programs can get expensive. We’ll give you $100 to help you out.
Read MoreApply for a TeachNY scholarship to help pay for your teacher preparation program.
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