So you want to be a teacher

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So you want to be a teacher?

• Buffalo State College
• Teacher Certification Office
• Caudell Hall, room 101
• 1300 Elmwood Ave.
• Buffalo, NY 14222

START
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Steps to certification

• Being a teacher is very rewarding (and
  challenging!) The road to get there is not always
  easy, though. This PowerPoint presentation is
  designed to help you make some sense of it all.

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Student Timeline of Requirements
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What are the requirements to become certified?

• Academic Preparation
• Teacher Certification Exams
• Seminars
• Fingerprinting
• Apply

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Academic Preparation

• This means either a B.S. in Education, a M.S. in
  Education, or completion of a Post Baccalaureate
  Certification Only Program in Education from
  Buffalo State College.
• Psst dont forget to apply for graduation!

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The next step is the exams

• Academic Preparation
• Teacher Certification Exams
• Seminars
• Fingerprinting
• Apply

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What exams must I pass?

• Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST)
• Elementary and Secondary Assessment of Teaching
  Skills Written (ATS-W)
• Content Specialty Tests (CSTs) in the content
  area of certification

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When should I take the exams?

• LAST should be taken your junior year in college.
• ATS-W should be taken the semester before student
  teaching.
• Content Specialty Test (CST) should be taken the
  semester before student teaching.
• Your department may have specific requirements
  for when you should take the exams
• To register for these exams, visit
  www.nystce.nesinc.com

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The next step is the seminars

• Academic Preparation
• Teacher Certification Exams
• Seminars
• Fingerprinting
• Apply

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What Seminars Do I Need?

• School Violence Prevention and Intervention
  Workshop (S.A.V.E.)
• Child Abuse Identification Workshop
• Drug and Alcohol Awareness Seminar
• Fire and Arson Safety Seminar
• Students completing an Elementary Education B.S.
  program through Buffalo State College may be
  required to take an additional HIV/Exposure
  Seminar.

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Seminars

• You should take these seminars the semester
  before student teaching.

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Seminars

• To register for the S.A.V.E., Fire Arson
  Safety and the Drug Alcohol Seminar
• Call the Continuing Education Office at 878-5907,
  or check their Web site http//www.buffalostate.e
  du/academics/cenc/
• Off-campus Call your local BOCES. Click here for
  a list of BOCES offices.
• On-line www.francisschool.com

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Seminars cont

• Training in the Child Abuse Identification
  workshop is available the following three ways
• In-person, on campus Call the Center for the
  Development of Human Services at 876-7600
• In-person, off campus Call your local BOCES.
  Click here for a list of BOCES offices.
• On-line www.nysna.org. Click "Logon Learn"

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Seminars cont

• Elementary Education majors
• Training for the HIV/Exposure seminar is
  arranged through your EDU 402 instructor, or the
  Student Teaching Supervisor. You will be given
  information during student teaching.

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The next step is fingerprinting

• Academic Preparation
• Teacher Certification Exams
• Seminars
• Fingerprinting
• Apply

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Fingerprinting

• Fingerprinting should be done the semester
  before student teaching
• Obtain a fingerprinting packet from your
  department

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Fingerprinting

• Fill out the fingerprint consent form sections
  1,2, and 5. Fill out the top portion of the
  fingerprint cards.
• Get a money order for 99 payable to the New York
  State Education Department. NO PERSONAL CHECKS
  ACCEPTED. (Please note that the agency that is
  performing the fingerprinting service may require
  a separate fee.)

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Fingerprinting process cont

• Take the completed fingerprint packet and the 99
  fee to the campus police, any local law
  enforcement agency, or your local BOCES to get
  fingerprinted.
• Mail the completed OSPRA 101, the completed
  fingerprint cards and the 99 fee to OSPRA in the
  pre-addressed envelope.

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The next step is applying for certification

• Academic Preparation
• Teacher Certification Exams
• Seminars
• Fingerprinting
• Apply

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Applying for certification

• The New York State Education Department will not
  automatically send you your teaching certificate.
  You must complete an application.

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Applying for Certification

• If you completed a registered teacher education
  program at Buffalo State College that leads to a
  certificate in that area, then you may apply
  through our Teacher Certification Office. If you
  have any questions, you may call our office at
  [phone].
• Application packets should be submitted the
  month you plan to graduate, the month you
  complete the requirements, or anytime after.

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Applying for Certification

• When you submit an application to our office, we
  process it and mail it to the New York State
  Education Department. Albany will mail your
  certificate in approximately 8 weeks. Your
  certificate will not be forwarded to a new
  address so if you move you must inform SED. Use
  their Web site at www.nysed.gov.

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CONGRATULATIONS!!You are now a certified teacher!

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• Academic Preparation
• Teacher Certification Exams
• Seminars
• Fingerprinting
• Apply

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Student Timeline of Requirements