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Initial Teacher Certification

Matriculants who successfully complete graduate teacher education programs at Lehman are eligible to apply for New York State initial certification. Information about requirements for specific certificates may be obtained from the School of Education's Certification Officer, located in Room B33 of Carman Hall.

Candidates for initial teacher certification must meet the State requirements for certification as follows:

  • A bachelor's degree in liberal arts or science;
  • Completion of NYS registered teacher preparation program (master's degree) in the field that a certificate is sought;
  • Successful completion of internship or student teaching;
  • Passing the New York State Certification Examinations: (a) the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), (b) the Content Specialty Test (CST), and (c) the Assessment of Teaching Skills—Written (ATS-W); and
  • Completion of the workshops on school violence prevention and child abuse identification.

Matriculants must file an application for initial teacher certification at the start of their final semester of graduate study. Filing instructions may be obtained from the Certification Officer, Room B33 of Carman Hall.

The certification process is as follows:

  1. The candidate completes the graduate education program and obtains the degree.
  2. The candidate files for certification using the NYSED Teach System with the Certification Officer.
  3. The candidate contacts the Certification Officer when his or her record of graduation date is available on eSIMS.
  4. The Certification Officer reviews the transcript to ensure that the candidate has met the New York State liberal arts and science requirements.
  5. The candidate may need to take additional courses if there is deficiency in the coursework.
  6. The Certification Officer enters an institutional recommendation for NYS certification.
  7. The State Education Department issues electronic certificates on TEACH online services at www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert

Last modified: 1/23/2013