Professional Certification

Note: If you have forgotten your TEACH login information, or need help accessing your TEACH account, visit our TEACH Application Instructions page.

The professional certification program codes (see below) are to be used only if you have completed a St. John Fisher College Education master’s degree or advanced certificate post-February 2004 (post-September 2006 for School Building Leader and School District Leader) in the same content area in which you are applying.

If you have completed an SJFC B.A./B.S. degree that led to Initial Certification and you have now completed an M.S. in another content area or at another institution, you will apply to the NYSED through the Certificate Progression pathway (details available on the NYSED website). You will not enter a program code but instead check the "no" box. Certificate Progression is also the correct pathway for certificate(s) achieved through a B.A./B.S. degree at another institution that led to Initial Certification and you have now completed an M.S. in another certificate area with a St. John Fisher College Education program.

Experience Requirement - Professional

One of the requirements for professional certification is three full years of classroom teaching service which must be completed in a public or approved independent school in the K-12 setting. Experience does not have to be in a NYS public school. To submit your experience for review, complete the employment history section when applying, being certain to detail:

• Name and location of the school
• Public/private status
• Subject or area and grade level taught
• Dates and type (part time/full time)
• Special Notes
• 540 days of substitute teaching experience may satisfy the experience requirement in lieu of three full years.
• Teaching experience in a preschool or daycare facility is acceptable provided it is in a private school licensed by New York State.
• Experience as a teaching assistant is not applicable towards this requirement.
• If you have more than one certificate, the service under one of them may be used to fulfill the experience requirement for all the other Professional teaching certificates.

Experience Requirement - Mentored

New teachers who do not hold a provisional/permanent certificate or who have not completed two years of verifiable experience prior to obtaining initial certification must complete one year of mentored experience. For more information about the mentoring experience go to Frequently Asked Questions - Mentoring Requirement and New York State Mentor Teacher Internship Program.

Professional Development Requirement

If you hold a “Professional” certificate, you must complete 175 hours of professional development (PD) every 5 years.

• Professional Development FAQs
• Professional Development Guide [pdf]

Program Codes

Master's Initial/Professional Certification Programs

Advanced Certification (Grades 1-6 or Grades 7-12) Initial/Professional

(18-credit programs for those already holding a master's degree in another subject)

GMST Advanced Certificates

(Initial Certificates for Adolescence; Initial/Professional for General Science)

GMST Professional Certifications

Coursework or Training in the Needs of Children with Autism

Candidates for a Classroom Teaching certificate in all areas of Special Education are now required to complete coursework or training from a State Education Department approved provider of such training.

Learn more about Coursework or Training in the Needs of Children with Autism.