Applying for Professional Certification
Students with Initial Certification Prior to Attending Hunter
Some graduate students may have initial certification before starting their programs at Hunter College. Students with prior certification can apply for professional certification after three years of teaching experience in addition to their master’s degree. Permanent certification is no longer an option, except for school counselors.
Students with initial certification in an area outside of their certification program at Hunter College will apply for their professional certification through Certificate Progression pathway. We cannot recommend for professional certification for these prior certificates (e.g. Literacy student cannot be recommended for professional certificate in childhood education) so do not use your Hunter College program code when applying for professional certification in another area. When asked if you have completed an Approved Teacher Preparation program, select No. This will lead you to the correct pathway.
- TEACH Instructions for Professional Certification via Certificate Progression
- Experience Requirements for Certification
- Paid Experience Verification Forms
Students who Graduate from a School of Education Master’s Degree Program
Students who graduate from a master’s degree certification program will be recommended for initial and professional certification (in the area of their program at Hunter College). Most graduates will apply for the initial certificate when they graduate. Once teachers have completed three years of full-time, paid teaching experience (including one year of mentored teaching), they can apply for professional certification.
- Please follow the instructions on your program specific page for applying.
- Experience Requirements for Certification
- Paid Experience Verification Forms
Recommendation for professional certification should already be on your NYSED TEACH account.
Students who Graduate from a School of Education Undergraduate Degree Program
Students who graduate from an undergraduate degree certification program will be recommended for initial certification only (in the area of their program at Hunter College). Graduates will apply for the initial certificate when they graduate from their undergraduate program–your program code can only be used to apply for initial certification. Teacher candidates can apply for professional certificate once they have completed three years of full-time, paid teaching experience (including one year of mentored teaching) in their specific subject and grade range and earned a master’s degree. If the master’s degree is in an approved teacher preparation program, applicants need not complete additional graduate credits–if the master’s degree is not a teacher preparation program, additional graduate credits will be required (these are specific to the certification subject and grade range). The pathway of this application process is Certificate Progression.