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Early Learning
THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

Early Learning

New ¶¶Òõapp ¶¶Òõapp Education Department Seal
P-12 Education
Office of Early Learning
89 Washington Avenue, EB 514 West Mezzanine, Albany, NY 12234
(518) 474-5807
To: 
Superintendents of Schools receiving Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) Grants
Superintendents of Schools in Districts receiving ¶¶Òõappwide Universal Full-Day Prekindergarten (SUFDPK) funding
Pre-K Program Contacts in Districts receiving UPK funding through a District Collaboration or SUFDPK
Program Contacts for Voluntary Registered Nursery Schools and Kindergartens
From: 
Jason Breslin, Office of Early Learning
Heidi Audino, Office of Teaching Initiatives
Subject: 
Acceptable Experience for Professional Teacher Certification in Early Childhood Settings
Date: 
January 4, 2021

One of the requirements for the Professional teacher certificate is to complete at least three school years of valid teaching experience or its equivalent (540 full-time days). A maximum of 180 days of teaching experience will be accepted per school year (July 1 – June 30). In addition, the teaching experience must span at least three different school years.

Acceptable Experience for the Professional Certificate

For individuals who were issued their Initial teacher certificate on or after February 2, 2014, the required valid teaching experience must be in the subject area of the certificate held to be acceptable for the Professional certificate. For individuals who were issued their first Initial teacher certificate before February 2, 2014, the required valid teaching experience does not need to be in the subject area of the certificate held to be acceptable for the Professional certificate.

Please note that if individuals hold multiple Initial teacher certificates, they may combine valid teaching experience gained under each of their certificates to satisfy the teaching experience requirement for Professional certification. However, individuals who taught three or more years in one subject area must apply for the Professional certificate in that subject area as their first Professional Certificate.Ìý

Acceptable Experience in Early Childhood Settings

The settings in which individuals, who hold or held Initial Early Childhood Education certification, could gain the valid teaching experience required for the Professional Early Childhood Education certificate includes, but is not limited to, the early childhood settings listed below. Please see the to see the full, up-to-date list of settings in which individuals could meet the teaching experience requirement for Professional certification.

  • Head Start programs approved by the U.S. Department of Education
  • Licensed day care centers through the
  • School-Based Child Care programs recognized by the
  • Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) approved by the
  • Voluntary Registered Nursery Schools and Kindergartens through ¶¶Òõapp

Teachers who have questions about certification requirements can contact the Office of Teaching Initiatives at tcert@nysed.gov. For questions regarding UPK programming, please contact the Office of Early Learning at OEL@nysed.gov.Ìý

PDF Version of Memo

PDF icon Acceptable Experience for Professional Teacher Certification in Early Childhood Settings