New York Teaching Program Eligibility Guide
Everything you need to know about teacher prep program requirements: From getting your transcripts to applications and exams, this guide has you covered.
So you want to apply to a teacher education program (a.k.a. teaching program), and you’re figuring out what you need to enroll. That’s great news!
When you apply, program staff will look at a few different pieces to make sure you’re eligible and a good fit for admission, which could include:
- Any academic history requirements.
- Any required test scores.
- Your related work experience.
- Your essay.
- Letters of recommendation.
- An interview.
In this guide, we’ll look at each of these components.
If you have any questions about your teaching program applications, reach out to a TeachNY coach or your program’s admissions staff for support. We’re here for you.
Already a teacher in a private school or another state or country? If you’re an experienced educator applying for certification in New York, you must have your credentials reviewed by the New York State Education Department. Learn more.
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Your academic history
When you submit your application, you’ll need to show your transcripts and any previous degrees or college credits you’ve earned. This may include high school transcripts if you’re just beginning your undergraduate program, or college transcripts.
What’s included on your transcript
With your transcripts, teaching programs want to see your GPA and what college courses you’ve already taken. That includes transcripts for any college classes you took in high school or after college, even if they didn’t lead to a degree!
For some pathways to certification, the state of New York requires a C+ cumulative grade average (or a 2.5 GPA) for undergraduate courses—but programs can choose to require a higher grade average. If you’re applying to a graduate program, you’ll need at least a 3.0 GPA from your undergraduate program. Check with your program to find out what grades you need to be eligible.
How to request your transcripts
Contact the transcript office or records office of the schools you attended, and follow their transcript request procedures. You can often find the procedures on the school’s website. You can also try calling or emailing the school.
Budget at least three to five days for processing. Some schools will send transcripts by mail; others may have electronic copies.
In your request, be sure to include:
- Your name. If your name has changed since you attended school, be sure to let them know your name as it appeared when you attended the school.
- Your student ID number, if you have it.
- How many copies of your transcript you need.
- Your signature.
- Where to send the transcript, such as the physical or email address of the program you’re applying to.
Sometimes you’ll need to pay a fee to order an official transcript. Not to worry! TeachNY offers up to $100 in fee reimbursements for this kind of expense. Visit our Fee Reimbursements page to learn more.
Do I need a degree?
You don’t need a bachelor’s degree when you start a teaching program, but you’ll need one before you can become a certified teacher. Many programs let you work toward your bachelor’s and certification at the same time.
Visit TeachNY’s About Programs page to learn about choosing the right teaching program. To understand your program options, look at the statement below that best fits your situation.
What experience do I need?
In addition to your academic history, admissions staff will also look at your work experience so far, including any experience you’ve had working in education or in your subject area.
Some teaching programs will require you to have a certain amount of meaningful experience working in education or in the subject area you wish to teach.
Education experience
Ideally, you’ll already have some experience working with the age group and subject area that you want to teach, but other education experience can work too. Maybe you’ve worked in an after-school program or as a classroom paraprofessional. Maybe you’ve been a camp counselor or an instructor for a weekend program, like Saturday school or Sunday school, or coached in a youth sports league. Those all count!
Vocational & subject area experience
If you’re a career changer, your work experience can also be useful for your teaching program applications. For example, if you’ve worked in business administration or marketing, you might be a great candidate to teach business education. Or you might be an experienced musician who could teach music classes. Or maybe you’ve worked as a researcher or computer scientist—you could make a skilled science or technology education teacher.
If you’re a tradesperson with vocational work experience, you might not even need a teaching degree to get started in the classroom! Teaching positions may be available in fields such as automotive repair, cosmetology, information technology, manufacturing, and more. Find out more about the requirements.
Vocational and professional work experience all count as valuable background and expertise in your chosen subject area! You might also consider New York’s Alternative Teacher Preparation program. You can get into the classroom faster and get paid while you’re earning your teaching certificate. Learn more at TeachNY’s Alternative Certification page.
How much practical experience do I need?
The exact number of experience hours you’ll need will vary from program to program. Ask your program about their specific requirements. Bachelor’s degree plus certification programs are most likely to have this type of requirement, especially if you don’t apply to the teaching program until your sophomore or junior year.
Whatever your experience, you’ll want to highlight your achievements and responsibilities. Check out our Resume Guide and Template for ideas and advice on creating a top-notch resume.
Test scores
To apply for your teaching program, you may need to submit some test scores from the core academic skills test (think SAT or ACT).
To apply for your New York teaching certificate you’ll need to take a Content Specialty Test (CST) and the Educating All Students (EAS) test. Find the requirements for your certification area and search for the exams you need to take.
Do I really need to share test scores to apply to a program?
Not necessarily! Many programs have gone test-optional, or have opportunities to waive their testing requirement.
In order to skip testing, you’ll likely need to show certain coursework or a minimum GPA. You may also need to provide additional essay responses or letters of recommendation. Check with your specific program to see what alternatives to testing they accept.
Even if you don’t think you qualify for test-waiving, you should still check. Program staff can help you identify courses that will satisfy their test waiver requirements. You won’t know unless you ask!
We’ll briefly go over each of these tests here. You can find more detailed information about what the tests cover and how to prepare in our Testing Guide.
The Core Academic Skills Test
To apply to your teaching program, you may need to submit test scores to show your core skills in reading, writing and math. The SAT and ACT count toward this requirement!
There’s no statewide minimum score requirement on any of the core academic skills tests. Your program staff will usually just use your scores to place you in the right courses for your skill level.
Some programs may set their own minimum score requirement or have other flexibilities when it comes to demonstrating your core academic skills.
If you still need to complete a core academic skills test, you can sign up for the Praxis Core exam, which covers all three skills.
If you do need to take the Praxis Core, some programs only require you to show that you’ve registered for the test before you apply. Ask your teaching program staff about the core academic skills requirement to find out what they need from you.
Let TeachNY cover your testing fees! For up to $100 back, visit our Fee Reimbursement page.
The Content Specialty Test
Before you apply for your New York State teaching certificate, you’ll need to pass a subject area content exam, to show you know your stuff well enough to teach it.
Certain subject areas may require other tests as well. Our testing guide has more info on these tests.
Depending on your program, you may need to pass your subject area exam before you apply. Other programs only require you to have registered for your subject area test before you submit your application. Most programs don’t require you to register for your subject area exam until you’re enrolled in the program. Check with program staff if you’re not sure when you need to take your subject area test.
Educating All Students Test
In New York, you’ll also need to take the Educating All Students Test. This exam covers topics like teaching diverse students, building relationships with families and how to meet student needs. Basically it’s your chance to show you have the knowledge and skills needed to lead a classroom.
You can expect to take this exam before you get your teaching certificate.
How do I send my test scores?
Like your transcripts, you may need to send official copies of your scores with your teaching program application.
For most exams, you can designate several schools to automatically receive your scores. To get your hands on additional official copies, head over to the testing website to order them. We’ve gathered the links to make it easier for you!
If you’re taking a Content Specialty Test or the Educating All Students test, your test scores will be sent to you, the New York State Education Department, and any schools you chose when you registered for your exams. Your scores are automatically added to your NY.gov TEACH certificate application file.
Other application materials
Finally, you’ll probably need to submit an essay or personal statement and at least one letter of recommendation. You may also need to complete an interview.
If there’s anything in your academic or work history that you’re worried about, these can be good places to address those.
Essay
In most applications, you’ll need to either write a personal statement about your interest in the program, or answer a series of essay-style questions. This is your chance to share a little more about your background and interests to show why you’re a good fit.
For many people, the essay can feel like the most stressful part of the whole application process. But we have free resources to make it easier for you!
Want to write a top-notch essay? Check out TeachNY’s Essay Guide for tips, tricks and a template to get you started.
Letters of recommendation
You’ll need to include at least one letter of recommendation from a former teacher, supervisor, or colleague in your application. Letters of recommendation can show off your strengths in a way that’s hard to do for yourself.
To get a stellar letter of recommendation, it’s important to follow some basic asking etiquette. We’ve got you covered there too—follow our step-by-step Letter of Rec Guide and Template to get an amazing letter of recommendation.
Interviews
For many teaching programs, you’ll need to interview with program admissions staff. This is an opportunity to tell your story, share what you’ll bring to the program and show why you’ll make an excellent teacher.
It’s a great idea to prepare for your interview—so we’ve gathered a few of our favorite pieces of interview advice. (Need more of an interviewing 101 refresher? Check out these interviewing tips from The Muse.)
How to prepare for your teaching program interview
Practice talking about yourself
You’ll get to explain why you want to be a teacher—and why you’ll make a great one—in your admissions essay. The interview is your chance to tell your story out loud. Ask a friend or family member to listen to your answer, then aim to tell the story in about two minutes, give or take.
You’ll also want to practice explaining what you will bring to the program. What will make you a great colleague to your fellow classmates? What unique perspectives or teamwork skills do you bring?
Get to know yourself on paper
Your interviewers may want to know more about your academic background or have questions about specific courses, changes in major or grades on your transcripts. Review your transcripts with a critical eye. What questions might your interviewers have? Practice answering them.
As with your admissions essay, this is your chance to use potential negatives to your advantage, showing how you have grown from challenges.
Prepare to give specific examples that show how you work
Interviewers often ask about how your life experiences demonstrate the qualities they’re looking for. They may want to know how you creatively tackle challenges, collaborate on projects or handle stress.
You’ll want to do more than tell them you’re creative and a great collaborator. This is your chance to show your unique qualities with short anecdotes. Think of specific examples from your school work, jobs you’ve had or other experiences. Come ready with a few noteworthy stories that illustrate your skills and how you work.
To set yourself apart, follow your interview by sending short thank you emails to your interviewers. Let them know you value their time and are excited to get started in the program!
International applicant requirements
If you’re from outside the U.S., you may need to provide additional paperwork to show that you’re ready for your program or certification. This may include:
- Validation of any degrees earned abroad through a state-approved third-party agency.
- Documentation that you are eligible to work legally in the U.S. This could include a copy of a valid work authorization, a permanent resident card or a U.S. passport.
- Copies of any relevant test scores.