New York State Certification Examinations (NYSTCE)

Current forms, regulations, test dates, and test frameworks are available at: http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/ and http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ . Information is also available through the Career Services Office in Blake A.

Information regarding certification exams from NYSED website

Because things are continually changing with this new exam format, we strongly suggest you check in with the NYSTCE website http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/NY_annProgramUpdate.asp regularly and not solely rely on our information on this page. 

http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/certexamsl2012.html

Per the website:  We anticipate that candidates applying for certification on or after May 1st, 2014 will be required to take certain new exams

At the February 2012 meeting, the New York State Board of Regents approved a change to the implementation schedule for the new testing requirements for the initial certification of teachers and school building leaders.  Read the policy memo here.  The following non-regulatory guidance is based on the Board’s direction and is subject to change when regulations are adopted later this year.

Anticipated requirements for qualified candidates who apply for a certificate on or before April 30, 2014 and qualified candidates who apply via the Individual Evaluation pathway prior to September 1, 2013

• All candidates for the Initial or Transitional B teaching certificate may take the current Content Specialty Test in their field.  Candidates who do not pass the current CST prior to implementation of the new CST will have to pass the new CST.  (See “When will the new exams be available,” below.)
• Candidates who apply for their first Initial certificate on or before April 30, 2014 and who will have completed all of their requirements by April 30, 2014 will be required to pass the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) and Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS‑W).  Candidates who do not complete all requirements (including passing both the LAST and the ATS-W) by April 30, 2014 will be required to pass the new Teacher Performance Assessment, Educating All Students test, and Academic Literacy Skills Test.
• Candidates who apply for the initial school building leader (SBL) certificate on or before April 30, 2014 and who will have completed all of their requirements by April 30, 2014 will be required to pass the current SBL exam. Candidates who do not complete all requirements (including passing the current SBL exam) by April 30, 2014 will be required to pass the new SBL exam and the Educating All Students Test.
• Candidates who will have completed all of the requirements for the Transitional B certificate by April 30, 2014 will be required to pass the LAST and CST by that date and will be required to pass the ATS-W prior to obtaining the Initial certificate. Candidates who do not complete all requirements for the Transitional B certificate by April 30, 2014 will be required to pass the new Teacher Performance Assessment, Educating All Students test, and Academic Literacy Skills Test.

Anticipated requirements for candidates graduating or applying for a certificate on or after May 1, 2014

• All candidates for the Initial or Transitional B teaching certificate may take the current Content Specialty Test in their field.  Candidates who do not pass the current CST prior to implementation of the new CST will have to pass the new CST.  (See “When will the new exams be available,” below.)
• Candidates who apply for their first Initial certificate on or after May 1, 2014—including candidates who will graduate from an approved teacher preparation program on or after May 1, 2014—should not take the LAST or the ATS‑W.  These candidates will be required to pass the new Teacher Performance Assessment, Educating All Students test, and Academic Literacy Skills Test. 
• Candidates who apply for the initial SBL certificate on or after May 1, 2014—including candidates who will graduate from an approved SBL preparation program on or after May 1, 2014—should not take the current SBL exam.  These candidates will be required to pass the new SBL exam and the new Educating All Students test.  
• Candidates who will complete all of their requirements for the Transitional B certificate on or after May 1, 2014 should not take the LAST or the ATS-W.  These candidates will be required to pass the new Educating All Students test and Academic Literacy Skills Test (as well as the CST) to qualify for the Transitional B certificate and the new Teacher Performance Assessment to qualify for the Initial certificate. 

When will the new exams be available?

The Teacher Performance Assessment will be available in Fall 2012.  The Academic Literacy Skills Test, Educating All Students test, and SBL exam will be available in Fall 2013.  The Department plans to publish a timetable in spring 2012 at http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/ giving the date when each new CST will be available. 

What is going to be covered on the new exams?

To enable program administrators and faculty to adjust their curricula and prepare their candidates to pass the new exams, the Department will post test frameworks that outline in detail the material that each test will cover, as well as the performance standards for each test.  During the spring 2012 semester, we plan to post preliminary frameworks and scoring rubrics for the Teacher Performance Assessment, the Academic Literacy Skills test, the Educating All Students test, and the new School Building Leader exam at http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/.  The framework for each new CST will be published well before the first administration date. 

Additional information regarding the new exams and other Department initiatives in educator preparation and certification can be found at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/resources.html

Questions?  Email edcertpolicy@mail.nysed.gov. The Department will periodically publish answers to your Frequently Asked Questions.

• Due to the changes with no definitive decisions yet, we are unable to list everything with the new exams as we have with the soon to be obsolete exams

Initial Certification

Childhood Education

• _____ Liberal Arts and Science Test (LAST)
• _____ Elementary Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W)
• _____ Multi-Subject Content Specialty Test (CST)

Early Childhood and Childhood Education

• _____ Liberal Arts and Science Test (LAST)
• _____ Elementary Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W)
• _____ Multi-Subject Content Specialty Test (CST)

Childhood with Special Education

• _____ Liberal Arts and Science Test (LAST)
• _____ Elementary Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W)
• _____ Multi-Subject Content Specialty Test (CST)
• _____ Students with Disabilities Content Specialty Test (CST)

Adolescence Education

• _____ Liberal Arts and Science Test (LAST)
• _____ Secondary Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W)
• _____ Content Specialty Test (CST) in content area

Literacy

• _____ Content Specialty Test (CST)

Content Specialty Tests:

Childhood: Multi-Subject
Early Childhood and Childhood: Multi-Subject
Childhood with Special Education: Multi-Subject and Students with Disabilities
Adolescence: English Language Arts
Mathematics
Social Studies
French
Spanish
Biology
Chemistry
Earth Science
Physics
Literacy: Literacy

Additional Information on Test Requirements:

• Most candidates complete the LAST in their sophomore or junior year and the ATS-W after completing all education course work. Candidates under the new NYS standards may want to complete the CST during their Senior year.
• NYSTCE scores are automatically sent to the New York State department of Education.
• For additional certification information, check: www.nysed.gov/tcert/.
• Study guides for some parts of the NYSTCE can be ordered from the testing company and are also available in commercial bookstores.
• Test Bulletins are available in Career Services, Blake A 104 or you may register on-line at www.nystce.nesinc.com
• Other states may have different testing requirements. A list of State Education Departments is available in Career Services in Blake A 104
• For additional information on new certifications standards check: www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/keychangeschart.htm.

Certification Exam Test Dates