SED Amends
Teacher Certification Regulations
April 2004
At their March 2004 meeting, the Board of Regents adopted a number
of changes regarding requirements for teacher certification. These amendments
reflected technical changes and also provided clarification and support
of recently-enacted changes in certification that were effective on
February 2, 2004. The amendments:
- Allow lawful permanent residents to meet the citizenship requirement
for certification consistent with recent statutory change. Previously,
candidates for permanent or professional certification were limited
to only US citizens.
- Permit candidates whose participation in a teacher preparation program
was interrupted by active military service to have additional time
to complete requirements under the teacher certification requirements
in effect prior to February 2, 2004.
- Add a statement of continuing eligibility option for theater teachers
similar to the option provided to teachers of gifted education and
teachers using ASL.
- Renew the pathway for licensed speech-language pathologists to qualify
for teaching certificates under an exception to the regular requirements
since previous authority expired on 2/1/04.
- Renew the authority for certified out-of-state teachers to qualify
for a “conditional” first level teaching certificate,
allowing holders two years to pass the NYS certification exams since
previous authority expired on 2/1/04.
- Clarify the applicability of the new certification requirements
for the classroom teaching service, providing that the new certification
requirements will apply to candidates who apply for certification
on or after February 2, 2004, unless an exception is otherwise specifically
set forth in the regulations. Information found on the State Education
Department’s Office of Teaching Initiatives website suggests
that this change may be to possibly support, at some time in the future,
extending a provision to allow the renewal of expired provisional
certificates.
- Update the name of the examination for teaching assistants to reflect
the “Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills."
- Specify the "bilingual extension assessment" as the correct
name for the examination required for the extension in bilingual education.
- Clarify the current language in the general science extension provisions
to indicate that study is required in “at least” two additional
sciences, rather than in just two additional sciences.
- Remove language requiring matriculation in a registered teacher
education program for the Transitional A certificate. The Transitional
A certificate is valid only for three years and is available only
for specific career and technical subjects within the field of agriculture,
health or a trade (grades 7-12). These individuals would need to eligible
for initial certification upon expiration of the Transitional A certificate.
- Remove unnecessary language from the career awareness extension
requirements, which required a career and technical base certificate.
- Provide that candidates in the alternative certification programs
who applied and qualified for a transitional B certificate on or before
2/1/04 will be eligible to obtain a provisional certificate, upon
meeting the requirements for the provisional certificate. Those applying
and qualifying for the transitional B certificate after 2/1/04 will
have to apply for the initial certificate and meet the new requirements.
Contact NYSUT Research and Educational Services if you should need
further information on these changes.
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