Teacher Certification

The NYS Internship Certificate may allow eligible graduate teacher candidates to work as a paid teacher while completing their graduate program and certification requirements.

This option is designed for graduate students who have not yet held New York State certification in the same certificate area. The teaching position must match the certificate area and grade level of the graduate program.

The Internship Certificate is issued by New York State, but the STAC’s School of Education must review eligibility and submit the College Recommendation in TEACH.

Application and Eligibility Review
Before an Internship Certificate recommendation can be considered, candidates must submit an Internship Certificate Application to Dr. Lisa Castaldo, Director of Clinical Experiences.

Dr. Castaldo will review the application and supporting documentation to determine whether the candidate meets all School of Education and New York State Education Department requirements. As part of this review, she will verify the candidate, who should:

• Be actively enrolled in a St. Thomas Aquinas College graduate teacher certification program.
• Have successfully completed at least 50% of the program requirements.
• Maintain a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Secure a teaching position that aligns with the certification area and grade level of the approved program.
• Complete all required New York State mandated workshops.
• Have fingerprint clearance recorded and active in the New York State TEACH system.
• Have passed the Educating All Students (EAS) examination and the applicable Content Specialty Test(s) (CSTs) for the certification area, or provide proof of registration for the required certification examinations not yet completed.
• Meet all supervision, practicum, internship, or student teaching requirements established by the School of Education and the New York State Education Department while employed under the Internship Certificate.

Please note that receiving a job offer does not automatically qualify a candidate for an Internship Certificate. All applications must be reviewed and approved by the School of Education before a recommendation can be submitted through the New York State TEACH system.

If You Do Not Have a Job Offer
If you do not yet have a job offer, you may begin searching for positions that match your certification program. Before applying or accepting a position, please speak with your program advisor or the School of Education certification contact to confirm whether you may be eligible for the Internship Certificate pathway.

You may also request an “on track” letter if you meet the program requirements and are actively pursuing a position.

If You Have a Job Offer
If you receive a job offer, the school district or principal must provide a letter confirming (see sample here):

• That you are being offered a full-time teaching position
• The school name and location
• The grade level and subject area of the position
• The anticipated start date
• That the position matches your STAC graduate certification program

You must send the job offer letter to Dr. Castaldo with the application for review.

Supervision Requirement
Teacher candidates working under an Internship Certificate must be supervised by STAC program faculty and appropriately certified school personnel. Depending on your program and remaining requirements, you may need to register for a student teaching course or practicum while working under the certificate.

Dr. Castaldo or your program advisor will confirm the course requirement before the School of Education submits a recommendation.

Required New York State Workshops
Before the recommendation can be submitted, candidates must complete the required mandated workshops, which may include:

• Child Abuse Identification Workshop
• Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
• School Violence Prevention and Intervention
• Data Privacy Workshop (contact Dr. Castaldo for more information)

Additional workshops may be required depending on current New York State certification requirements and your program.

Fingerprint Clearance
Your fingerprint clearance must be recorded in your New York State TEACH account before you begin working. The School of Education cannot submit a recommendation if fingerprint clearance is not properly reflected in TEACH.

Applying in TEACH
After the School of Education confirms your eligibility, you must apply for the Internship Certificate through your New York State TEACH account and pay the required New York State application fee.

The School of Education will submit the College Recommendation in TEACH only after all requirements have been reviewed and approved.

Important Information
The Internship Certificate is valid for up to two years, but it ends earlier if you complete or leave the graduate program. The certificate is no longer valid once you complete the program, even if a later expiration date appears in TEACH.

Candidates should continue working toward all requirements for Initial Certification, including certification exams and program completion requirements.

Questions?
For questions about Internship Certification, please contact Dr. Lisa Castaldo at 845-398-4126 / lcastald@stac.edu, or your program advisor before accepting a teaching position.

Gain Practical Experience. Admission to Student Teaching.

Candidates make a formal application for admission to student teaching during the second semester of junior year or during the fall semester of the MST program. Applications and requirements for student teaching will be distributed by the Director of Clinical Experience during a Student Teaching Seminar six months prior to the practicum. Candidates will submit their completed applications to the Director of Clinical Experience during a formal interview. Applications will be distributed to candidates at a pre-student teaching orientation meeting.

To be admitted to the student teaching, candidates must maintain the required level of academic performance

• A minimum GPA of 2.5 in general education core courses
• A minimum GPA of 2.75 in teacher education courses and in concentration major
• Completion of all requirements (see Undergraduate or MST Worksheets in Student Teaching Manual)

Follow the complete path to NYS Certification:

• New York State Teacher Certification Exams
• New York State Education Department
• New York State Teacher Certification
• New York State Department Content Specialty Test Preparation Guides
• TEACH
• TEACH Services
• Apply for a certificate
• Check the status of your application
• Apply for a duplicate certificate
• View/update your profile (update address, request a name change or social security update, etc.)
• View your certification record
• View/add your professional development record
• Apply for fingerprint clearance
• View the status of a fingerprint clearance request