Checklist for Obtaining Initial Teacher Certification
Through Institutional Recommendation at Teachers College
You MUST do ALL of the following:
Across Your Program of Study
Create a NYSED TEACH Account
- Visit www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert and follow the steps to create a TEACH account. For a step-by-step video tutorial of how to create a TEACH account, click here.
- Edit/update your “Education History” to include ALL higher education coursework completed
Meet CONTENT-core (certificate subject specific) 30 credits requirement (if not done so already)
Note: the transcript evaluation for this requirement is processed through your academic program.
- View your program requirements
Complete required New York State Exams for Initial Certification
Registration and preparation guides are available at: www.nystce.nesinc.com
- Educating All Students Test (EAS)
- Content Specialty Test (CST) (Check NYSED website for which CST is required for your certification area)
Complete 3 Workshops
Teachers College is a NYSED approved provider for all of the following workshops. Feel free to register at tc.edu/cps. If you complete a workshop outside TC, please send proof of completion to ote@tc.edu.
- Child Abuse and Identification and Reporting Training (Unless you have taken HBSS 4116). Information about approved training providers can be accessed on NYSED website.
- School Violence Intervention and Prevention Training (Unless you have taken HBSS 4116)
- Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Training
Obtain Fingerprint Clearance (if not done so already)
- Your fingerprints will need to be on file with the NYC DOE prior to student teaching, and with the New York State Education Department for certification. Please see Fingerprinting for options.
Student Teaching Semesters
- Read Student Teaching Packet
- Get fingerprinted and ensure that fingerprints are on file with the city; also take steps to ensure that fingerprints will be on file with the state for certification
- Register online with New York City at www.teachnyc.net/certification/student-teaching as a student teacher
- Send ote@tc.edu proof that you completed the above requirements. Our office will then issue “Student Teaching Clearance Letter” to you; clearance is required in order to begin student teaching.
DURING student teaching:
- During each placement, track the number of hours at the school site on the time sheet portion of the Record of Hours Form
- At the end of each placement, submit Record of Hours Form to OTE
Critical Last Steps
Apply for a teaching certificate via the NYSED (State) TEACH system (Different from NYC TEACH)
- Visit http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/ to log in to your NYSED-TEACH account and apply/pay for your teaching certificate(s)
- Fill out your Institutional Recommendation Data Form (IRDF) and submit completed/signed/dated form either via email to ote@tc.columbia.edu or in person to Zankel 411