Adolescent Chinese (BA)

The Adolescent Chinese (BA) program leads to New York State certification to teach Chinese in grades 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 for either initial or professional certification in their final semester.

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.

Initial Certification

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.

Professional Certification

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.

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

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.”

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) – Cantonese or Mandarin
Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA)
Consult with your program coordinator about when to start and submit for the edTPA.

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 not included in coursework for your program. Sign up for a School Violence Intervention and Prevention workshop through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website.

Child Abuse Identification and Reporting

This workshop is not included in coursework for your program. Sign up for a Child Abuse Identification and Reporting workshop through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website.

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 PETS: Fingerprinting for Fieldwork and Student Teaching to learn how to obtain fingerprint clearance.

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.

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: 32374 – CHINESE 7-12
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 – Foreign Languages
Select your Subject Area: Chinese
Select the Grade Level: Grades 7-12
Select the Title: Chinese 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 32374.

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.

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) – Cantonese or Mandarin

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 not included in coursework for your program. Sign up for a School Violence Intervention and Prevention workshop through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website.

Child Abuse Identification and Reporting

This workshop is not included in coursework for your program. Sign up for a Child Abuse Identification and Reporting workshop through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website.

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 PETS: Fingerprinting for Fieldwork and Student Teaching to learn how to obtain fingerprint clearance.

When to Apply

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

Students must create/log in to their New York State Education Department (NYSED) 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: 32374 – CHINESE 7-12
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 – Foreign Languages
Select your Subject Area: Chinese
Select the Grade Level: Grades 7-12
Select the Title: Chinese 7-12
Select your Certificate Type: Professional

Students must add each certificate they want to apply for.

Teachers who graduate from a master’s degree certification program with prior certification that is in line with their Adolescent Chemistry (Advanced Certificate) certification at Hunter College will be recommended for professional certification in that area. On the next page, enter the Program Code 32374.

Teachers who graduate from a master’s degree certification program with prior certification that is not in line with their Adolescent Chemistry (Advanced Certificate) certification at Hunter College will apply for their professional certification through Certificate Progression Pathway within TEACH. Hunter College cannot recommend these Teachers for professional certification. Do not use the Hunter College program code when applying for professional certification in another area. Select “No, I have not completed, nor am I enrolled in, An Approved Teacher Preparation Program at a New York State College or University.” You will answer several questions before TEACH selects the Certificate Progression pathway for you.

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.

Upon completion of required 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

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.

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

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.