Lincoln Center Scholars Program – Music Education (MA)

The Lincoln Center Scholars Program is a New York State certification program for Music Education (MA). You will apply for your certification through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Online Services.

You will apply for a Transitional B at the beginning of the program and will apply for Initial Certification upon graduation. Once you have completed three years of full-time paid teaching experience you can apply for your 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.

Transitional B Certificate

A Transitional B certificate is a provisional certificate that you must hold while enrolled in an alternative certification program such as the Lincoln Center Scholars Program. It is valid for three years or the amount of time it takes you to graduate from Hunter College, whichever is shorter.

Students apply and pay for their Transitional B certificate at the beginning of the program.

Initial Certification

The Initial Certificate is the entry-level teaching certificate. When you graduate from the Lincoln Center Scholars Program you will be recommended for both initial and professional certification. You must apply for the initial certificate when you are preparing to graduate from Hunter College in order for the state to issue your initial certification. Once issued, your initial certificate is valid for five years.

Professional Certification

The Professional Certificate is an advanced certification. Once you have completed three years of full-time, paid teaching experience (including one year of mentored teaching), you can apply for professional certification. Your professional certification will be continuously valid with completion and documentation of required professional development hours within a five-year professional development cycle as determined by New York State.

Transitional B Requirements

You must fulfill the following certificate and exam requirements to be eligible for the Transitional B certificate.

1. Pass all required New York State Teacher Certification Exams

Educating All Students (EAS)
Content Specialty Test (CST): Music (test code 075)

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.

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. Submit Exam Scores and Workshop Certification(s) to the Office of Partnership Program

Students must submit copies of exam scores and workshop certification(s) to the Office of Partnership Programs at soe.opp@hunter.cuny.edu.

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

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

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

5. Apply and pay for your Transitional B certification by December 15 through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Account.

Initial Certification Requirements

As you prepare to complete your program, you must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the Initial Certification:

Complete the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) Exam. Consult with your program coordinator about when to start and submit for the edTPA.
Apply and pay for Initial Certificate through your TEACH account.
Graduate

Professional Certification Requirements

Once you have completed three years of full-time, paid teaching experience (including one year of mentored teaching), you can apply for professional certification.

Students must submit copies of exam scores and workshop certification(s) to the Office of Partnership Programs at soe.opp@hunter.cuny.edu.

How to Apply for Certification

The following is a step-by-step guide to apply for Transitional B, Initial and 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

Verify/Update Profile will ask for your Education and Employment information. Enter all the information from a baccalaureate to present. Hunter College is an Approved New York Teacher Certification Program.

Award Title: Master of Arts
Program Code: 25576 – ALT CRT: MUSIC K-12 (TRANS B)
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.

Trans B

Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
Select your Subject Area: Music
Select the Grade Level: Pre K-12 – All Grades
Select the Title: Music
Select your Certificate Type: Transitional B

Initial Certificate

Upon graduation, when you apply for Initial Certification complete this section as follows:

Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
Select your Subject Area: Music
Select the Grade Level: Pre K-12 – All Grades
Select the Title: Music
Select your Certificate Type: Initial

Professional Certificate

After three years of full-time paid teaching when you apply for your Professional Certification complete this section as follows:

Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
Select your Subject Area: Music
Select the Grade Level: Pre K-12 – All Grades
Select the Title: Music
Select your Certificate Type: Professional

On the next page, enter the Program Code 25576.

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.

Transitional B Certificate

We will submit your institutional recommendation after you have completed all Transitional B certification requirements. New York State will then review your application and if you have met all requirements issue your Transitional B certificate. Please note that New York State does not issue paper copies of Transitional B certificates. You must check your TEACH account for your certification status.

Initial Certificate

If you have applied for a certificate but have not yet graduated, the status of your certificate application will be “Not Ready for Review”. Once your graduation is posted, have met all the requirements and have institutional recommendation, your status will change to “Ready for Review” and NYSED will then review your application.

If you have a valid transitional B certificate but will not graduate in time to meet the master’s requirement before your Transitional B certificate expires, you may be eligible for an extension through NYSED’s TEACH Online Services. Create/Log in to your TEACH account and select “Apply for a Time Extension.”

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

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.

Registering for the edTPA without a Social Security Number

International students without a valid Social Security Number (SSN) should leave the Social Security Number section blank. Do not enter any numbers, including a temporary number assigned by the NYCDOE. You will see a message stating “The Social Security Number that you entered is not valid. If you do not have a valid Social Security Number please click here.”

In the next window you must confirm you do not have valid Social Security Number. The system will let you proceed with the registration process at this point.

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.

If you have questions regarding certification, contact Lucia Rutter for support.