FAQs

There are a variety of options on getting fingerprinted in the Ithaca area. Go to this link:  http://www.nysed.gov/educator-integrity/fingerprinting, and click the URL next to "Certification". To find the nearest location, input the zip code that you wish to be fingerprinted in. The fingerprint application fee as of January 1, 2022 is $101.75. Payment must be made by cash or check at the time of your appointment. This is digital fingerprinting, and must be done only after you have created your TEACH account. For more information on TEACH accounts, see the Teacher Certification section of the FAQs page. 

The Service Code is: 14ZGQT Fingerprint Reason is: Certification Applicant

Students should complete the fingerprinting requirement prior to student teaching.

Log into your TEACH account, access Account Information (3rd on list that appears after log in) and click “Fingerprinting.” The statement “Your DCJS and FBI results have been received” (toward the bottom of the screen) indicates complete clearance. If documentation is required for a course or a school placement, you can print/email a screenshot for verification. Make sure when printing or saving the screenshot that it includes your name and details at the top of the page as well.

Many states require that you get fingerprinted while you are in that state. Fingerprints do not always travel with you from one state to another. Reach out to your state's Department of Education for more information. 

See the New York State Teacher Certification Exams tab to the left for more information about each of the required exams. Most content areas will require two exams for Initial Certification. Speech Language Pathology with Teacher Certification students only need to take the Educating All Students exam for Initial Certification.  NOTE:  The edTPA is no longer be a certification requirement as of April 27, 2022. 

These are exams that are specific to your area of study. For example, students studying to become Chemistry Teachers need to take a Chemistry Content Exam. For Childhood Education students, there is a 3-part exam that covers all the content that they will be expected to teach.

For undergraduates, they can be taken your senior year. For students in the 13-month master's program, it is suggested that they are taken during Winter Break. It is recommended that this happens before your Student Teaching semester, but can be completed during it as well. 

No, you do not. Although it is recommended that all exams have at least been taken when you start applying for jobs, it is not required by Ithaca College. Some school districts may not allow you to apply without having all of your exams, and some may hire you before you have officially passed all of your exams. If you need a letter stating that you are enrolled in one of our teacher education programs and are in good standing, email teachered@ithaca.edu to request a "student employment letter."

NYS teacher certification requirements are rigorous, and prepare you well for becoming certified in other states. Getting certified in New York can be beneficial, and sometimes makes the move to different states easier, but there will still be things you may have to do in your own state in order to be certified to teach in that state. It is the student's responsibility to contact any other state that they wish to become certified in to begin that process.

Here are two websites that might be a good place to start as you look at certification requirements in other states. All information should be confirmed with that state's certification office.

• Certification Map: https://certificationmap.com/
• Education Commission Reciprocity: https://www.ecs.org/50-state-comparison-teacher-license-reciprocity/

In all, the breakdown looks like this:

Fingerprinting- $102

Educating All Students Exam- $80

Content Specialty Exam- $122-$161

Certification Fee TEACH- $50

Estimated Total Cost (not including institution costs): $354-$393

Go to the NYS Department of Education Website and begin setup through this link: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/home.html

Log in to your TEACH account and click “Apply for Certificate.” Steps in application are as follows:

Step 1. Verify/Update Profile.

This section contains your personal data and contact information.  Keep all information current.

The applicant should enter their education in the following format:

Click in the radio button that states “Approved New York State Certification Programs: Select this radio button if you completed an approved program at a New York State institution that leads to a recommended teaching certificate.” Once you click this button, do not click any other options.

1. Enter education information - If you are in a graduate program leading to initial certification, enter only the degree program leading to the certificate you are applying for; do not enter your undergraduate, non teaching degree.
2. Institution: drop down list of New York State higher education institutions with teacher preparation programs - select Ithaca College from the list.
3. Award Title: drop down list of awards associated with the chosen institution; select proper award title.
4. Program: drop down list of programs available at the chosen institution and with the chosen award title; select appropriate program.
5. Major: this is a generic list of common majors; identify the correct major
6. Date Degree Received: enter date of graduation. Be exact here. This date must be accurate.
7. Attended From: enter date education began (use 1st day of month you began studies)
8. Attended To: enter graduation date
9. Number of Credits: A close estimate will be adequate
10. The teaching/employment section should only be completed when applying for Professional certification.  Applicants should enter only paid teaching experience in schools. Do not enter work associated with courses, paid coaching, or volunteer experiences This category is primarily for those seeking professional certification after having taught successfully.

Step 2 – Select Certificate(s)

This is where you choose your certificate type and title.  You will choose from a series of 5 dynamically filtered drop downs to arrive at the appropriate certificate for the program you completed.  These drop down menus are exactly the same as in Search Certification Requirements.

• You must select a certificate that is appropriate to the program you indicate in the self-reported education portion of the applicant profile.
• Select the radio button Pathway: Approved Teacher Preparation Program
• If you have completed a dual degree program, you may apply for more than one certificate in the same session
• See Program Code list below

Step 3 – Sign Affidavit

Answer the child support and moral character questions here and then sign the affidavit.  If you answer “yes” to any of the moral character questions, you must enter an explanation in the text box provided.  Sign the affidavit by clicking on the button “Sign Affidavit.”

Step 4 – Confirm and Sign Application

You will sign the application by clicking on the button “Sign Application” attesting that all statements and information provided in the application are true.  Please note, up to this point (signing the application), the applicant may back-out of the application process – no certificate or affidavit information will be saved.  After the application is signed, the application is saved and submitted.

Step 5 – Make Payment

In order to receive your teaching certificate quickly, it is recommended that a credit card be used for payment.  Each certificate costs $50.00.  Upon completing the payment process, TEACH will perform an automated evaluation and return a list of unmet requirements.  You can print this out and use it to track your completion of unmet requirements.

PROGRAM CODES

For an Initial Teaching Certificate:

Bachelor of Arts Degree
Art Education 27889
Biology (7-12) 23322
Chemistry (7-12) 23323
English (7-12) 23325
German (7-12) 23327
Math (7-12) 23329
Physics (7-12) 23331
Social Studies (7-12) 23330
Spanish (7-12) 23328

French (7-12) 23326

Bachelor of Music Degree
Music Education (K-12)  23333
Performance & Music Education 23334

Bachelor of Science Degree
Health Education Teaching 23319
Physical Education Teaching 23320

Master of Art in Teaching Degree - Initial and Professional Certification
Adolescence Education (7-12) 30925

Agricultural Education (K-12)  37534

Master of Music Degree - Professional Certification
Music Education (K-12) 29383

Master of Science Degree
Teaching Students with Speech & Lang. Disabilities or Speech Language Pathology with Teacher Certification 27719 (Initial and Professional Certification)
Childhood Education (1-6) 31463 (Initial and Professional Certification)

In the event you experience problems or have technical difficulties, TEACH provides technical support via email teachhelp@nysed.gov or by phone at (518) 474-3901 and select option #3.

Once your degree has been posted by the Office of the Registrar at Ithaca College, we will submit the college recommendation. You can check the status of your application by going to the NYSED website at www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert

If you have job interviews before your certificate arrives, the Teacher Certification Specialist is happy to provide you with an official letter stating that you have applied and been recommended for certification. Contact our Teacher Certification Specialist at teachered@ithaca.edu.