Adolescent Biology (BA/MA)

The Adolescent Biology (BA/MA) program leads to New York State certification to teach Biology (7-12).

Students who are completing or have completed the program will apply for their certification through the New York State Education Department TEACH Online Services. Students apply first for initial and then for professional certification.

Program Code: 29390 – BIOLOG

Initial Certification: Requirements and Exams

The School of Education reserves the right not to recommend for certification any student who has committed a serious breach of professional ethics or behavior.

The Initial Certificate is the entry-level teaching certificate and is valid for five years. Students who graduate from a Hunter master’s degree certification program without prior certification will be recommended for initial certification.

Students apply and pay for their certification in their final semester.

Candidates seeking initial certification must fulfill the following requirements before applying:

1. Pass all required New York State Teacher Certification Exams

Educating All Students (EAS)
Content Specialty Test (CST) – Biology

Need help preparing? The Hunter College School of Education Center for Career, Professional & Partnership Development (CPPD) conducts test preparation workshops regularly. Learn about upcoming Test Preparation Workshops.

For information regarding exam safety nets consult the New York State Education Department (NYSED).

2. Complete NY State Certification required workshops and submit to the Office of Academic and Students Affairs (OASA)

All applications for NY State certification require that students take and complete the workshops listed below. Students who have completed these workshops for a prior certification, do not need to take them again.

Upon completion of workshops, students must submit their workshop certification(s) to the Office of Academic & Student Affairs so that their CUNYfirst account can be updated.

Submit Workshop Completion Form

School Violence Intervention and Prevention

This workshop is included in coursework for your program.

Child Abuse Identification and Reporting

This workshop is included in coursework for your program.

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop

Students may take this workshop through Hunter College’s Continuing Education department or with another approved provider through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website.

3. Clear fingerprints with the New York State Education Department (NYSED)

All students in programs leading to NYS certification need to have their fingerprints cleared by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) for NYS certification.

Visit the Fingerprinting for Hunter College School of Education Students to learn how to obtain fingerprint clearance.

Initial Certification: Application Directions and Program Code

When to Apply

Students must fulfill all exam, workshop, and security clearance requirements before applying for initial certification in their final semester. Students apply for certification through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Account.

How to Apply for Initial Certification

The following is a step-by-step guide to apply for initial certification through the New York State Department of Education’s TEACH Account.

1. Create/Log in to your TEACH Account

Students must create/log in to their New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Account. From your Teach Online Services Home page, select Apply for Certificate which is found under “Online Application”. This will start a new application.

2. Verify/Update Profile

The Verify/Update Profile section will ask for education and employment history. For educational history, provide information from bachelor’s degree to present. For employment history enter all full-time, paid teaching experiences in both public and private schools.

Hunter College is an approved New York Teacher Certification Program. When prompted provide the following information:

Award Title: Master of Arts
Program Code: 29390 – BIOLOG
Major: Education
Enter all full-time, paid teaching experience (in both public and private schools).

3. Select Certificate(s)

Enter the following information for the certificates section.

Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
Select your Subject Area: Biology
Select the Grade Level: Grades 7-12
Select the Title: Biology 7-12
Select your Certificate Type: Initial

Students must add each certificate they want to apply for.

On the next page, enter the Program Code 29390.

4. Sign Affidavit

5. Confirm and Sign Application

6. Make Payment

We recommend paying by credit card for ease of tracking.

7. Review Application Transaction Summary

This will help you keep track of what you need to do in order to obtain your certificate.

Professional Certification: Requirements and Exams

The School of Education reserves the right not to recommend for certification any student who has committed a serious breach of professional ethics or behavior.

The Professional Certificate is an advanced certificate. Once teachers have completed three years of full-time, paid teaching experience including one year of mentored teaching, they can apply for professional certification.

Candidates seeking professional certification must fulfill the following requirements before applying:

1. Pass all required New York State Teacher Certification Exams

Content Specialty Test (CST) – Biology

Students who have completed this exam for a prior certification, do not need to take it again.

For information regarding exam safety nets consult the New York State Education Department (NYSED).

2. Complete NY State Certification required workshops and submit to the Office of Academic and Students Affairs (OASA)

Upon completion of workshops, students must submit their workshop certification(s) to the Office of Academic & Student Affairs so that their CUNYfirst account can be updated.

Submit Workshop Completion Form

School Violence Intervention and Prevention

This workshop is included in coursework for your program.

Child Abuse Identification and Reporting

This workshop is included in coursework for your program.

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop

Students may take this workshop through Hunter College’s Continuing Education department or with another approved provider through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website.

3. Clear fingerprints with the New York State Education Department (NYSED)

All students in programs leading to NYS certification need to have their fingerprints cleared by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) for NYS certification.

Visit the Fingerprinting for Hunter College School of Education Students to learn how to obtain fingerprint clearance.

4. Complete three years of full-time, paid teaching experience including one year of mentored teaching

Experience Requirements for Certification

Candidate’s experience must be verified before applying for professional certification using the Paid Experience Verification Form.

Professional Certification: Application Directions and Program Code

When to Apply

Students must fulfill all exam, workshop, and security clearance requirements before applying for professional certification. Once teachers have completed three years of full-time, paid teaching experience including one year of mentored teaching, they can apply for professional certification. Students apply for certification through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Account.

How to Apply for Professional Certification

The following is a step-by-step guide to apply for professional certification through the New York State Department of Education’s TEACH Account.

1. Create/Log in to your TEACH Account

2. Verify/Update Profile

Hunter College is an approved New York Teacher Certification Program. When prompted provide the following information:

Award Title: Master of Arts
Program Code: 29390 – BIOLOG
Major: Education
Enter all full-time, paid teaching experience (in both public and private schools).

3. Select Certificate(s)

Enter the following information for the certificates section.

Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
Select your Subject Area: Biology
Select the Grade Level: Grades 7-12
Select the Title: Biology 7-12
Select your Certificate Type: Professional

Students must add each certificate they want to apply for.

On the next page, enter the Program Code 29390.

4. Sign Affidavit

5. Confirm and Sign Application

6. Make Payment

We recommend paying by credit card for ease of tracking.

7. Review Application Transaction Summary

This section helps students keep track of what they need to do in order to obtain their certificate.

Submitting Workshop Completion

Upon completion of required workshops, students must submit their workshop certification(s) to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs so that their CUNYfirst account can be updated.

Workshop Completion Form

Checking Certificate Status in TEACH Account

There are two certificate statuses in the TEACH account: “not ready to review” and “ready to review.” Prior to graduation a student’s application is marked “not ready to review.” Once a student has met all the requirements, has institutional recommendation, and their graduation has posted, the status will change to “ready to review.” The New York State Department of Education will then review the application.

Out of State Certification or Licensure

Students applying for certification or licensure in states other than New York must complete the Out of State Certification and Licensure Form.

Hunter International Students (F1 Visa Holder) Certification or Licensure

Registering for New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE)

During the registration process enter all 9s when prompted for your Social Security Number (SSN). Once you do receive a Social Security Number, you will need to fax a copy of your Social Security Number card and Passport to the New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE) with a cover letter including your assigned New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE) ID number to request they change your temporary Social Security Number replacement with your assigned Social Security Number.

The fax number for New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE) is 413-256-7088. Follow up a few days later to ensure they have received your fax. The phone number for New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE) is 413-256-2882.

Applying for NYSED TEACH Account without a Social Security Number

You do not need to wait for a Social Security Number (SSN) to create an account on the NYSED TEACH system. If you do not have a valid Social Security Number, you will need to email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number first. The access number is only for use with TEACH and meeting requirements for New York State teacher certification. If you do get a social security number, you must notify NYSED.

If you apply for OPT the process will generate a Social Security Number which you will use to create your TEACH account and apply for New York State Department of Education teaching certification. You should apply for OPT as soon as you can, but you cannot apply earlier than 90 days before your program completion date.

For general instructions on setting up your NYSED TEACH account, please refer to the Certification and Licensure section on this program page.

New York City Department of Education Employment with OPT once your NYS Certificate has issued

International students cannot apply for employment with New York City Public Schools until they have a Social Security Number (SSN). International students may qualify for employment in New York City public schools once they hold New York State certification and hold an OPT visa. You will be ineligible to apply to work for the New York City Department of Education unless you hold OPT authorization, have a Social Security Number and your New York State certification has issued. Candidates fitting the above criteria may apply online to the New York City Department of Education. Once the application is received and reviewed, further instructions will follow. This policy is subject to change at any time.

Expiring Certificates

Students currently certified in initial or transitional B certificate who will not graduate in time to meet the master’s requirement for their expiring certificate, may be eligible for an extension through the New York State Education Department TEACH Online Services. Create/log in to your TEACH account and select “Apply for a Time Extension.”

Certification Support

If you have questions regarding certification, contact The Office of Academic and Student Affairs (OASA) at soe.oasa@hunter.cuny.edu or meet with the Administrative Advisor for support.