How to Apply for
New York State Education Department School Social Worker Certification

Note: You are able to create a TEACH account and start taking the workshops prior to graduating.

1. Go to www.highered.nysed.gov

2. Click “Certification in NYS”

3. Click “Learn How to Become Certified in NYS”

   1. To learn step by step how to apply to become certified click “Certification from Start to Finish”

*Please Note: You must create a login account to access the TEACH System to apply for a certificate.

4. Next: Search for Certification Requirements: http://eservices.nysed.gov/teach/certhelp/CertRequirementHelp.do

Select Your Certification Title:

1. Select Area of Interest: Administration and Pupil Personnel Services

2. Select Subject Area: Social Work

3. Select Grade Level: Pre K-12 All Grades

4. Select Title: School Social Worker

5. Select Your Certificate Type: Provisional Certificate

6. Click “Search”

5. Requirements for Provisional Certificate: School Social Worker: http://eservices.nysed.gov/teach/certhelp/CertRequirementHelp.do

Pathway: Individual Evaluation

Requirements:

1. Education – Bachelor's Degree

2. Graduate Coursework – Social Work – 30 S.H

3. College Supervised Internship

4. Child Abuse Identification Workshop

5. School Violence Intervention and Prevention Workshop

Register here for online workshop for both Child Abuse Identification Workshop and School Violence Intervention workshop: https://www.childabuseworkshop.com/ 

6. *Dignity For All Students ACT Workshop (New as of Jan. 2014)

Two options of how you can take the DASA workshop: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/dignity-for-all-students-act--remediated 

Also offered online through Mercy College:

https://www.mercy.edu/academics/school-education/test-prep-certification-workshops/dasa-dignity-all-students-act

7. Fingerprint Clearance https://uenroll.identogo.com/workflows/14ZGR7 

8. $100 Application Fee

6. Create a personal TEACH account: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach

7. Once you create an account, Click “TEACH Online Services.”

(This site will walk you through the steps to apply for a certificate.)

8. Under “Profile Links,” enter education, employment and personal information.

9. Under “Fingerprinting Links,” submit application for fingerprint clearance.

   1. Complete and mail OSPRA103 Authorization to forward Criminal History to: NYCBOE

   2. Complete and mail OSPRA104 Authorization to forward Criminal History to: NYSED

10. Workshops

    1. You can take the School Violence Intervention and Prevention Workshop online at: www.childabuseworkshop.com

       1. Enter Group Code: NY – to take both above courses online for $60

       2. For more information regarding these online workshops please call customer service at: 1-800-963-5449 OR email: help@childabuseworkshop.com

    2. *The Dignity for All Students Act Workshop (DASA)

       1. All applicants who are applying for a certificate on or after December 31, 2013 are required to complete six clock hours of coursework or training in Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention in accordance with Article 2 Sections 10-18 of the Education Law.

    3. Training in Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention is available only from a provider approved by the NYS Education Department. A list of providers is available on the DASA Providers webpage: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/dasa-applicant.html

       1. Contact the provider for the workshop registration dates and times.

       2. Please Note: Some providers offer training that exceeds the six Hour minimum. Fees vary by provider.

    4. Upon completion of the workshop, the provider will give you a Certification of Completion.

11. Once all materials are completed:

    1. Send ALL (Transcript, Workshop Certifications, and $100 application fee) to:

New York State Education Department

Office of Teaching Initiatives, Room 5N EB

89 Washington Avenue

Albany NY 12234

(You can also pay $100 online either by credit card or mail your payment.)

12. Monitor the progress of your application by logging onto OTI-NYSED and clicking on: “Inquiry Links,” “Account Information,” and then clicking on the appropriate links.

    1. Average time to receive your certificate after applying: 2 Months.

    2. Please Note: NYSED does not mail paper copies of Provisional Certificates.

FYI: As per the Office of Teaching Initiatives (OTI), SW program codes do not apply to Social Work graduates earning an MSW. When completing the application bypass the SW program codes completely. Instead, scroll down towards the bottom of the page, select Option B and follow the prompts which will take you to the page which will allow you to apply for the PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE for School Social Worker.

*Most School Social Work jobs are not vacant until July.

APPLYING FOR JOBS

Once your School Social Worker Provisional Certificate is listed as “Issued” in the NYSED system, you can proceed to apply for employment with the NYC Department of Education. 

*You will need to complete this step regardless of how you were hired so your hiring principal can find you in the system. 

1. Go to www.teachnyc.net

2. In the top left hand corner, click “New Application.”

3. Next click “Pupil Personnel & Substitutes”

4. Complete the application for PUPIL PERSONNEL SERVICES.

5. DO NOT COMPLETE THE TEACHER APPLICATION.

6. You will receive an email in several weeks, after your application has been reviewed, which will indicate that you have been added to the New Teacher Finder. You can then search for school social work jobs, and school administrators will be able to search for you.

13. Although it is not necessary for all school social work jobs, it is recommended that you take the New York State Social Work Licensing Exam, as some schools require proof of licensure for employment.

FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE: Please contact the NYS Education Dept. - Office of Teaching Initiatives Teacher Certification Helpline at: 518-474-3901 and press 5 to speak to a Helpline Representative.

Agencies that offer social work positions in DOE schools, but you are not considered a DOE employee:

• Henry Street Settlement 

• The Jewish Board

• Counseling in Schools 

• Children’s Aid NYC