Success Academy – Adolescent Special Education (Advanced Certificate)

As a participant in the Success Academy Adolescent Special Education Advanced Certificate program at Hunter College, you will complete a NYS certification program for Adolescent Special Education (Advanced Certificate). You will apply for your certification through the New York State Education Department (NYSED). You will apply for initial and 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

When you graduate from the Advanced Certificate program, you will be recommended for both initial and professional certification in Adolescent Special Education. You must apply for the initial certificate when you are preparing to graduate from the Advanced Certificate program in order for the state to issue your initial certification.

Professional Certification

The Professional Certificate is an advanced certificate. Once you have completed three years of full-time, paid teaching experience (including one year of mentored teaching), you can apply for professional certification in your base certificate. When you do so, you will also apply for professional certification in Adolescent Special Education. 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.

If you will not graduate from the Advanced Certificate program prior to the expiration of your initial certificate, 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.”

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

1. Pass all required New York State Teacher Certification Exams

Content Specialty Test (CST) – Students with Disabilities
Content Specialty Test (CST) – Multi-subject Secondary Teachers (Grades 7-12)

If you have already taken these exams for prior certification you do not have to take them again.

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 Workshop Certification(s) to the Office of Partnership Programs

Upon completion of workshops, students must submit their workshop certification(s) to the Office of Partnership Programs.

4. 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.

5. Graduate

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: Advanced Certificate
Program Code: 37793 – ADOLESCENT SPECIAL EDUCATION
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.

Initial Certificate

Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
Select your Subject Area: Students with Disabilities
Select the Grade Level: Adolescent – Grades 7-12
Select the Title: Students with Disabilities – Grades 7-12 Generalist
Select your Certificate Type: Initial

Professional Certificate

Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
Select your Subject Area: Students with Disabilities
Select the Grade Level: Adolescent – Grades 7-12
Select the Title: Students with Disabilities – Grades 7-12 Generalist
Select your Certificate Type: Professional

On the next page, enter the Program Code 37793.

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.

Upon completion of workshops, students must submit their workshop certification(s) to the Office of Partnership Programs.

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.

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 Daniel Hernandez for support.