So you want to be a teacher?

1. So you want to be a teacher? Buffalo State College Teacher Certification Office Caudell Hall, Room 101 1300 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY 14222 START

2. Steps to certification Being a teacher is very rewarding (and challenging!) The road to get there is not always easy, though. This PowerPoint presentation is designed to help you make some sense of it all.

3. Student Timeline of Requirements

4. What are the requirements to become certified? • Academic Preparation • Teacher Certification Exams • Seminars • Fingerprinting • Apply

5. Academic Preparation This means either a B.S. in Education, a M.S. in Education, or completion of a Post Baccalaureate Certification Only Program in Education from Buffalo State College. Psst… don’t forget to apply for graduation!

6. √ Academic Preparation Teacher Certification Exams Seminars Fingerprinting Apply The next step is the exams

7. New York State Teacher Certification Exams The New York State Teacher Certification Examination Program is designed to help ensure that certified teachers have the knowledge and skills that are important for the job of teaching in New York State public schools. The testing program is administered by National Evaluation Systems, Inc. for the New York State Education Department.

8. What exams must I pass? When Should I take these exams? • Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) • LAST should be taken your junior year in college • Elementary and Secondary Assessment of Teaching Skills Written (ATS-W) • ATS-W should be taken your last semester during student teaching • Content Specialty Test (CST) in the content area of certification • CST should be taken the semester before student teaching **Your department may have specific requirements for when you should take the exams. **To register for these exams, visit www.nystce.nesinc.com

9. How do I register for the teacher certification exams? You must register online at www.nystce.nesinc.com using a credit card.

10. When are the exams offered? • The exams are offered several times a year. You may view the exam schedule by visiting the testing site at www.nystce.nesinc.com. ATS-W: The ATS-W is given in the morning only, 7:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. LAST: The LAST is given in the afternoon only, 1:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. CST: The Content Specialty Test is given morning and afternoon, depending on your specialty area.

11. √ √ Academic Preparation Teacher Certification Exams Seminars Fingerprinting Apply The next step is the seminars

12. Seminars As a result of the SAVE (The Schools Against Violence in Education) legislation and No Child Left Behind legislation, certification candidates are required to complete additional training in the form of seminars. You should take the following seminars the semester before student teaching:

13. What Seminars Do I Need? • The Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) • Child Abuse Identification and Reporting* • Alcohol and Other Drug Avoidance • Fire and Arson Safety • *Students completing an Early Childhood/Childhood Education B.S. or Exceptional Education B.S.E.D program through Buffalo State College are required to take an additional AIDS/HIV Exposure Seminar.

14. Seminars To register for the SAVE Seminar: • On Campus: Call Continuing Professional Studies at 878-5907, or check their Web site: http://www.buffalostate.edu/academics/cenc/ • Off-campus: Erie 1 BOCES at 821-7550 • On-line: • www.francisschool.com/violence/default.asp or • www.violenceworkshop.com To register for the Child Abuse Identification and Reporting Seminar: • On Campus: Call the Center for the Development of Human Services at 876-7600 • Call Continuing Professional Studies at 878-5907, or check their Web site: http://www.buffalostate.edu/academics/cenc/ • Off-campus: Call your Erie 1 BOCES at 821-7550 • On-line: • www.childabuseworkshop.com • www.francisschool.com/capp2/visitors/vpp-cpp-log.asp To register for the Fire and Arson Safety and Alcohol and Other Drug Avoidance: • Call Continuing Professional Studies at 878-5907, or check their Web site: http://www.buffalostate.edu/academics/cenc/

15. Seminars cont… Training for the AIDS/HIV Exposure seminar is arranged through your EDU 402 instructor, or the Student Teaching Supervisor. You will be provided with information during student teaching. If you miss the HIV/Exposure Seminar that is arranged, they are also offered by other local agencies. Call for times: On Campus: • Call Continuing Professional Studies at 878-5907, or check their Web site: http://www.buffalostate.edu/academics/cenc/ Off Campus: • AIDS Community Services 847-2437

16. √ √ √ Academic Preparation Teacher Certification Exams Seminars Fingerprinting Apply The next step is fingerprinting

17. Fingerprinting FAQ’s Under The Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) Legislation, as of July 1,2001, all participants for any new Teaching Certificate are subject to a fingerprint supported criminal history background check. The SAVE legislation requires the NYS Education Department to conduct these background checks for all school personnel, including applicants for certification, in addition to all prospective employees of school districts, charter schools and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES).

18. Fingerprinting • Fingerprinting should be done the semester before student teaching: • Obtain a fingerprinting packet from your department or from the Teacher Certification office located in 101 Caudell Hall

19. Fingerprinting • Fill out the fingerprint consent form sections 1,2, and 5. Fill out the top portion of the fingerprint cards. • Get a money order for $94.25 payable to the New York State Education Department. NO PERSONAL CHECKS ACCEPTED. (Please note that the agency that is performing the fingerprinting service may require a separate fee.)

20. Fingerprinting process cont… • Take the completed fingerprint packet and the $99 fee to the University Police, any local law enforcement agency, or your local BOCES to get fingerprinted. • Mail the completed OSPRA 101, the completed fingerprint cards and the $94.25 fee to OSPRA in the pre-addressed envelope. • Generally, it will take between 40 days to 8 weeks to receive a full clearance.

21. What if I have been fingerprinted for employment before? It depends on why you were fingerprinted. If you were fingerprinted for another type of employment, such as a daycare worker, a security guard, a police officer, etc., you need to be fingerprinted again. If you were fingerprinted for a school district or a previous teaching certificate, then you do not need to be fingerprinted again.

22. √ √ √ √ Academic Preparation Teacher Certification Exams Seminars Fingerprinting Apply The next step is applying for certification

23. Applying for Certification on the Teach System • There are 2 major steps in applying for Certification………. Step 1:Completion of a Release Authorization from and attach copies of your seminars Step 2:Applying on-line on the teach system

24. Applying for Certification on the Teach System Step 1 The Release Authorization from and instructions for applying on line are on the Buffalo State website: go to www.buffalostate.edu/teachercertification

25. Applying for certification on the teach system Second: Create User Login and Password • In order to apply online, you will enter TEACH online services via the Office of Teaching Initiatives Web site at www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert and create a TEACH login and password at the New York State Directory Services site. • Instructions are provided as you go though this process. Once you have created your login and password this step is completed and you never have to repeat this process (unless you forget your password).

26. Applying for Certification Completing the Application Step 1: Create Applicant Profile Enter your personal information and preferences (such as opting to be included in the statewide teacher clearinghouse or having most correspondence from us transmitted via email. Applicants or Certificate Holders Click Self-Registrationto create a TEACH Account OR, if you already created a TEACH Account Click Login to TEACH To access your information and services

27. Applying for Certification • Enter/Edit Education Information • Use the following information to complete the Self-Reported education portion of the online application: • Institution Name: SUC BuffaloAward Title: Certificate, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Education, Bachelor of Music, Master of Science in Education, Master of Professional Studies, Advanced CertificateProgram: see TEACH Online Education and Certificate Information • Major: EducationDate Degree Received: Date of your graduation/program completionAttended From: Attended To: Number of Credits Earned:

28. Applying for Certification • Step 2: Select Your Certificate(s): • Use the following information to select the appropriate certificate title and type: • Select your Area of Interest: Select your Subject Area:Select the Grade Level:Select the Title:Select the Type of Certificate: • After you have selected your certificate title and type, you will have a list of "Pathways" with associated requirements. You must choose a Pathway to continue with the application process. • Choose the radio button, Pathway: Approved Teacher Preparation Program • Continue through the application answering all required questions; sign the affidavit and application; and make your payment. You may pay online using a credit card or print out the payment coupon and mail in a US Postal Money Order.

29. Still have Questions? • Initially TEACH Technical support through NYSED will be available to you by telephone Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. at (518) 486-6041 or via email at teachhelp@mail.nysed.gov. • If you have questions concerning your certification(s), you should contact the Office of Teacher Certification at Buffalo State College, (716) 878-6121. • Or you may contact the Office of Teaching Initiatives of the New York State Education Department via email at tcert@mail.nysed.gov.

30. √ √ √ √ √ Academic Preparation Teacher Certification Exams Seminars Fingerprinting Apply CONGRATULATIONS!!You are now a certified teacher!

31. Student Timeline of Requirements