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? There are two ways to register for the exams: 1.  You may register by mail using the exam booklet. You may obtain a registration booklet by calling the testing company at (413) 256-2882, or you may pick one up at the Teacher Certification Office. Our office is located on the Buffalo State College campus, Caudell Hall Room 101. 2.  You may 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 or by picking up an exam booklet. LAST: The LAST is given in the morning only, 7:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ATS-W: The ATS-W 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* • Alcohol and Other Drug Avoidance • Fire and Arson Safety • *Students completing an Early Childhood/Childhood Education B.S. program through Buffalo State College are required to take an additional 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 630-4250 • On-line: • www.francisschool.com/violence/default.asp or • www.violenceworkshop.com To register for the Child Abuse Identification 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 630-4250 • 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 HIV/Exposure seminar is arranged through your EDU 402 instructor, or the Student Teaching Supervisor. You will be given 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.

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 $99 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 $99 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 The New York State Education Department will not automatically send you your teaching certificate. You must complete an application.

24. Applying for Certification If you completed a registered teacher education program at Buffalo State College that leads to a certificate in that area, then you may apply through the Teacher Certification Office. If you have any questions, you may call our office at (716) 878-6121. Application packets should be submitted the month you plan to graduate, the month you complete the requirements, or anytime after.

25. Applying for Certification When you submit an application to our office, we process it and mail it to the New York State Education Department. Albany will mail your certificate in approximately 8 weeks. Your certificate will not be forwarded to a new address so if you move you must inform SED. Use their Web site at www.nysed.gov.

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

27. Student Timeline of Requirements