NYC Teaching Collaborative – TESOL PreK-12 (MA)
Welcome to the NYC Teaching Collaborative – TESOL (MA) program home page. Use this page as a guide to the program from acceptance to graduation.
The New York City Teaching Collaborative is an alternative certification program leading to New York State teacher certification. The Teaching Collaborative is offered in partnership with the New York City Department of Education. Participants, or Partner Teachers, spend a full spring semester as an apprentice in a high-need NYC public school before becoming a full-time teacher. During this apprentice semester, Partner Teachers are supervised, mentored, and coached by Collaborative Coaches, who are experienced classroom teachers. Partner Teacher enroll in a master’s program and receive continuous supervision and professional development through Hunter and the Teaching Collaborative program. Tuition costs are subsidized at approximately 50% by the NYCDOE and students are not responsible for any tuition payments until they begin teaching full-time and earning a full-time teacher’s salary. Upon successful completion of the program, students earn a master’s degree and are eligible for New York State initial teacher certification.
Academic Plan
TESOLAC-MA
Total Credits
35
Advisor
- Christine Rosalia, Faculty Advisor
- Cassandra Smith, Program Coordinator
- Alissa Herbert, Certification, Graduation and Administrative 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
The program advisor will notify students of their cohort’s particular course of study before registering for classes. Program sequence is subject to change. To view course descriptions, progress standards and exit requirements visit the catalog.
Program Sequence
- EDESL 783 – Methodology of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- LING 703 – Analysis and Structure of English 1
- EDESL 787 – K-12 ESL Curriculum and Materials across the Content Areas
- CEDF 713 – Child and Adolescence Development
- LING 704 – Analysis and Structure of English 2
- EDESL 788 – Supervised Practicum 1, PreK-6 and 7-12
- LING 773 – Instructed Second Language Acquisition
- SPED 708 – Teaching Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Settings
- BILED 701 – Foundations of Bilingual Education
- EDESL 791 – Language Assessment in TESOL
- EDESL 775 – Socio-Cultural Aspects of Language
- EDESL 753 – Supervised Teaching 2
- EDESL 792 – Second Language Literacy and Technology
Clinical Experiences
First Summer – Pre-Service Fieldwork
As required by New York State law governing alternative certification programs, you will participate in pre-service fieldwork during your first summer. You will be placed in a NYCTF Training Academy hosted by an NYC summer school. Pre-Service Training (PST) is managed by the NYCTF office.
First and Second Year
As a participant in the Teaching Fellows program, you are required to be hired by a high-need NYC public school as a full-time teacher in your certification area. Once you begin teaching, all fieldwork requirements can be completed in your capacity as a full-time teacher. You are not required to complete additional fieldwork beyond your full-time teaching position.
Certification and Licensure
The New York City Teaching Collaborative program is a New York State certification program for TESOL (MSED). 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.
Please note, the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) will no longer be a certification requirement as of April 27, 2022. Visit the Certification and Licensure page for more information regarding this change.
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.
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 NYC Teaching Collaborative. It is valid for three years or the amount of time it takes you to graduate from Hunter College, whichever is shorter.
Initial Certification
When you graduate from the NYC Teaching Collaborative program you will be recommended for both initial and professional certification in TESOL. 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.
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.”
Workshop and Exam Requirements for Certification
Transitional B Requirements
You must fulfill the following certificate and exam requirements to be eligible for the Transitional B certificate.
1. Pass required New York State Teacher Certification Exams
- Educating All Students (EAS)
- Content Specialty Test in any classroom teaching subject
Register for an exam at the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations website.
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 Partnership Programs
All applications for NY State certification require that candidates take and complete the workshops listed below. If you have completed these workshops for a prior certification, you do not need to take them again.
School Violence Intervention & Prevention
You may take this workshop with any NYSED approved provider
Child Abuse Identification & Reporting
You may take this workshop with any NYSED approved provider
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop
You may take this workshop through Hunter College’s Continuing Education department or with another NYSED approved provider.
3. Submit Exam Scores and Workshop Certification(s) to the Office of Partnership Program
You must submit copies of exam scores and workshop certification(s) to Office of Partnership Programs.
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 through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Account.
Initial Certificate Requirements
As you prepare to complete your program, you must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the Initial Certification:
- Content Specialty Test (CST): ESOL (test code 116)
- Apply and pay for Initial Certificate through your TEACH account.
- Graduate
Professional Certificate 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.
Applying for Certification through TEACH Account and Program Code
You will apply for certification through the New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Account.
How to Apply for Certification
The following is a step-by-step guide to apply for 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: 31813 – ALT CERT: TESOL 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: English to Speakers of Other Languages
- Select the Grade Level: Pre K-12 – All Grades
- Select the Title: English to Speakers of Other Languages
- 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: English to Speakers of Other Languages
- Select the Grade Level: Pre K-12 – All Grades
- Select the Title: English to Speakers of Other Languages
- 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: English to Speakers of Other Languages
- Select the Grade Level: Pre K-12 – All Grades
- Select the Title: English to Speakers of Other Languages
- Select your Certificate Type: Professional
On the next page, enter the Program Code 31813.
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.
Submitting Workshop Completion
Upon completion of required workshops, students must submit their workshop certification(s) to Office of Partnership Programs.
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.
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.
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.