Pathways to Certification

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Are you wondering which pathway to certification is right for you? There are various pathways to receiving a New York classroom teaching certificate which take into account various backgrounds and experiences.  Below are some of the most common experiences and the most common recommended pathways.  The pathways will include other requirements such as exams, workshops, fingerprinting, etc. Please note that these are general recommendations only. For more information on all the pathways, click here: Pathways to Certification: Which Pathway is Right for Me?

Candidate Profile

Suggested Pathways

NYS certified teachers who need to complete a related Master’s for Professional certification

Enroll in a Master’s of Ed program for certified teachers such as the M.Ed. in Literacy or the M.Ed. in Special Education offered at Roberts.

Career changers who completed their BA/BS in another field

Enroll in an Initial Certification Master’s program such as the Initial Certification M.Ed. offered at Roberts. There are options in Early Childhood, Childhood, and Adolescence.

Career changers who completed their BA/BS and Master’s in another field

Enroll in an approved Initial Certification program such as Pathway to Teaching or the Master’s program in Early Childhood, Childhood, or Adolescence. Your enrollment representative can direct you to the best option given your background.

Career changers who have some undergraduate credit but did not complete their BA/BS

Enroll in an approved Initial Certification program such as Pathway to Teaching offered at Roberts. This program is a great option for working professionals.

NYS certified teachers who are seeking additional certifications

Apply through the “Additional Classroom Teaching Certificates” pathway.

Individuals who completed a comparable teacher preparation program in another US state or territory

Apply through the “Completion of a Comparable Education Program in Another US State” pathway.

Individuals who currently hold a teaching license in another US state or territory and have completed 3 years of teaching within the last 7 years

Apply through the “Endorsement of a Certificate” pathway.

Individuals who never completed a teacher preparation program but have taken many education classes and have completed student teaching or a comparable paid work experience

Apply through the “Individual Evaluation” pathway.

College professors with at least two years of experience and a related Master’s degree

Apply through the “IHE Professor Experience” pathway.