Educational Leadership at Westchester Edith Winthrop Teacher Center (EWTC)

Graduates of the Educational Leadership at Westchester Edith Winthrop Teacher Center (EWTC) program are eligible for New York State certification in both School Building Leader and School District Leader.

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 initial or professional certification.

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: Requirements and Exams

The Initial Certificate is the entry-level leadership certificate and is valid for five years. Students who graduate from the Educational Leadership program will be recommended for initial School Building Leader certification.

Use the New York State Department of Education’s Certification Requirements Search page to identify the specific requirements you must meet for Initial Certification.

Select the following areas for your search and review “Pathway: Approved Teacher Preparation Program”:

Administration and Pupil Personnel Services
School Administration and Supervision
Pre K-12 – All Grades
School District Leader (or) School Building Leader
Initial Certificate

Students must report Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) workshop completion and passing scores on the Educating All Students (EAS) and School District Leader (SDL) 1 and 2 exams using the Workshop Completion or Exam Completion form. Students should apply for initial certification in their final semester through their New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Account.

Initial Certification: Application Directions and Program Code

When to Apply

Students should apply for initial certification in their final semester. Students must report Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) workshop completion and passing scores on the Educating All Students (EAS) and School District Leader (SDL) 1 and 2 exams using the Workshop or Exam Completion form. 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 Science in Education
Program Code: 28954 – EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
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.

Students must add each certificate they want to apply for.

School Building Leader

Select your Area of Interest: Administration and Pupil Personnel Services
Select your Subject Area: School Administration and Supervision
Select the Grade Level: Pre K-12 All Grades
Select the Title:School Building Leader
Select your Certificate Type: Initial

On the next page, enter the Program Code 28954.

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.

8. Submit Official Transcripts to New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Applicants must provide additional or updated official, original and unopened Masters and/or graduate paper transcripts from your completed administrative program, showing completion of the credit requirement. Please note, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) needs official transcripts even if you are recommended for certification. Your degree must be “awarded” prior to ordering your transcript so that your completed degree is noted on your record.

Checking Degree Status and Conferral Timeline

For directions on how to check your degree status, visit the Graduation and Commencement page.

Requesting a Transcript from Hunter

To request a transcript from Hunter, visit the Transcript Request page.

Submitting a Transcript to the New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Visit the Submitting College Transcripts page for information on how to submit your transcript to the New York State Education Department (NYSED).

9. Provide Verification of Paid Experience to the New York State Department of Education (NYSED)

Applicants must demonstrate paid, full-time work experience as a classroom teacher, pupil personnel professional (e.g., school counselor), or administrator. Experience that is not full time may be credited on a prorated basis. Please note, all experience must be directly verified by the employer using the Paid, full-time Admin/PPS/Classroom Teaching experience – 3 Yrs form.

Professional Certification: Requirements and Exams

The Professional Certificate is an advanced certificate. For the School Building Leader (SBL) Professional certificate, individuals must have three years full-time experience in an educational leadership position, which must include at least one year as a school building leader. Students who graduate from the Educational Leadership program will also be recommended for the professional School District Leader certification.

Use the New York State Department of Education’s Certification Requirements Search page to identify the specific requirements you must meet for Professional Certification.

Select the following areas for your search and review “Pathway: Approved Teacher Preparation Program”:

Administration and Pupil Personnel Services
School Administration and Supervision
Pre K-12 – All Grades
School District Leader (or) School Building Leader
Professional Certificate

Students must report Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) workshop completion and passing scores on the Educating All Students (EAS) and School District Leader (SDL) 1 and 2 exams using the Workshop or Exam Completion form. Students should apply for professional certification in their final semester through their New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Account.

Professional Certification: Application Directions and Program Code

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 Science in Education
Program Code: 28954 – EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
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.

Students must add each certificate they want to apply for.

School Building Leader

Select your Area of Interest: Administration and Pupil Personnel Services
Select your Subject Area: School Administration and Supervision
Select the Grade Level: Pre K-12 All Grades
Select the Title:School Building Leader
Select your Certificate Type: Professional

School District Leader

Select your Area of Interest: Administration and Pupil Personnel Services
Select your Subject Area: School Administration and Supervision
Select the Grade Level: Pre K-12 All Grades
Select the Title: School District Leader
Select your Certificate Type: Professional

Leadership candidates who graduate from a master’s degree certification program with prior certification that is in line with their Educational Leadership – SBL/SDL (MSEd) certification at Hunter College will be recommended for professional certification in that area. On the next page, enter the Program Code 28954.

Leadership candidates who graduate from a master’s degree certification program with prior certification that is not in line with their Educational Leadership – SBL/SDL (MSEd) certification at Hunter College will apply for their professional certification through Certificate Progression Pathway within TEACH. Hunter College cannot recommend these Leadership candidates 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.

8. Submit Official Transcripts to New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Checking Degree Status and Conferral Timeline

For directions on how to check your degree status, visit the Graduation and Commencement page.

Requesting a Transcript from Hunter

To request a transcript from Hunter, visit the Transcript Request page.

Submitting a Transcript to the New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Visit the Submitting College Transcripts page for information on how to submit your transcript to the New York State Education Department (NYSED).

9. Provide Verification of Paid Experience to the New York State Department of Education (NYSED)

Submitting Workshop or Exam Completion

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.

Make An Appointment

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