Certification / Licensure

Certification Exams / Recommendation for State Licensure

Certification Exams

To receive a New York State initial certificate for teaching, candidates are required to achieve passing scores on the Educating All Students (EAS) test and the Content Specialty Test (s) (CST) in their area of certification. (Visit  New York State Teacher Certification Examinations for more information).  These tests are designed with new rigor to ensure that teachers will be prepared to teach New York State’s Common Core K-12 Curriculum. The Department offers workshops to help students prepare for these exams. Do Not register for any exam without taking a workshop first and receiving Departmental approval.  Vouchers are available to offset test fees for students experiencing economic hardship and who are in very good academic standing. Inquire within the department; there is a very limited supply of vouchers so inquire early.

Recommendation for State Licensure

To be recommended by The Teacher Education Unit for NYS licensure, the following criteria must be met:

• Complete student teaching with a minimum grade of B
• Complete Violence Prevention, Dignity for All Student Act, and Child Abuse and Neglect workshops
• Earn an overall GPA of 3.0 on all courses taken at York College
• Complete all coursework required for the degree

*Students will need to pass all certification exams to be licensed in the State of New York