Frequently Asked Questions | School of Professional Development

How do I know which courses to take so that I can obtain my professional teaching license? I must complete a minimum of 12 credits in the content field of my initial certification.

If the certification is a "generalist" or "special" education license, any arts and science course corresponding to public school curricula will count (i.e., math, English, science or history courses). Teachers who hold licenses in other areas should contact the program director for advice.

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I am a student who needs to take twelve credits in my content area, but there are not enough courses offered by SPD, or the courses I need are not offered online. What should I do?

Our course listings note which are offered by SPD on campus and which are available online, but it is not possible for SPD to support all subject content certification areas. Students who live within driving distance should review the graduate course listings published on the Registrar's website to see if the course they need is offered by another academic department on campus. Admission to these courses is not automatic; you may need to seek permission from the faculty member (or department) offering the course prior to attempting to enroll. You may also take courses online from another school or at an institution located near you and transfer these credits into your degree program. (See next question.)

I was told during an advisement appointment that the classes I completed were appropriate for obtaining my professional certification, and I heard back from NYSED that one of them does not count. Why, and what do I do now?

You may request transfer graduate-level courses from any regionally accredited college or university (view SPD'sTransfer Credit information for specific details). In addition, SUNY ONLINE has a catalog of online graduate courses that are offered by SUNY institutions. It is preferable for any course to carry a designator of the department offering the course (i.e., EGL – English, MAT – Mathematics, HIS – History, etc.). Please note that SPD can only advise you regarding Stony Brook's course offerings. You would have to contact the home institution of the course for which you wish to enroll. If you take a course elsewhere, it is that institution's responsibility to validate that a specific course will meet NYSED standards for your content area.

I'm thinking of getting a second certification. Can I just take a few classes in that area and then apply for a secondary license in that content area?

NYSED mandates that you must have a minimum of 30 credits in the content area of the new certification that you are seeking. These courses may be undergraduate, graduate or any combination thereof. Upon completion of the 30 credits (some of which may already be on your undergraduate and/or graduate transcript), you must file on the TEACH website for the new certification area, submit transcripts from all colleges attended, and complete the CST in the new content area.

My friend told me that all of the 18 credits of the "thematically related cluster" need to be in "education" in order for me to obtain my professional certification; is this true?

No, your degree coursework must only reflect a minimum of 12 credits of content in the area of your initial license. There are no specific required courses, so your cluster does not have to include any education courses. You may choose additional courses over and above the 12 credits of content that you feel will be of benefit to you in your profession (e.g., Classroom Management or Technology in the Classroom) or courses that may be used toward completion of new certification area requirements (e.g., Adolescence Education).

I’ve been trying to call NYSED, but no one answers the phone. What should I do?

The Office of Teaching Initiatives is overwhelmed and it may take a while for an agent to pick up your call. Please be patient; they will answer. The number that you should use is: (518) 474-3901

What do I do with the NYSED Course Verification form? To whom do I bring it or send it?

You must submit a Graduate Course Verification Form to SPD (along with a self-addressed stamped envelope) for review. SPD will transmit the form to the home department of the curriculum involved. If the course curriculum is deemed to be appropriate, the Department Chair will sign off and SPD will return the form for you to submit to NYSED.

What if I took a course for use towards obtaining my professional certification at an institution other than Stony Brook? What do I do?

You must request that a transcript containing that course be sent to the Office of Teaching Initiatives (see below) in support of coursework underpinning your professional certification. It is incumbent upon that institution to verify that this course will meet the mandates of a graduate-level course in the content area of your initial certification. If a course verification form is required, it must be submitted to that institution.

I completed the MA in Liberal Studies degree and I am trying to apply for my professional teaching license on my TEACH account. I'm being asked for the program code; where do I find it?

There is no NYSED program code for this degree. While the Liberal Studies degree is a functionally valid degree program for professional certification, is not an approved program for initial certification. You must apply for your professional license via either NYSED or your local BOCES office through the Individual Evaluation pathway. Information is available on the NYSED Teach website.

Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Teacher Certification FAQs