Sec. 80-3.3. Requirements for the initial certificate in the classroom teaching service

(a) General requirements.

(1) Duration. The initial certificate in the classroom teaching service shall be valid for five years from its effective date.

(2) A candidate with a baccalaureate or higher degree who holds a certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in a title which the department has determined to be equivalent to the title of the initial certificate in the classroom teaching service sought shall be deemed to have met the requirements for such initial certificate prescribed in subdivision (b) or (c) of this section.

(3) Satisfaction of education requirements.

(i) A candidate for the initial certificate in a title in the classroom teaching service may meet the education requirements for such certificate through completion of a program registered pursuant to section 52.21 of this Title which leads to the certificate sought or, for candidates specified in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, through equivalent study as determined by individual evaluation in accordance with the requirements of section 80-3.7 of this Subpart.

(ii) A candidate for the professional certificate in a specific career and technical subject within the field of agriculture, business and marketing, family and consumer sciences, health, a technical area, or a trade (grades 7 through 12) may meet the education requirements for such certificate through completion of a program registered pursuant to section 52.21 of this Title which leads to the certificate sought or, for candidates specified in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, through equivalent study as determined by individual evaluation in accordance with the requirements of section 80-3.7 of this Subpart.

(iii) The option to complete the education requirements for the certificates specified in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph through equivalent study, as determined by individual evaluation in accordance with the requirements of section 80-3.7 of this Subpart will continue to be available for individuals who hold an initial, professional, provisional or permanent certificate in the classroom teaching service.

(4) A candidate seeking certification to teach a specific career and technical subject requiring Federal or State licensure and/or registration to legally perform that service shall hold such valid Federal or State licensure and/or registration. A candidate seeking certification to teach practical nursing shall hold a valid license and registration in New York State as a registered professional nurse.

(b) Requirements for initial certificates in all titles in classroom teaching service, except in a specific career and technical subject within the field of agriculture, business and marketing, family and consumer sciences, health, a technical area or a trade (grades 7 through 12).

The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following paragraphs:

(1) Education. The candidate shall meet the education requirement by holding a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or a higher education institution that the commissioner deems substantially equivalent or from an institution authorized by the Regents to confer degrees and whose programs are registered by the department, and shall satisfactorily complete a program registered pursuant to section 52.21 of this Title, which leads to the certificate sought, or its equivalent.

(2) Examination. The candidate shall meet the examination requirement by meeting the requirements in one of the following subparagraphs:

(i)

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, for candidates applying for certification on or after May 1, 2014 or candidates who applied for certification on or before April 30, 2014 but did not meet all the requirements for an initial certificate on or before April 30, 2014, such candidates shall submit evidence of having achieved a satisfactory level of performance on the New York State Teacher Certification Examination teacher performance assessment, the educating all students test, and the content specialty test(s) in the area of the certificate, when available, except that a candidate seeking an initial certificate in the title of Speech and Language Disabilities (all grades) shall not be required to achieve a satisfactory level of performance on the content speciality test or the teacher performance assessment and a candidate seeking an initial certificate in the title of Educational Technology Specialist (all grades) shall not be required to achieve a satisfactory level of performance on the teacher performance assessment.

(b) Examination requirement for candidates with a graduate degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics and two years of post-secondary teaching experience in the area of the certificate sought.

(1) Any candidate seeking an initial certificate in earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics or in a closely related field as determined by the department in (grades 7-12) and who is applying for an initial certificate through individual evaluation under section 80-3.7(a)(3)(ii)(c) of this Subpart on or after May 1, 2014 or candidates who applied for certification on or before April 30, 2014 but did not meet all the requirements for an initial certificate through individual evaluation on or before April 30, 2014, shall only be required to achieve a satisfactory level of performance on the educating all students test.

(ii) Examination requirement for an additional certificate. A candidate who has one or more provisional certificates, permanent certificates, initial certificates, or professional certificates in a title in the classroom teaching service other than a title in a specific career and technical subject (grades 7 through 12), may meet the examination requirements for an initial certificate, by having achieved a satisfactory level of performance on the New York State Teacher Certification Examination content specialty test(s) in the area of the certificate for which application is made, if required for that initial certificate pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.

(c) Requirements for initial certificates in a specific career and technical subject within a technical area, or a trade (grades 7 through 12).

The candidate shall meet the requirements for the initial certificate by successfully completing the requirements in paragraph (1) or (2) of this subdivision.

(1) Option A. The requirements of this paragraph are applicable to candidates who seek an initial certificate through completion of an associate degree program or its equivalent. The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following subparagraphs:

(i) Education. The candidate shall meet the education requirement by satisfactorily completing an associate degree program registered pursuant to section 52.21(b)(3)(xiii) of this Title as leading to the initial certificate under option A, or its equivalent.

(ii) Experience. The candidate shall have at least two years of documented and satisfactory work experience in the career and technical education subject for which a certificate is sought.

(2) Option B. The requirements of this paragraph are applicable to candidates who seek an initial certificate through completion of a program of coursework that does not lead to an associate or higher degree. This option shall not be available in specific family and consumer science, business and marketing and technical subject titles. The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following subparagraphs:

(i) Education. The candidate shall meet the education requirement by satisfactorily completing a program registered pursuant to section 52.21(b)(3)(xiii) of this Title as leading to an initial certificate under option B, or its equivalent.

(ii) Experience. The candidate shall have at least four years of documented and satisfactory work experience in the career and technical education subject for which a certificate is sought.

(3) Option C. The requirements of this paragraph are applicable to candidates who seek an initial certificate through completion of an associate degree program or its equivalent. The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following subparagraphs:

(i) Education. The candidate shall meet the education requirement through satisfactory completion of an associate degree program registered pursuant to section 52.21(b)(3)(xiii) of this Title as leading to the initial certificate under option A, or its equivalent.

(ii) Experience. The candidate shall have at least two years of satisfactory teaching experience, excluding experience as a teaching assistant, at the post-secondary level in the certificate area to be taught or in a closely related subject area acceptable to the department.

(4) Option D. The requirements of this paragraph are applicable to holders of a full license as a teacher issued by the department pursuant to section 126.6(f) of this Title in the career and technical field in which a certificate is sought and who have two years of satisfactory teaching experience under a full license issued by the department pursuant to section 126.6(f) of this Title in a licensed private career school in the certificate area under such license, or in a closely related subject area acceptable to the department. The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following subparagraphs:

(i) Education. The candidate shall meet the education requirement through satisfactory completion of an associate degree program registered pursuant to section 52.21(b)(3)(xiii) of this Title as leading to the initial certificate under Option D or its equivalent.

(ii) Experience. The candidate shall have at least two years of satisfactory teaching experience under a full license issued by the department pursuant to section 126.6(f) of this Title, in a New York State licensed private career school in the certificate area or in a closely related subject area acceptable to the department.

(5) Option G. The requirements of this paragraph are applicable to holders of an industry acceptable credential in a career and technical education subject or receive a satisfactory passing score on an industry accepted career and technical examination and have at least two years of acceptable work experience in the certificate area to be taught or in a closely related subject area acceptable to the department. The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following subparagraphs:

(i) Education. The candidate shall meet the education requirement through satisfactory completion of an associate degree program registered pursuant to section 52.21(b)(3)(xiii) of this Title as leading to the initial certificate under Option G or its equivalent.

(ii) Industry related credential or industry accepted examination. The candidate shall either:

(a) hold an industry related credential in the certificate area to be taught or in a closely related subject area acceptable to the department; or

(b) receive a passing score on an industry accepted career and technical education examination that demonstrates mastery in the career and technical education subject for which a certificate is sought or a closely related area as approved by the department through a request for qualifications process.

(iii) Experience. The candidate shall have at least two years of satisfactory work experience in the career and technical education subject for which a certificate is sought or a closely related subject area, as determined by the department.

(6) Option H. The requirements of this paragraph are applicable to candidates who seek an initial certificate through completion of an approved career and technical education program registered pursuant to section 52.21 of this Title or its equivalent in the certificate area to be taught or in a closely related subject area acceptable to the department; and have either at least one year of acceptable work experience in the certificate area to be taught or in a closely related subject area acceptable to the department or receive a satisfactory passing score on an industry accepted career and technical education examination that demonstrates mastery in the career and technical education subject sought or in a closely related area through the department in a request for qualifications process. The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following subparagraphs:

(i) Education. The candidate shall complete an approved career and technical education program registered program pursuant to section 52.21 of this Title as leading to the initial certificate under Option H or its equivalent.

(ii) Industry related credential or experience. The candidate shall either:

(a) receive satisfactory passing score on an industry accepted career and technical education examination that demonstrates mastery in the career and technical education subject sought or in a closely related area through the department in a request for qualifications process; or

(b) have at least one year of satisfactory work experience in the career and technical education subject for which a certificate is sought or a closely related subject area, as determined by the department.

(7) Option I. The requirements of this paragraph are applicable to candidates who are currently certified as a teacher in grades 7-12 in any subject area acceptable to the department, and who either hold an industry related credential in the career and technical education subject to be taught or in a closely related subject area, as determined by the department, or have two years of satisfactory work experience in the certificate area taught, or in a closely related subject area, as determined by the department. The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following subparagraphs:

(i) Education. The candidate shall meet the education requirement through satisfactory completion of an associate degree program registered pursuant to section 52.21(b)(3)(xiii) of this Title as leading to the initial certificate under Option I or its equivalent.

(ii) Certification. The candidate shall hold permanent, initial or professional certification as a teacher in grades 7-12 in any certification area pursuant to this Part, that is acceptable to the department.

(iii) Experience or industry related credential. The candidate shall either:

(a) hold an industry related credential in the certificate area sought or in a closely related subject area, as determined by the department; or

(b) have at least two years of documented and satisfactory work experience in the career and technical education subject for which a certificate is sought, or a related area, as determined by the department.

(8) Option J. The requirements of this paragraph are applicable to candidates who possess a bachelor’s degree or higher, in the career and technical field in which a certificate is sought, and have either one year of documented and satisfactory work experience in the career and technical education subject for which a certificate is sought, or a related area, as determined by the department, or hold an industry related credential in the career and technical subject for which a certificate is sought, or a related area as determined by the department. The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following subparagraphs:

(i) Education. The candidate shall meet the education requirement through satisfactory completion of a bachelor’s degree in the career and technical field in which a certificate is sought, registered pursuant to section 52.21 of this Title as leading to the initial certificate under Option J or its equivalent.

(ii) Experience or industry related credential. The candidate shall have either:

(a) at least one year of documented and satisfactory work experience in the career and technical education subject for which a certificate is sought, or a related area, as determined by the department; or

(b) hold an industry related credential in the certificate area sought or in a closely related subject area, as determined by the department.

(d) Requirements for an initial certificate in computer science for candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and have satisfactory industry experience in the field.

(1) The requirements of this paragraph are only applicable to candidates who possess a bachelor’s degree or higher, and at least three years of documented and satisfactory occupational work experience in computer science, or a related area, as determined by the department. The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following subparagraphs:

(i) Education. The candidate shall meet the education requirement through satisfactory completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited higher education institution or an equivalently approved higher education institution as determined by the department.

(ii) Pedagogy coursework. The candidate shall complete 18 semester hours of coursework that includes study in each of the following subjects:

(a) human development and learning, including but not limited to the impact of culture, heritage, socioeconomic level and factors in the home, school and community that may affect a student's readiness to learn;

(b) teaching students with disabilities and special health-care needs to develop the skills necessary to provide specially designed instruction to students with disabilities to participate and progress in the general education curriculum, three semester hours;

(c) teaching literacy skills, three semester hours;

(d) curriculum, instruction, and assessment, including instructional technology; and

(e) foundations of education (historical, philosophical, sociological and/or legal).

(iii) Experience. The candidate shall have at least three years of documented and satisfactory occupational work experience in computer science, or a related area, as determined by the department.

(iv) Examination. The candidate shall pass the New York State Teacher Certification Examination educating all students test, the content specialty test when available, and the teacher performance assessment, when available in the computer science area.