Teacher Certification Requirements

Teacher Certification

Students enrolled in Teacher Education programs leading to New York State certification should consult the Steinhardt Teacher Certification Website for all questions related to certification. There is a very helpful FAQ that we recommend students review, as many questions can be answered there.  

It is important to note that certification is NOT issued automatically upon completion of your degree program. Students must apply to New York State for certification, complete all required exams, be fingerprinted, and be recommended for certification by NYU upon completion of their degree program. 

The Steinhardt Certification Officer will hold certification information sessions each semester to discuss certification requirements and the application process and answer student questions. Students are highly encouraged to attend at least one information session. 

Steinhardt Certification Officer

Mark J. Perez

NYU Steinhardt

(212) 998-5033 

mark.perez@nyu.edu

We also have a suggested timeline from our Office of School and Community Partnerships for Individual NYS Certification which can be found here:

Individual NYS Initial Certification Timeline

Note: You do not need to complete the steps in this order to become certified. This is only a recommendation to help you plan for upcoming semesters. Updated October 2018.

Two Year Plan

Fall 

• Create individual timeline

Spring/Summer

• Take and pass EAS exam *

Fall/Winter

• Take and pass CST(s) exams **

Spring

• Create TEACH account & apply for certificates

• Transfer fingerprints to NYS (OSPRA 104)

• Submit Request for Recommendation form to advisor

• Apply for teaching positions 

*MMS students should take the EAS exam after having taken SPCED-GE.2162 or BILED-GE.2103 in their second year of study

**MMS students can typically take their CST(s) as early as the summer after their first year of study

One Year Plan

Fall/Winter

• Create individual timeline 

• Take and pass CST exam(s)

• Take and pass EAS exam

Spring 

• Create TEACH account & apply for certificates 

• Transfer fingerprints to NYS (OSPRA 104)

• Submit Request for Recommendation to advisor

• Apply for teaching positions 

Teacher Certification Update

Effective February 25th, 2025, the NYSED announced a new NYSTCE Certification Exam Score Waiver Process, which includes the Content Specialty Tests. The Educating All Students test (EAS) is not included but already has a reduced minimum passing score of 500 until the revised EAS is operational. 

If you will have achieved at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average or its equivalent in a program leading to a baccalaureate, or a graduate degree culminating in at least 30 credits, and have scored within 0.5 standard error of measurement (SEM) of the passing score on a required NYSTCE test, you may apply for an exam score waiver. Please see the details on the NYSED Certification Exam Score Waiver.

The link above includes a chart that outlines the 0.5 SEM Score, the minimum exam score if you have a 3.5 cumulative GPA in your bachelor's degree.

If you are a current bachelor's student who will have a 3.5 or higher GPA upon graduation, you will need to wait until your degree has been conferred to order a transcript to submit to the NYSED. 

The announcement also appears on the main NYU Teacher Certification page and the Required NYS Certification page.