Undocumented Student Support for Teacher Education Programs

Students with an undocumented citizenship status are eligible to apply to all School of Education programs leading to initial certification. Due to city and state constraints around citizenship status in the teaching profession, the path to teaching in New York is different for non-citizens. This page will provide you with an overview of those differences as well as CUNY and School of Education supports to assist you on your path.

The Core Differences

Certification

Per the New York State Department of Education (NYSED) undocumented students are eligible to obtain Initial Certification which is valid for five years and then expires. Students are recommended for initial certification upon graduation from their program.

Undocumented students, however, may not be able to work in many settings in the United States without securing a work permit. Guidance on registering for an ITIN number which can facilitate work is available from CUNY’s Office of Immigrant Student Success.

Professional certification, which does not expire, requires candidates to prove they are legally residing in the United States by providing one of the following forms of documentation; (a) paperwork verifying DACA status, (b) Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card as issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or (c) valid work or student visa (not expired). Students with an undocumented citizenship status may not eligible for professional certification in New York State if they are unable to provide one of these forms of legal residency. This documentation should be submitted in PDF format to tcert@nysed.gov with “citizenship” in the subject line. The body of the email should include the applicant’s full name and either their DOB or the last four digits of their SSN (or TEACH Access Number).”

For students who are working toward citizenship and need longer than five years, students may appeal to NYSED for an extension of the initial certification for up to an additional three years.

Fingerprinting

All School of Education students are required to obtain fingerprint clearance in order to complete clinical experiences in schools. Students with an undocumented citizenship status can not be fingerprinted by the City of New York. Students must be fingerprinted by New York State instead. Please review the Fingerprinting page for the steps to be fingerprinted by New York State.

Clinical Experiences

The Hunter College School of Education aims to place all our students into public schools for their clinical experiences. Since undocumented students are not permitted to be fingerprinted by the City of New York, students are not able to be placed or obtain positions in the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) as the New York City Department of Education requires fingerprinting by the City of New York. Alternative placements through our partners will be identified for undocumented students. Some of these experiences may be located outside of New York City so travel may be required.

Employment

Job opportunities may be limited for teachers with undocumented status. Since undocumented students are not permitted to be fingerprinted by the City of New York, students are unable to obtain positions in the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE). For support in your job search, please connect with the School of Education Career, Professional and Partnership Development division.

Additionally, you may be unable to work in many settings in the United States without securing a work permit. Guidance on registering for an ITIN number which can facilitate work is available from CUNY’s Office of Immigrant Student Success.

Applying to a Teacher Education Program

Graduate Applicants

Admissions Process

The application process remains the same for students regardless of citizenship status. For more information on the admissions process, please visit the School of Education Graduate Admissions page.

Next Steps for New Admits

While the application process will remain the same, the steps to onboard will be slightly different. The sooner you disclose your status the better we’ll be prepared to support you through the program.

All newly admitted undocumented graduate students should attend the all new student orientations. Please review the new student page for next steps and orientation details.

Additionally, undocumented students will be invited to meet with the Director of the Office of Clinical Experiences and the Director of the Office of Academic and Student Affairs for one on one onboarding and fingerprinting support.

Undergraduate Applicants

Major Declaration

The major declaration process remains the same for students regardless of citizenship status. For more information on the School of Education major declaration process, please visit the School of Education Undergraduate Admissions page.

Undergraduate students with an undocumented status are eligible to apply for all School of Education undergraduate programs.

Next Steps for Newly Declared Students

While the major declaration process will remain the same, the steps to onboard will be slightly different. The sooner you disclose your status the better we’ll be prepared to support you through the program.

All newly admitted undocumented undergraduate students will attend the program advising sessions.

CUNY Resources for Undocumented Students

Connect with the Hunter College Immigrant Student Success Center.
CUNY’s Citizenship Now project offers free law services to students and their families.
CUNY’s Office of Immigrant Student Success features a dedicated webpage for undocumented students including financial resources.
CUNY’s Initiative on Immigration and Education offers resources for students. Join their mailing list for updates.

Immigrant Student Liaison

CUNY colleges have designated staff who serve as Immigrant Student Liaisons. The liaison for Hunter College is Miesha Smith, Director of Student Life. Contact at ms177@hunter.cuny.edu