I am not certified and am interested in teaching. How can I become a teacher in a NYC public school?

There are a few options for you depending on your experience. There are multiple pathways toward New York State certification and each pathway has different requirements. Selecting the appropriate one for you is dependent on your career goals and credentials. Below are a few potential routes to explore: 

• If you want to teach in the classroom in 2-5 years: 
  • You can enroll in an Approved Teacher Preparation Program for special education or early childhood education. Once you complete the program, the certifying officer at your school will recommend you to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) for an Initial Certificate and you will need to pass the associated exams and workshops.   
  • You can also apply for certification through an Individual Evaluation by submitting your credentials to NYSED. They determine what requirements you still need to complete.   

• If you want to teach in the classroom in 6 months to one year:  
  • Look into Alternative Certification Programs if you are interested in gaining immediate hands-on teaching experience while simultaneously obtaining state certification and a master's degree in education. Each program has different eligibility requirements, including restrictions on the number of education credits a candidate already received. Although our office cannot evaluate your credentials or transcripts for these programs, you may reach out directly to the programs that interest you with specific questions around eligibility.
  • The NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) runs two alternative certification programs: the New York City Teaching Fellows and the New York City Teaching Collaborative. Additionally, there are external organizations that manage alternative certification programs that work with NYCPS. 
  • If interested in early childhood education, another option is to look into working in a New York City Early Education Community Based Organization (CBO) as a "study plan lead teacher candidate." You must hold a bachelor's degree, have some early childhood education coursework or work experience, and plan to become state-certified within three years. For more information on NYCEECs, Pre-K for All, 3-K for All, and study plan candidates, visit the Early Childhood Education website and email [e-mail].