Certification Requirements

We’ve compiled the latest New York State Teacher Certification Exam (NYSTCE) requirements for each of our approved certification programs.

To earn certification, you must meet the following requirements:

Have an application in the TEACH online system.
Fingerprints
Workshops
- Child Abuse Identification and Reporting
- School Violence Prevention and Intervention (SAVE)
- Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
- Needs of Children with Autism
Touro Culminating Assessment Portfolio (TCAP): In its April 2022 meeting, the New York State Board of Regents voted to modify the teacher performance assessment requirement for certification by eliminating the edTPA requirement for certification and, instead, requiring that New York State-registered teacher preparation programs integrate a teacher performance assessment into the candidates’ student teaching, practicum, or similar clinical experience (e.g., residency, mentored in-service component). Touro GSE abides by the NYSED requirement of a teacher performance assessment for candidates with the Touro Culminating Achievements Portfolio, TCAP. Candidates must complete the TCAP during their Practicum course. All students eligible to enroll in the Practicum course receive detailed information about this requirement's completion.
NYS Teacher Certification Exams: We’ve compiled the latest New York State Teacher Certification Exam (NYSTCE) requirements for each of our approved certification programs. Students must complete their exams before applying for certification. You may register for all NYSTCEs online.

Required Exams by Program

Initial Certification Programs

Early Childhood Education and Special Education Birth-Grade 2, Childhood Education and Special Education, Grades 1-6, Students with Disabilities, Generalist, Grades 7-12

Educating All Students Test (EAS)
Content Specialty Test – Multi-Subject (in the specific grade level of the program)
Content Specialty Test – Students with Disabilities

Instructional Technology

Educating All Students Test (EAS)
Content Specialty Test (CST) - Educational Technology Specialist
Content Specialty Test – Students with Disabilities

Jewish Childhood Education and Special Education

Educating All Students Test (EAS)
Content Specialty Test – Multi-Subject (grades 1-6)
Content Specialty Test – Students with Disabilities

Mathematics Education

Educating All Students Test (EAS)
Content Specialty Test (CST) – Mathematics
Secondary Mathematics

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Educating All Students Test (EAS)
Content Specialty Test (CST) - ESOL

Teaching Literacy

Educating All Students Test (EAS)
Content Specialty Test (CST) - Literacy

School Counseling

Content Special Test (CST) - School Counseling

School Leadership

School Building Leadership Assessment (Part I and Part II) [Revised Sept. 2013]
School District Leadership Assessment (Part I and Part II)

Advanced Certificates

Bilingual Education

BEA - Your Target Language

NYSTCE Passing Scores and Additional Information for Exam Preparation

Education All Students (EAS)
Passing Score: 520
Typically taken upon completion of pedagogy coursework and field experiences.

The Educating All Students test consists of selected-response items and constructed-response items. Each constructed-response item will share scenario-based stimulus material with several selected response items. The EAS test measures the professional and pedagogical knowledge and skills necessary to teach all students effectively in New York State public schools.

View all Educating All Students (EAS) Frameworks and Preparation Materials.

Content Specialty Test – School Counseling
Passing Score: 520
View School Counseling Test Preparation materials.

Content Specialty Test – Multi-Subject (CST – Multi-Subject)
Passing Score: 520 for each of three parts.
This exam must be completed at the grade level of the program and the level of certification sought: Birth-Grade 2, Grades 1-6, or Grades 7-12.

Content Specialty Test – Students with Disabilities (CST-Students with Disabilities)
Passing Score: 520

The CSTs (except those for languages other than English) consist of multiple-choice questions and a written assignment. The CSTs for languages other than English include recorded listening and/or speaking components and writing components. The American Sign Language CST includes video-recorded signing components. CSTs measure knowledge and skills in the content area of the candidate's field of certification. Refer to "Tests" for information about specific CSTs.
View CST Frameworks and Preparation Materials

Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA)
Passing Score: Pass
Can be taken at any time, once the candidate has achieved fluency in the language.

The BEAs consist of multiple-choice questions and constructed-response assignments. They include recorded listening and speaking components in English and include listening, speaking, reading, and writing components in the target language. The BEAs are required of candidates seeking a bilingual education extension to a certificate. Refer to "Tests" for information about specific BEAs.
View Bilingual Education Assessments (BEAs) Frameworks and Test Preparation materials

School Leadership Assessment (SLA)
School Building Leader Passing Score: 520
School District Leader Passing Score: 220

The NYSTCE program includes tests for school leadership (formerly administrator) certification. The purpose of these School Leadership Assessments is to help ensure that certified school- and district-level leaders have the essential knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective educational leadership in New York State public schools.
Each of the School Leadership Assessments consists of two individually administered tests called "Parts." Each part consists of both selected-response questions and performance tasks.
Refer to "Tests" for detailed information about each of the School Leadership Assessments.
View School Leadership Assessment Frameworks and Test Preparation materials

Exam Safety Nets

Learn more about Exam Safety Nets.

Content Core Requirements

All applicants to the MS program in Education leading to Initial Certification should be able to demonstrate the following:

A baccalaureate degree with 30 credits in the relevant content area.
Content Core coursework in the following areas:
- English Language Arts – 6 credits
- Historical and Social Sciences – 6 credits
- Sciences – 6 credits
- Mathematics – 6 credits