Special Education Advanced Certification for Practicing Teachers (SPED-ACT)
This program is no longer accepting new applications for admission.
Special Education Advanced Certificate for Practicing Teachers (SpEd-ACT) is a fully funded school-based clinically-rich P-12 advanced certificate program specifically collaborating with and serving 80 diverse educators from Math for America, Urban Assembly, and District 4’s Talented and Gifted School for Young Scholars. SpEd-ACT is federally funded through a five-year $1.2 million dollar Office of Special Education OSEP grant. SPED-ACT develops teacher capacities to implement evidence-based teaching and interventions that provide cognitive, motivational, and culturally relevant support to P-12 students in inclusive settings. Program goals are to increase the graduation rate of students with disabilities by 3% in participating schools and to increase the number of fully credentialed special education teachers with strong STEM knowledge, who are also equipped to teach P-12 literacy.
SpEd-ACT is distinguished by Learning Lab, year-long P-12 clinical experiences where scholars are coached to implement evidence-based interventions using seven high leverage practices (i.e. SEISMIC, strategic, explicit, intense, systematic, individualized, collaborative). SpEd-ACT teachers learn about, through, and critique new technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to advance teacher learning and digital literacies. Program graduates engage in coaching for two-years post-graduation.
The SpEd-ACT program (H325M240013) was developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
Academic Plan
SPEDAG-AC
Total Credits
17 credits
Advisors
- Rhonda Bondie
- Alissa Herbert, Certification and Graduation Advisor
Newly Accepted Partnership Program Students
Getting Started and New Student Support
Welcome to the School of Education! Visit the Newly Accepted Partnership Program Students page for next steps. If at any point you need support, please reach out to the Office of Partnership Program Advisor at soe.opp@hunter.cuny.edu.
Program Sequence
Winter Semester
Total Credits
1
Courses
- SPED 704 – Issues in Teaching English Language Learners with Special Needs (1 credit)
Spring Semester
Total Credits
5
Courses
- SPED 757 – Methods of Teaching Reading and Writing to students with Disabilities in Grades P-12 (KC) (3 credits)
- And one of the following:
- SPED 772 – Supervised Clinical Teaching and Assessment of Adolescents with Disabilities: Part 1 (KC) (2 credits)
- To be taken by students who are certified to teach in K through 6
- SPED 782 – Supervised Clinical Teaching of Students with Learning Disabilities: Part 1 (KC) (2 credits)
- To be taken by students who are certified to teach in grades 7 through 12
- To be taken by students who are certified to teach in grades 7 through 12
- SPED 772 – Supervised Clinical Teaching and Assessment of Adolescents with Disabilities: Part 1 (KC) (2 credits)
Summer Semester
Total Credits:
6
Courses:
- SPED 703 – Teaching Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credits)
- SPED 701 – Assessment of Students and Collaboration with Families and Communities (3 credits)
Fall Semester
Total Credits:
5
Courses:
- SPED 758 – Methods for Teaching Math and Executive Functioning for Students with Disabilities in Grades P-12 (3 credits)
- And one of the following:
- SPED 774 – Supervised Clinical Teaching and Assessment of Adolescents with Disabilities: Part 2 (KC) (2 credits)
- To be taken by students who are certified to teach in K through 6
- SPED 784 – Supervised Clinical Teaching of Students with Learning Disabilities: Part 2 (KC) (2 credits)
- SPED 774 – Supervised Clinical Teaching and Assessment of Adolescents with Disabilities: Part 2 (KC) (2 credits)
Academic and Professional Milestones
- Students must apply maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average as part of the scholarship program.
- Students must apply for graduation the semester before their planned graduation. Refer to the Graduation page for full policies and procedures.
Clinical Experiences
All courses include practical application of high leverage practices (e.g. SEISMIC) and evidence-based interventions taught through each course.
Certification and Licensure
Types of 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
The Initial Certificate is the entry-level teaching certificate. When you graduate from the East Harlem Teaching Residency program, you will receive a recommendation for both initial and professional certification in Adolescent Special Education. 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.
Certification and Exam Requirements
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)
- Students with initial certification do not have to take the Educating All Students (EAS) exam.
- Content Specialty Test (CST) – Students with Disabilities
- Multi-Subject Exam Requirement:
- Because there is no dedicated Multi Subject Content Specialty Test (CST) created specifically for the Students with Disabilities (All Grades) certificate, to meet the certification requirements, students must take only ONE of the following Multi-Subject exams or have already completed one, as reflected on their TEACH account:
- Multi-Subject: Teachers of Childhood (Grade 1 – Grade 6)
- Multi-Subject: Teachers of Middle Childhood (Grade 5 – Grade 9)
- Multi-Subject: Secondary Teachers (Grade 7 – Grade 12)
- Multi-Subject (002)
- Safety Net Multi-Subject (902)
- Because there is no dedicated Multi Subject Content Specialty Test (CST) created specifically for the Students with Disabilities (All Grades) certificate, to meet the certification requirements, students must take only ONE of the following Multi-Subject exams or have already completed one, as reflected on their TEACH account:
Important: The Multi-Subject: Teachers of Early Childhood (Birth–Grade 2) exam is NOT acceptable for the Students with Disabilities (All Grades) certificate.
Exam Registration, Test Preparation and Safety Nets
Register for an exam at the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations website. Need help preparing? Learn about upcoming Test Preparation Workshops.
Hunter International Students who hold F1 Visas but do not have a Social Security number must email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number (TAN). The TEACH Access Number (TAN) must be used in lieu of a Social Security Number for registering for New York State Teacher Certification exams and applying for New York State (NYS) certification.
If you get a Social Security Number, you must update your information on your TEACH Account by requesting a Social Security Number change via the New York State Education Department. You must also update the information on your New York State (NYS) Teacher Certification Exam account. Your social security number will replace your TEACH Access Number (TAN).
For information regarding exam safety nets consult the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
2. Complete NY State Certification required workshops and submit completion certificates to the Office of Partnership Programs.
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
This workshop is included in coursework for your program.
3. Submit Exam Scores and Workshop Certification(s) to the Office of Partnership Programs.
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 NYS certification need to have their fingerprints cleared by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) for NYS certification.
This requirement will be completed as part of your employment process.
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:
- Apply and pay for Initial Certificate through your TEACH account
- Graduate from a New York State-registered teacher preparation program
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.
- Educating All Students (EAS)
Submitting Exam Scores and Workshop Completion
Students must submit copies of exam scores and workshop certification(s) to the Office of Partnership Programs via Alissa Herbert at ah420@hunter.cuny.edu.
Applying for Certification through TEACH Account and Program Code
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. From your Teach Online Services Home page, select Apply for Certificate which is found under “Online Application”. This will start a new application.
Hunter International Students who hold F1 Visas but do not have a Social Security number must email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number (TAN). The TEACH Access Number (TAN) must be used in lieu of a Social Security Number to apply for New York State (NYS) certification.
If you get a Social Security Number, you must update your information on your TEACH Account by requesting a Social Security Number change via the New York State Education Department. You must also update the information on your New York State (NYS) Teacher Certification Exam account. Your social security number will replace your TEACH Access Number (TAN).
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: 43513
- 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.
Transitional B
- Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
- Select your Subject Area: Students with Disabilities
- Select the Grade Level: K-12 All Grades
- Select the Title: Students with Disabilities (All Grades)
- Select your Certificate Type: Trans B
Initial Certification
Upon graduation, when you apply for Initial Certification complete this section as follows:
- Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
- Select your Subject Area: Students with Disabilities
- Select the Grade Level: K-12 All Grades
- Select the Title: Students with Disabilities (All Grades)
- Select your Certificate Type: Initial
Professional Certification
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: Students with Disabilities
- Select the Grade Level: K-12 All Grades
- Select the Title: Students with Disabilities (All Grades)
- Select your Certificate Type: Professional
On the next page, enter the Program Code 43513
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.
Checking Certificate Status in TEACH Account
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.
Expiring Transitional B Certifications
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.”
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
Hunter International Students who hold F1 Visas but do not have a Social Security number must email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number (TAN). The TEACH Access Number (TAN) must be used in lieu of a Social Security Number for all processes involving certification such as fingerprinting, creating your TEACH Account, registering for New York State Teacher Certification exams, and applying for New York State (NYS) certification.
If you get a Social Security Number, you must update your information on your TEACH Account by requesting a Social Security Number change via the New York State Education Department. You must also update the information on your New York State (NYS) Teacher Certification Exam account. Your social security number will replace your TEACH Access Number (TAN).
Certification Support
If you have questions regarding certification, contact Alissa Herbert for support.
Graduation
Graduation is the official completion of your program and conferral of an academic degree. In order to graduate, students must apply for graduation using CUNYFirst the semester before the semester of their planned graduation and complete any outstanding requirements by the stated deadlines. Visit the Graduation and Commencement page for complete information.