New York City corps members must pass two certification tests, the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) and the Content Specialty Test (CST), before the start of the school year in order to teach in New York City. Accepted applicants receive test preparation materials and information about certification requirements upon acceptance to Teach For America and assignment to the New York City region.
In order to be certified to teach in New York throughout the two-year commitment, corps members must participate in an alternative teacher certification program. All corps members receive master’s degrees in conjunction with their certification. Corps members currently participate in masters programs at one of six universities (listed below). The total costs for each of the university programs are also listed below.
University |
Approximate Tuition After Americorps Benefits |
City College |
$0 |
Lehman College |
$0 |
Hunter College |
$0 |
Pace University |
$2,250 |
Fordham University |
$5,550 |
Bank Street College |
$14,850 |
Teach For America established reduced tuition partnerships with these universities to make sure the program costs are financially feasible for corps members. Currently, most corps members use their annual AmeriCorps education award ($4,725 per year) to cover some or all of the certification program costs. These awards are distributed after corps members’ first and second years of teaching. Due to their higher tuition costs, Fordham University and Bank Street College are optional programs for corps members.
Corps members’ classes and coursework differ between university programs. These university partner programs and costs are subject to change from year to year and the 2009 tuition rates have not yet been finalized. All accepted applicants will receive regular updates on the university partnerships and costs for the 2009–2010 academic year.
If a corps member is already certified to teach in New York State, and the certification is aligned with his or her Teach For America assignment, the corps member is not required to enroll in a certification program. Similarly, if a corps member has teacher certification in another state that has a reciprocity agreement with New York, and the certification is aligned with his or her Teach For America assignment, the corps member is not required to enroll in a certification program.
During the two-year commitment, all corps members without prior certification work under a Transitional B teaching certificate, which is valid for three years in New York state. Corps members can apply for a New York State Professional certificate, the permanent teaching certificate in New York, once they receive their master’s degree at the end of their two year university program. The Professional teaching certificate in New York State is maintained through participation in ongoing state-certified professional development.
At a Glance
| Costs to Begin Teaching* |
|---|
| Testing (2 exams): Early registration: $176 Late registration: $206 Emergency registration: $246 |
| Travel for testing (if applicable): $30-400 |
| Travel for placement interview (if applicable) $30-250 |
| Fingerprinting: $115 |
| Immunizations: $0 - 100 |
| Official transcripts: $60 (dependent on the institution) |
| Certification Workshops: $74.95 New York City teaching certificate: $50 - 100 *Subject to change |
| Costs to Maintain Emergency Credential |
|---|
| Not Applicable |
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