Teacher Certification Requirements

LIU Riverhead offers degree programs in education: B.S. and M.S. in Childhood Education (Grades 1 to 6), M.S. in Teaching Students with Disabilities (Grades 1 to 6 & 7 to 12), and the M.S. in Literacy (Birth to Grade 6), all of which lead to certification in New York State.

Requirements for teacher certification in New York includes successful completion of a bachelor's or master's degree; passing of certification tests (basic skills and subject-specific knowledge) and the edTPA; completing workshops in child abuse identification, violence prevention and Dignity for All Students Act (DASA); fingerprinting; field experience; and student teaching. Long Island University's undergraduate and graduate degrees programs are designed to prepare students to meet these certification requirements.

In their final semester, education majors at LIU Riverhead are eligible to apply for New York State certification through the New York State TEACH system www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/. Upon completion of the degree and all other certification requirements, LIU Riverhead will recommend (institutional recommendation) the student for the applicable teacher certification.

LIU Riverhead prepares students for two levels of certification in New York State — Initial and Professional:

• Initial Certification is the minimum certification required to teach in New York State. The entry-level certificate is valid for 5 years and is issued in a specific subject and/or grade level. Initial Certification leads to the Professional Certificate. After three years of professional teaching experience, mentored experience and an earned Master’s degree you can apply for the Professional Certificate to continue to be certified in New York State. All teacher-training bachelor's and master's programs at LIU at Riverhead lead to Initial Certification.
• Professional Certification is required to continue teaching in New York State. This advanced-level certificate is continuously valid with completion of New York State-required professional development hours on a 5-year cycle.

Current LIU Riverhead students should contact the Education Program Office, 631-287-8214, for certification application instructions and requirements.

LIU Riverhead graduates work in schools across the county, the region and the nation. In 2014-2015 New York State adopted many changes to requirements for teachers and educational leaders. Our graduates continue to set impressive standards of success as teachers and educational leaders.

LIU Riverhead teacher education programs are nationally accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC). LIU Riverhead students who completed their initial certification program during the 2016-2017 academic year achieved an examination pass rate of 94%.  Pass rates for all LIU students in both initial and advanced degree programs combined had an 87% pass rate.

For information about other CAEP reporting measures click here.

Requirements for New York State Certification (Institutional Recommendation)

B.S. in Childhood Education (Grades 1 to 6) 

• Completion of the approved degree program
• Students must pass the following New York State Teacher Certification Examinations: -

-edTPA-Elementary Education
-Educating All Students Test (EAS)
-Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST)
-Content Specialty Test (CST) - Multi-Subject: Teachers of Childhood (Grade 1– Grade 6)

For complete information about the New York State Teacher Certification Exams, visit the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations Web site.

• Students must complete the following workshops:

- School Violence Prevention and Intervention Workshop (Project S.A.V.E.)
- Child Abuse Identification Workshop
- Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)

• In order to student teach or receive your New York State teaching certificate or apply for employment in a school district, charter school or boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES), New York State requires you to satisfy a Fingerprint Investigation for a criminal history background check. You must complete the fingerprinting process prior to student teaching. Visit the "Fingerprinting" section of the New York State Education Department Web site for more information and directions on how to apply.

M.S. in Childhood Education (Grades 1 to 6) 

• Completion of the approved degree program
• Students must pass the following New York State Teacher Certification Examinations:

-edTPA-Elementary Education
-Educating All Students Test (EAS)
-Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST)
-Content Specialty Test (CST) - Multi-Subject: Teachers of Childhood (Grade 1– Grade 6)

For complete information about the New York State Teacher Certification Exams, visit the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations Web site.

• Students must complete the following workshops:

- School Violence Prevention and Intervention Workshop (Project S.A.V.E.)
- Child Abuse Identification Workshop
- Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)

• In order to student teach or receive your New York State teaching certificate or apply for employment in a school district, charter school or boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES), New York State requires you to satisfy a Fingerprint Investigation for a criminal history background check. You must complete the fingerprinting process prior to student teaching. Visit the "Fingerprinting" section of the New York State Education Department Web site for more information and directions on how to apply.

M.S. in Literacy Education (Birth to Grade 6) 

• Completion of the approved degree program
• Content Specialty Test (CST) – Literacy

M.S. in Teaching Students with Disabilities Education (Grades 1 to 6) 

• Completion of the approved degree program
• Content Specialty Test (CST) – Students with Disabilities

M.S. in Teaching Students with Disabilities Generalist (Grades 7 to 12)

• Completion of approved degree program
• Completion of 6 qualifying semester hours in each of the following areas: English/Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics. Most or all of these courses are completed at the Bachelor's degree level before the student enters LIU Riverhead.
• New York State Teacher Certification Exam - Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST) 
• Content Specialty Test (CST) - Students With Disabilities
Content Specialty Test (CST) - Multi-Subject: Secondary Teachers Grade 7-Grade 12