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Learn how to check the status of your application and the next steps for your educator certification.
Check your application.
Initial (or provisional) certificate effective dates are posted after your application is evaluated. Initial (or provisional) certification is valid for five years. You will not automatically receive a printed initial or time-limited certificate, since the certificate will be confirmed in your account online. You can print out or take a screen shot of your account status by going to your TEACH account. Certification can also be confirmed by going to the OTI Certificate Holder Lookup link. Initial and provisional certificates are valid for five years.
Important: Check the expiration date for your certification and apply for your next title well in advance so your certification will not expire. If your certification expires, you risk being taken off payroll.
Make sure to review the information on related programs that meet the requirements for professional and permanent certification, and check this information about the mentored experience requirement. Email the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) to have your mentored experience sent to your state. They will need your file number.
You will also need to complete the work experience requirement and have INS Permanent Residence or U.S. citizenship.
If your certificate is going to expire soon or has expired, you will need to apply for an initial reissuance. Time extensions are no longer available for most titles. Apply well in advance if you need an initial reissuance or provisional renewal.
You may need to complete new requirements if your certificate expires. Be sure to check the requirements for certification well before that time since rules and procedures are subject to change.
Employment of Certified Individuals with Expired Certificates (PDF) Check with your employer if this policy is in effect.
Teachers: After completing three years of relevant paid experience, a relevant master’s degree, and any other requirements needed at the time of your application such as INS Permanent Residence or U.S. Citizenship, you should be eligible for professional certification. Although the word “citizenship” appears in the certification requirement, United States citizenship and/or permanent residence is no longer required for Professional, Permanent and TA–Level 3 certificates. Applicants must simply prove that they are legally residing in the United States.
School psychologists: After completing two years of relevant paid experience , and any other requirements needed at the time of your application such as INS Permanent Residence or U.S. Citizenship, you should be eligible for permanent certification.
School counseling: see Brooklyn College School Counseling, M.S.Ed.
Three years of relevant experience is needed.
Work experience verification is required for permanent certification. For experience completed within New York State, the preferred method for an employer to verify the experience is by entering a Superintendent Statement on TEACH. If the employer cannot enter a Superintendent Statement, they need to send the appropriate Verification of Paid Experience Form.
If you worked in a NYCPS school, you can contact the NYCPS Certification Office to request that they send your mentored experience information to the state. Email MentorVerification@schools.nyc.gov. You will need to know your file number.
After you have your professional teacher certification, you must complete 100 hours of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) during the five-year registration period. You must also register with the New York State Department of Education OTI every five years. You can earn CTLE hours through the UFT and/or an approved sponsor.
Follow these instructions if your degree did not lead to students with disabilities certification, and you took or want to take additional courses for this certification area as a nondegree student.
Consult OTI for instructions.
Any change of name or address for a certificate holder must be updated in the TEACH system within 30 days.
