Become a Teacher in New York

Table of Contents

Teaching in New York Snapshot

$83,360Secondary School Teacher Salary
$80,540Elementary School Teacher Salary
$22,366Public School Spending Per Student

All career and salary information pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics pupil expenditure information was provided by Governing

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234
(518) 474-3852

Explore Featured Degree Options in Education

Featured Online programs
University Name Type of Program Learn More Program Description
University of Southern California Master of Arts in Teaching Learn more about USC Rossier The online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education prepares you to become a transformative K–12 teacher. Through live online classes and enriching field experiences in your community, you can earn your MAT in less than 18 months without relocating.
Fordham University Master of Science in Teaching Learn more from Fordham University The online Master of Science in Teaching program prepares aspiring teachers (grades 1-6) for initial teaching certification or dual certification in teaching and special education.
Vanderbilt University Master of Education in School Counseling Learn more about Vanderbilt Peabody Vanderbilt University's Peabody College offers an online Master of Education in human development counseling with a specialization in school counseling for students interested in becoming school counselors and making a meaningful difference in K–12 settings.

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Steps to Becoming a Teacher in New York

Important Note: Education licensure requirements, statistics and other information are subject to change. Teach.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. (Last update: 02/17/2019)

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Prerequisite Coursework in New York

All states require, at the minimum, a bachelor’s degree to become a teacher. New York additionally requires 30 semester hours of subject-specific coursework (in the subject you want to teach), in addition to general and pedagogical requirements. Enrollment in and completion of an approved New York State Teacher Preparation Program will satisfy all credit requirements. To search for specific requirements to become a teacher, visit the Department of Education's search page.

 

2

New York Teacher Certification Programs

Teacher certification programs are available both online and on-site. They usually involve an educational theory and classroom skills seminar along with a fieldwork component that includes student teaching. The New York Education Department allows you to search for approved teacher preparation and certification programs in New York State.

 

3

Required Tests for New York

Most states require tests to show competency in basic skills as well as in the desired subject area. In New York, the pedagogical knowledge is assessed through the Educating All Students (EAS) test and edTPA, and the subject area component is fulfilled by the appropriate Content Specialty Test (CST). More information can be found on Testing Requirements by Certificate.

You can learn more about the Praxis exams by visiting Teach.coms' Ultimate Guide to the Praxis Exams and read more about teacher certification tests on Teach.com.

Initial Teaching Certifications

To earn a New York teaching credential you must complete the required undergraduate coursework and testing, as well as an accredited teacher certification program.

New York offers two types of teacher certificates. The Initial Certificate is valid for the first five years of teaching, and the Professional Certificate is renewable every five years. Initial and Professional certificates specify the grade level and subject you are able to teach. A number of additional supplementary and transitional certificates are available for alternative teacher certification candidates (those who are not certified via the traditional teacher certification route), teachers being certified in additional subjects, and teachers in areas of shortage. Visit the Education Department's Types of Certificates page for a full description of all available certificates.

Learn more about earning a teaching credential.

Discover an 8-week Online Teaching Short Course from Harvard's Bok Center

Learn more about an 8-week short course from Harvard's Bok Center

Earn recognition of your ability to develop and deliver a memorable teaching experience when you receive a premier certificate from Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX, upon successful course completion.

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Alternative Certification in New York

New York has an Alternative Teacher Preparation Program targeted at mid-career and career-changing professionals. This program consists of an introductory section followed by certification tests and then mentored, paid employment as a teacher. New York City also offers the New York City Teaching Fellows program, which is a subsidized master’s degree fellowship targeted at increasing the number of highly trained teachers in the NYC public school system.

New York Teacher Certification Information & Links

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Transferring Your Certification

Certification Reciprocity in New York

Interstate teacher certification reciprocity is a program that allows teachers who are certified in one state to teach in another state without having to go through all the steps required to earn a teacher certification in that state. Find out more about the New York Completion of a College Teacher Education Program in Another U.S. State pathway. If you have more specific questions about your teaching situation, please contact the New York State Education Department.

To find out what other state teaching licenses can be used in New York, check out our Teacher Certification Reciprocity page on Teach.com.

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Jobs, Benefits, and Opportunities for Teachers in New York

New York Teaching Jobs

Jobs for all of New York State can be found at the New York Online Application System for Educators. The New York City Department of Education also provides a step-by-step guide to getting a teaching job in New York City.

Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.

New York Teacher Salary and Incentives

The average school teacher in New York makes $79,152 per year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. New York is one of the highest-paying states in which to teach, and also offers differential pay for teachers working in high-needs schools or shortage subjects. For more salary information, take a look at the New York City salary schedule.

Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.

New York Teacher Benefits and Retirement

Benefits attached to education and teaching jobs can vary in New York State. New York City currently provides full-time teachers with health insurance coverage. Retirement in New York State is handled by the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System. Retirement in New York City is handled by the New York City Teachers’ Retirement System and the New York City Board of Education Retirement System.

Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.

New York Teacher Shortage Areas

A teacher shortage occurs when there are not enough teachers in key subject areas, which has been partly caused by years of teacher layoffs during the Great Recession, a growing student population and fewer people entering teacher preparation programs, according to the Learning Policy Institute.

The following is a list of teacher shortage areas in New York for the 2017-18 school year as reported by the U.S. Department of Education. (see page 130)

  • Bilingual Education (General): All Grades
  • Career and Technical Education
  • Special Education (Not Bilingual)-Middle/Secondary Grades
  • Special Education (Bilingual)-All Grades
  • Special Education (Not Bilingual)-Elementary

Financial Aid in New York

New York residents are eligible for the Applegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarship as well as the TEACH Grant, a grant that gives financial aid to students in return for an agreement to teach in a high-need field in a low-income area.

Learn more about how to finance your Master's degree on Teach.com.

Career Advancement

Professional Development for New York Teachers

New York State professional development programs include teacher mentorship programs and the NYS Teacher Resource and Computer Training Centers. New York City offers in-service courses for teachers through the NYC After School Professional Development Program. Credits earned through this program can be counted towards both salary differentials and professional development requirements. Programs are also available to paraprofessional educators, including the Summer Stipend Program, through which paraprofessionals can receive a financial incentive for college credits earned over the summer.

Teachers holding a Professional Certificate in New York must complete at least 175 hours of professional development activities during each 5-year licensing period.

Benefits of a Master's Degree in New York

Experience isn't the only important aspect of measuring the ability to teach. After No Child Left Behind and other academic quantification measures have been put in place, the careers of teachers increasingly depend on results in the classroom. A master's degree in the field of education can give teachers more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as more hands-on student teaching experience alongside a mentor. After completing a Master's program, teachers are often able to achieve better results in the classroom and may have more job security and receive higher pay.

Teachers in Buffalo, New York with a Masters degree earned an average of $6,216 more than a teacher with a Bachelor's degree, according to 2017-2018 data from the National Council on Teacher Quality.

Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.

Explore Featured Program Options in Education

Featured Online programs
University Name Type of Program Program Description
University of Southern California Master of Arts in Teaching The online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the USC Rossier School of Education prepares you to become a transformative K–12 teacher. Through live online classes and enriching field experiences in your community, you can earn your MAT in less than 18 months without relocating.
Fordham University Master of Science in Teaching The online Master of Science in Teaching program prepares aspiring teachers (grades 1-6) for initial teaching certification or dual certification in teaching and special education.
Harvard University's Bok Center Advanced Certification in Teaching The 8-week Teaching and Learning Strategies for Higher Education online short course is delivered by Harvard’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX. Students in this course will engage deeply with the most relevant research on effective teaching methods in the higher education context, while refining their own practices, portfolio, and teaching philosophy.
Vanderbilt University Master of Education in School Counseling Vanderbilt University's Peabody College offers an online Master of Education in human development counseling with a specialization in school counseling for students interested in becoming school counselors and making a meaningful difference in K–12 settings.

Sponsored Program