Graduation, Certification and TEACH
For students in programs leading to teacher certification
All students who complete a Teacher Preparation Program (undergraduate, graduate, and combined degree) must apply for graduation, create a TEACH account, and apply for their teaching certificate. This includes students in the following certificate programs: Foreign Language (Spanish, Italian, French, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese), Social Studies, English, Mathematics, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics), and TESOL.
Students must review the information contained in each tab below.
- Applying for Graduation/TEACH
Applying for Graduation/TEACH
You must file for graduation in a timely fashion. You may file for graduation on SOLAR before the posted deadline. There are two deadlines for filing for graduation on SOLAR. You must check the Academic Calendar since these dates are different for each academic year. Filing by the first deadline ensures that your name will be included in the commencement publication. If you do not file on SOLAR by the second deadline, you will need to file for graduation using the Late Graduation Application. **Please note that filing for graduation and filing for certification are two independent processes; you are required to do both. Please visit our websitefor information about graduation.**- You must access the TEACH online system to apply for your teaching certificate(s). Follow the instructions outlined on this website. Please be certain to read each section thoroughly. We do not have access to your TEACH account to correct any errors.
- You will need to fill out the SPD FERPA Form and pay the $90 fee before the Teacher Certification Office can submit your TEACH recommendation(s).
- All teacher candidates must prove that they have satisfied the Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse, Identification and Referral of Substance Abuse, Prevention and Intervention of School Violence (SAVE), and Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) workshops, as they are a requirement for graduation clearance. Students who take a workshop from a provider other than Stony Brook University must provide a copy of the certificate of completion only if the workshop is not posted on your TEACH account.
- You must be fingerprinted before any application for certification will be issued by NYSED. Fingerprints will be sent directly to NYSED. Here is the link to the NYSED fingerprinting procedures. If you have already been fingerprinted for your Teaching Assistant certificate or for employment in a public school district in New York State, you do not need to be fingerprinted again. If you were fingerprinted by the New York City Board of Education, you must file the OSPRA 104 Form.
- Passing test scores posted on your TEACH account for the Educating All Students (EAS) test, and Content Specialty Test (CST) are requirements for your certificate to be issued by NYSED. They are not required to obtain the college recommendation.
- ONLY after your degree is awarded can the Teacher Certification Office enter a recommendation on your behalf to NYSED through the TEACH System . NYSED will pair this recommendation with your online application and all other supporting documentation that is required for issuance of that certificate. You must follow up on the status of your application on the TEACH website.
- If you are applying for any additional certificates through the Individual Evaluation Pathway, (e.g. an MAT Italian student applying for an additional certificate in Spanish), you must submit all supporting documentation to NYSED at the address posted on the TEACH website. This documentation must include all transcripts relevant to the certificate for which you are applying.
- Applying for Teacher Certification
New York State Teacher Certification Instructions
Please use the information provided below to assist you in completing your online application for NYS Teacher Certification.
Step 1: Create Applicant Profile
Update your personal information and/or educational information.
Use the following information to complete the Self-Reported Education portion of the online application:
INSTITUTION NAME: Stony Brook University AWARD TITLE: Master of Arts in Teaching, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science PROGRAM CODE: Your program code can be found in the Appendix
MAJOR: The specific major of your program (Italian, English, History)
DATE DEGREE RECEIVED: Degree conferral date
DATE ATTENDED FROM: Enter date of matriculation
DATE ATTENDED TO: Last day of classes
NUMBER OF CREDITS: Enter the number of credits you have earned or will have earned for the program you are completing
Step 2: Select Certificate(s)
Use the following information to select the appropriate certificate title(s) and type:
AREA OF INTEREST/CATEGORY:
Classroom Teacher
SUBJECT AREA:
Example: Mathematics
GRADE LEVEL:
Example: Adolescent- Grades 7-12
TITLE:
Example: Mathematics 7-12
TITLE(S):
Example: Initial Certificate
After you have selected your certificate title and type, you will have a list of “Pathways” with associated requirements. You must choose a Pathway to continue with the application process. Choose “Pathway: Approved Teacher Preparation Program.”
You want your application to be reviewed by NYSED, not by BOCES. Be sure to check the appropriate box.
If you are applying for the General Science Grades 7-12 Extension, Grades 5-6 Extension, or FLES (Foreign Languages Grades K-6) Extension, you will use the same program code as your initial certificate application, provided you have completed all the requirements while you were matriculated in the teacher preparation program. Please be sure to select “Pathway: Approved Teacher Prep Program” not “Pathway: Approved Teacher Prep Program – Additional Certificate.” If you apply for any additional teaching certificate(s), you will be applying via individual evaluation as there is no program code.
You can only apply for one certificate at a time. However, you can pay for all the applications at the end.
Enter the program code for the teacher preparation program you completed which can be found in the Appendix. Continue through the application, answering all required questions; sign the affidavit and application; and make your payment.
- Important Certification Information
Important Certification Information
Graduation Clearance Process: All students must apply for graduation regardless of whether or not they intend to walk in the commencement ceremony.
- Undergraduate Students. The Teacher Certification Office will clear you for teacher preparation requirements and your major/minor department must clear you separately before the Registrar's Office conducts a final review for university requirements and awards your degree.
- Combined Degree Students. Same as above. After your undergraduate degree is awarded by the Registrar's Office, the SPD Graduation Office will review and clear your degree.
- MAT Students. The SPD Graduation Office will review and clear your degree.
- MA TESOL Students. The Linguistics Department will submit documentation to the Graduate School who will then review your record and award your degree.
College Recommendation Process: All students will need to submit the online FERPA Form and pay the $90 fee before the Certification Officer can submit the institutional recommendation on TEACH. All students’ degrees must be awarded on SOLAR before a college recommendation can be posted on TEACH. We recommend candidates upon conferral of your degree. We do not require passing exam scores, as only NYSED requires them for issuing your certificate.
NYSED TEACH Application Process: All students must apply for their certificate(s) via their TEACH account and pay the application fee(s) online. It is $50 for each application completed through an approved teacher preparation program and $100 for any additional applications that you apply for via individual transcript evaluation. You may apply for your certificate(s) at any point during your last semester even if you have not completed all of the exam requirements.
- For approved teacher preparation program candidates - NYSED will review and subsequently issue your certificate if you have applied and paid for the certificate application(s), Stony Brook University has submitted the college recommendation(s), you have passed all required exams, and your fingerprinting results are posted.
- If you plan to apply for additional certificates, we recommend that you wait until your primary certificate is issued by NYSED before applying.
Undergraduate candidates are recommended for an initial certificate only. You must complete a functionally relevant master's degree with at least 12 graduate credits in your initial content area, obtain three years of teaching experience, and complete one year of mentoring to apply for your professional teaching certificate.
Graduate candidates are recommended for both their initial and professional certificates. The only requirements to obtain your professional teaching certificate is three years of teaching experience and one year of mentoring experience. In order to maintain your professional teaching certificate, you must complete 100 CTLE hours every five years.
Initial certificates are valid for five years. Beginning August 2, 2023, teachers who hold an expired or expiring initial certificate and have not met the requirements for the professional certificate may apply for up to two reissuances of the initial certificate if they meet the eligibility requirements. The initial reissuance is valid for five years from the effective date of the reissuance.
Related Science/Foreign Language Certificate: If you wish to apply for a related science certificate, you will need to complete 18 credits in the related science and pass the CST exam. You will need to submit all official transcripts for evaluation and apply without receiving a college recommendation.
Additional Secondary Teaching Certificate: You will need to have completed a minimum of 30 credits of content and pass the CST exam. You will need to apply via “Pathway: Additional Classroom Teaching Certificate.” You can select either NYSED or your Regional BOCES Certification Office to review your application. There is a fee for BOCES to review your application. You will need to submit all official transcripts for evaluation to the appropriate office. It is recommended that you wait until NYSED issues your primary certificate before you apply for additional certificates.
Supplemental Certificates:A certificate of this type is issued to New York State certified classroom teachers to enable them to teach in a different subject area where a shortage exists. The district/employer must submit a recommendation in TEACH.
Extensions Certificates: Stony Brook University files a recommendation for the Grades 5-6 Extension Annotation certificate and the FLES (Grades 1-6 Foreign Language Extension Annotation) for those BA/MAT or MAT candidates who complete the required course(s) while matriculated in the program. If you complete one or both courses after you graduate, you will need to apply via individual evaluation and submit your official Stony Brook University transcript to NYSED or your local BOCES office for evaluation ($100 fee versus $50 if completed while in the MAT program).
Out-of-State Teaching Verification Forms: Stony Brook University will complete the appropriate state form and return it to you or the state education department requesting the form. Out-of-state experience will count toward your NYS professional teaching experience. We recommend that you maintain your NYS teaching certificate even if you move out of state in case you ever decide to move back to NYS, as the requirements are subject to change at any time .
Teaching Experience Requirements: Three years of full-time teaching experience is required for your professional certificate. Part-time and full-time experience counts. Substitute teaching also counts. Always keep your own records of your work experience. At the end of each school year, you may want to have the district/human resources office fill out the Work Experience Verification Form for you.
Additional Considerations:
- No more than 180 days of full-time experience will be counted in a calendar year.
- Summer school experience will count as long as the above limit is not exceeded.
Request for Letter of Completion: You will need to complete this form if you need a letter for a prospective employer providing proof that you are on track for earning your degree and being recommended for your certificate.
- Appendix
Award Title and Program Code and Title
These codes are for students completing the Initial /Professional Grades 7-12 program s in English, Languages other than English (Chinese , French, Italian, Japanese, Korean or Spanish), Math, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, or Physics) and Social Studies or Initial/Professional (Pre-K – 12) TESOL.
Use the information below as relevant to your certification area. If you are applying for more than one certificate, including extensions, as applicable to the program in which you are enrolled and are completing, use the same award and program information for each certificate.
Bilingual
Award: AGC
Program Code: 39167
Program Title: Bilingual Education Extension: Initial/ProfessionalAward: AGC (CR-ITI BLECT)
Program Code: 40554
Program Title: Bilingual/Teacher Extension: Initial/ProfessionalEnglish
Award: BA
Program Code: 26317
Program Title: Adolescence Education: English, InitialAward: MAT
Program Code: 26318
Program Title: Adolescence Education: English, Initial/Professional
Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalAward:BA in English + Teacher Preparation/MA in English (Accelerated Program)
Program Code: 30671
Program Title: Adolescence Education: English, Initial/Professional
Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/Professional (After completion of MA)English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Award: BA
Program Code: 26319
Program Title: Linguistics: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, InitialAward: MA
Program Code: 26320
Program Title: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Initial/ProfessionalAward: BA in Linguistics + Teacher Preparation/MA in TESOL (Accelerated Program only)
Program Code: 30677
Program Title: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Initial/Professional (After completion of MA)Award: AGC (CR-ITI TSLCT)
Program Code: 40566
Program Title: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Initial/ProfessionalForeign Languages:
Chinese
Award: BA
Program Code: 33975
Program Title: Asian & Asian American Studies: Adolescence Education: Chinese 7-12, InitialFrench
Award: BA
Program Code: 26322
Program Title: Adolescence Education: French, InitialAward: MAT (Combined BA/MAT program only)
Program Code: 30674
Program Title: Adolescence Education: French, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalAward: MAT (Combined BA/MAT – TESOL and French only)
Program Code: 38003
Program Title: TESOL and French 7-12, Initial/ProfessionalAward: MAT
Program Code: 26323
Program Title: Adolescence Education: French 7-12, Initial/Professional 5-6 Extension, Initial/Professional LOTE Pre K-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalItalian
Award: BA
Program Code: 26326
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Italian 7-12, InitialAward: MAT (Combined BA/MAT Program only)
Program Code: 30676
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Italian 7-12, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalAward: MAT (Combined BA/MAT – ESOL and Italian only)
Program Code: 38456
Program Title: TESOL and Italian 7-12, Initial/ProfessionalAward: MAT
Program Code: 26327
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Italian, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/Professional LOTE Pre K-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalJapanese
Award: BA
Program Code: 33974
Program Title: Asian & Asian American Studies: Adolescence Education: Japanese 7-12, InitialKorean
Award: BA
Program Code: 36589
Program Title: Asian & Asian American Studies: Adolescence Education: Korean 7-12, InitialSpanish
Award: BA
Program Code: 26330
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Spanish 7-12, InitialAward: MAT (Combined BA/MAT Program only)
Program Code: 30679
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Spanish 7-12, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalAward: MAT (Combined BA/MAT – TESOL and Spanish Program only)
Program Code: 38457
Program Title: TESOL and Spanish 7-12, Initial/ProfessionalAward: MAT
Program Code: 29539
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Spanish 7-12, Initial/Professional
Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/Professional LOTE Pre K-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalMathematics
Award: BS
Program Code: 26321
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Mathematics, InitialAward: MAT (Combined BS/MAT Program only) Program Code: 31643
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Mathematics, Initial/Professional
Award: MAT
Program Code: 28197
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Mathematics, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalSocial Studies
Award: BA
Program Code: 26342
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Social Studies, InitialAward: BA in History + Teacher Preparation/MA in History (Accelerated Program
Program Code: 31188
Program Title: Adolescence Education: History, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/Professional (After completion of MA)Award: MAT (Combined BA/MAT Program only)
Program Code: 30675
Program Title: Adolescence Education: History, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalAward: MAT
Program Code: 26343
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Social Studies, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalSCIENCES:
Biology
Award: BS
Program Code: 26333
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Biology, Initial General Science Extension, InitialAward: MAT (Combined BS/MAT Program only)
Program Code: 31960
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Biology, Initial/Professional General Science Extension, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalAward: MAT
Program Code: 26334
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Biology, Initial/Professional General Science Extension, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalChemistry
Award: BS or BA
Program Code: 26337 (BS) or 26335 (BA)
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Chemistry, Initial General Science Extension, InitialAward: MAT (Combined BS/MAT Program only)
Program Code: 30672
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Chemistry, Initial/ProfessionalGeneral Science Extension, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalAward: MAT
Program Code: 26338
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Chemistry, Initial/Professional General Science Extension, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalEarth Science
Award: BA or BS
Program Code: 26339 (BA) or 26340 (BS)
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Earth Science, Initial General Science Extension, InitialAward: MAT (Combined BA/MAT Program only)
Program Code: 30673
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Earth Science, Initial/Professional General Science Extension, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalAward: MAT
Program Code: 26341
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Earth Science, Initial/Professional General Science Extension, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalPhysics
Award: BS
Program Code: 26331
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Physics, Initial General Science Extension, InitialAward: MAT (Combined BS/MAT Program only)
Program Code: 30678
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Physics, Initial/Professional General Science Extension, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalAward: MAT
Program Code: 26332
Program Title: Adolescence Education: Physics, Initial/Professional General Science Extension, Initial/Professional Grades 5-6 Extension, Initial/ProfessionalSpeech Language Pathology
Award: MS
Program Code: 39176
Program Title: Speech/Language Disability, Initial/Professional Bilingual/Teacher Extension, Initial/Professional
Contact Information
School of Professional Development Teacher Certification Office
2321 Computer Science Building
Stony Brook, NY 11794-4434
Tel: 631-632-7055 Fax: 631-982-7311
Email: spd_graduationandcertification@stonybrook.edu
Disclaimer: All information is accurate as of September 8, 2023. NYSED may make changes at any time so please check their websitefor updates periodically.
