New York Teaching Certification
New York requires an approved teacher preparation program, supervised student teaching, and passing scores on the Educating All Students (EAS) test and a Content Specialty Test (CST). The Office of Teaching Initiatives issues an Initial certificate valid for five years to candidates who meet these requirements. Out-of-state teachers can apply through reciprocity instead of starting over.
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Use the links below to jump to certification requirements, exams, salary data, and other New York certification pathways.
- Initial New York teaching certification requirements
- New York teacher salaries and job outlook
- New York’s education funding and your vote
- Frequently asked questions
Every state sets its own path to a teaching license, and New York’s runs through the state Education Department rather than a separate licensing board. Most candidates complete a bachelor’s degree in an approved teacher preparation program, finish supervised student teaching, and pass the state’s certification exams before they’re eligible for an Initial certificate. Teachers moving from another state, renewing an existing certificate, or pursuing an administrative role each follow a different track, outlined below alongside current salary and job outlook data for the state.
Choose the situation that best describes you:
- Initial Teaching Certification…
- I’m a teacher from another state…
- Teacher Certification Renewal…
- Admin./Principal Certification…
- Alternative Teaching Certification…
- Substitute Teaching Permit…
Looking outside New York? Explore certification requirements in other states.
Initial New York Teaching Certification
New York pays its teachers well relative to the rest of the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, elementary school teachers in New York earned a median annual salary of $85,760 as of May 2025, well above the national median of $63,970 for the same occupation. Middle school teachers earned a median of $94,840, and secondary school teachers earned $97,070, both well ahead of their national counterparts.
Education Requirements
If you’re interested in becoming a teacher in New York, the New York State Education Department Office of Teaching Initiatives (518-474-3901) requires that you complete an approved teacher preparation program in the state and hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
Graduated from an out-of-state teacher preparation program? New York offers an Interstate Reciprocity pathway if you hold a valid, comparable out-of-state certificate along with either a comparable approved teacher preparation program or three years of qualifying teaching experience within the past seven years. If you don’t meet those conditions, you can request an Individual Evaluation of your credentials through New York’s regional certification offices instead. Either way, NYSED will notify you of any additional requirements you must meet before certification.
Graduated from a non-U.S. teaching program? You’ll need to submit materials for an individual evaluation of your credentials, and NYSED will let you know if you’re missing any of the state’s certification requirements.
Certification Options
You’ll receive one of the following certificate types when you apply, depending on your qualifications:
- Initial. The entry-level certificate is issued to most first-time applicants. Valid for five years.
- Professional. Available after holding an Initial certificate and completing a master’s degree plus three years of teaching experience. Remains valid as long as you complete 100 hours of professional development every five years.
- Transitional B. Lets you begin teaching while you finish the coursework and exams required for an Initial certificate, common in alternative certification programs.
- Provisional. Used for pupil personnel professionals (school counselors, psychologists, and similar roles). Valid for five years.
- Permanent. The advanced-level certificate for pupil personnel professionals is obtained after the Provisional certificate. Valid for life.
Search the NYSED certificate requirements database for a detailed listing by grade level, subject area, and certificate title.
Examinations
Visit the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) home page for a full overview of testing requirements.
To receive an Initial certificate, most candidates need passing scores on the Educating All Students (EAS) test, which covers knowledge of diverse student populations and inclusive teaching practices, along with the Content Specialty Test (CST) for their specific certificate area. Your teacher preparation program will also build a teacher performance assessment into your student teaching or clinical experience. Since 2022, this performance assessment is administered by your program rather than as a separate standalone state exam, though some programs still use edTPA to satisfy it.
CST subject areas include:
- Early Childhood Education (Birth–Grade 2)
- Childhood Education (Grades 1–6)
- Middle Childhood Education (Grades 5–9), including generalist and subject-specific options such as biology, chemistry, English, and mathematics
- Secondary/Adolescent Education (Grades 7–12), including subject-specific options across the sciences, English, mathematics, and social studies
- Students with Disabilities certificates at each grade band
- Subject-specific certificates such as Special Education, Bilingual Education, and more than 30 World Languages
Experience Requirements
Your teacher preparation program will require a practicum, where you observe certified teachers in a classroom setting and pick up classroom management strategies before leading lessons yourself.
After the practicum, you’ll complete a student teaching field experience, placed in a classroom matching the grade level and subject area of your intended certificate. You’ll prepare and lead lessons, and possibly assess student performance, while a mentor teacher and college supervisor observe part of your placement. NYSED raised the standard clinical experience requirement from 40 to 70 days for candidates in a registered teacher preparation program, phased in starting with students who enrolled in fall 2022. Candidates using an alternate pathway, such as substituting full-time paid teaching experience for college-supervised student teaching, can still qualify with a 40-day placement.
Document and Application Requirements
Once you’ve completed the education, experience, and exam requirements, apply online through the TEACH System for an Initial certificate. NYSED will ask for:
- Official transcripts showing completion of a teacher preparation program and a degree
- Copies of any out-of-state teaching certificates you hold
- An institutional recommendation from your preparation program
- Score reports from your NYSTCE exams
- An experience verification form, if applicable
You’ll pay application fees online through the TEACH system, which also lets you check the status of your application at any time.
Criminal History Background Check
Initial certification in New York requires fingerprinting and a criminal history background check processed through the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the FBI. You won’t be certified until both come back clear.
Contact Information
For more on New York teacher preparation programs or certification, contact the New York State Education Department Office of Teaching Initiatives at 518-474-3901.
New York Teacher Salaries and Job Outlook
New York consistently ranks among the highest-paying states for teachers. Here’s how median annual wages and projected job growth compare across grade levels, according to BLS and New York State Department of Labor data.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage | NY Job Growth (2024–2034) |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $77,630 | +0.7% |
| Elementary School Teachers | $85,760 | +0.5% |
| Middle School Teachers | $94,840 | +0.4% |
| High School Teachers | $97,070 | +0.7% |
New York’s Department of Labor projects modest growth across all four grade bands through 2034, with high school teaching adding an average of 6,130 openings a year and elementary adding 8,820, driven mostly by retirements and turnover rather than new positions.
New York’s Education Funding and Your Vote
How much New York invests in public education, and how that compares to other states, often comes down to state-level policy decisions. See how New York’s education spending measures up in our state-by-state comparison of education spending versus overall state revenue.
Know Your Governor’s Education Record
Your New York Governor’s office sets budget priorities that directly affect teacher pay, class sizes, and school funding statewide.
Vote
Holding elected officials accountable for education policy is part of being a New York resident. Local and state elections shape the funding and priorities your future classroom will operate under.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need to teach in New York?
At a minimum, a bachelor’s degree from an approved teacher preparation program. A Professional certificate, which follows the entry-level Initial certificate, requires a master’s degree plus three years of teaching experience.
What exams does New York require for teacher certification?
Most candidates need passing scores on the Educating All Students (EAS) test and a Content Specialty Test (CST) matching their certificate area. Requirements vary somewhat by certificate title, so check the NYSED certificate requirements database for your specific area.
Can I transfer my out-of-state teaching certificate to New York?
Often, yes. New York’s Interstate Reciprocity pathway covers candidates with a valid, comparable out-of-state certificate plus a comparable teacher preparation program or three years of qualifying experience in the last seven years. Candidates who don’t meet those conditions can apply through Individual Evaluation instead, where NYSED reviews credentials case by case and notifies you of any additional coursework or exams needed.
How long does New York teacher certification take?
Timelines vary by pathway. Traditional candidates typically finish their bachelor’s program, including a 70-day supervised student teaching placement, in four years. Transitional B candidates can start teaching sooner and complete requirements while already in the classroom.
How much do teachers in New York make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual salaries range from $77,630 for kindergarten teachers to $97,070 for high school teachers as of May 2025, with variation by district and experience level.
- Initial certification requires a bachelor’s degree and an approved preparation program. Plus supervised student teaching and passing NYSTCE exam scores.
- The EAS and CST exams replaced the older LAST and ATS-W tests. Make sure any exam prep you’re using reflects current NYSED requirements.
- New York pays teachers well above the national median. BLS data puts New York among the higher-paying states across all K-12 grade levels.
- Out-of-state teachers use an individual credential evaluation, not a blanket reciprocity agreement, to apply for New York certification.
- Certificate type depends on your path. Initial, Professional, Transitional B, Provisional, and Permanent certificates each apply to different candidates and roles.
Find accredited teacher certification programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job growth figures for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed July 2026.
