Steps to Initial Certification:
- Completion of Fredonia's degree requirements
- Successful completion of all required NYSTCE tests
- Fingerprints submitted and cleared
- Provide TEACH Authorization to Release Information for Submission of Teacher Certification Recommendation
- Completion of the TEACH Online Application for Certification and payment of applicable fees for each TEACH application
Current certification information is available at the Office of Teaching Initiatives website. If you have questions about specific requirements for your certification area, how to obtain additional certificates, certificate progression, testing or any other certification issue, please contact the Office of Student Services in E264 Thompson Hall or call 716-673-4768.
Prior to student teaching, you must apply for and submit fingerprinting to New York State.
To Schedule an Appointment:
- Go to the NYSED Fingerprinting website.
- Scroll down to the table displaying hyperlinks.
- Click on the "Certification" link, associated with service code 14ZGQT.
- You are now able to find available locations, discover what you need to bring with you to your appointment, in addition to scheduling and manage any appointments.
To Check the Status of your Fingerprinting:
- Log in to your TEACH Account.
- Navigate to 'Account Information'.
- Select 'Fingerprinting' and click GO.
- Look for the confirmation message stating that your DCJS and FBI results have been received.
Your specific degree requirements can be checked by
- Logging into YourConnection
- Clicking the four-square icon in the upper left hand corner
- Click, 'Start Here', then 'Student Services, Financial Aid, Residence Life,' then 'Student Dashboard'
- Click, 'Student Profile'
- Click, 'Degree Works' (located on the left side of the page, under your school photo)
From here, you will be able to see and track your progress on your degree.
*NOTE* - Degrees cannot be awarded without 100% completion of all fields listed.
Before you can gain initial certification to teach in New York, you must pass both the Educating All Students (EAS) exam and any relevant Content Specialty Tests (CST). The EAS evaluates candidates’ understanding of effective instruction for diverse learners, while the CST measures content knowledge in the candidate’s intended certification area. These results are automatically added to your TEACH profile pending a score.
To complete the TEACH Application for Certification, find more information here.