Scholarships For New York Teaching Students
New York students pursuing a career in teaching benefit from several scholarship programs. Some of these awards target future teachers in high-need fields, including math, science, and bilingual education. The state also provides full-tuition scholarships for teachers working on a masters degree. Some scholarships require that recipients teach for a minimum number of years in New York.
Teach NYC ScholarshipFull Tuition
Who Can Apply:
Math and Science Teacher Incentive Program$6,470
Who Can Apply:
TEACH Grant$4,000
Who Can Apply:
Masters-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship ProgramFull Tuition
Who Can Apply:
Mayors Graduate Scholarship ProgramFull Tuition
Who Can Apply:
Bilingual Pupil ServicesFull Tuition
Who Can Apply:
Elementary Teacher Job Description
Elementary school teachers play a pivotal role in society by helping to shape and educate our youth. They work with young children and help them develop skills theyll use inside and outside the classroom. They oversee the cognitive, social, and emotional development of students, specifically in grades one through six. In addition to developing and teaching lesson plans, they evaluate student achievement, maintain classroom discipline, and communicate student progress to parents and administrators.
Elementary teachers usually oversee one classroom and teach the core subjects: math, language arts, science, reading, and social studies. Typically, they teach all these subjects each day. As a result, elementary teachers must possess a broad knowledge of these main subject areas. They have to be just as comfortable navigating a sentence structure as they are leading a science experiment. With that stated, teachers in some schools may own certain subjects and stick to teaching those in the classroom, while students rotate to different instructors for other subjects.
Alternative Certification In New York
New York has an Alternative Teacher Preparation Program targeted at mid-career and career-changing professionals. This program consists of an introductory section followed by certification tests and then mentored, paid employment as a teacher. New York City also offers the New York City Teaching Fellows program, which is a subsidized masters degree fellowship targeted at increasing the number of highly trained teachers in the NYC public school system.
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New York Teacher Salary And Incentives
The average school teacher in New York makes around $83,000 – $85,000 per year depending on grade level, according to 2018 Bureau of Labor Statistics data. New York is one of the highest-paying states in which to teach, and also offers differential pay for teachers working in high-needs schools or shortage subjects.
Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.
Maintain And Upgrade Your New York Teaching Certificate

Congratulations! You are now a certified preschool teacher in New York! Your Initial Certificate is valid for five years, during which time you must fulfill certain responsibilities. You must be mentored during your first year of teaching and attain a minimum of three years of full-time teaching experience. When you are ready, your school district will instruct you to apply for your Professional Certificate.
Maintaining Your Professional Certificate through Professional Development
Your Professional Certificate is considered continuously valid. However, you must complete 175 hours of professional development hours every five years to maintain it. Your school district will approve your Professional Development hours and report them to the New York State Education Department. It will also maintain your Professional Development records. More information on approved activities may be found here.
Child Care Provider Requirements in New York
If you wish to become a childcare provider or preschool teacher at a non-public school level in New York, you must meet certain requirements established by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services Division of Child Care Services. Training requirements vary depending upon the type of childcare center in which you work:
- Group Family Day Care provide care for 7 to 12 children in a residence
- Training requirements are the same as for Registered Family Day Care above
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How To Become A Teacher In New York City
Teaching in New York City can be a challenging and rewarding career path. Public school teachers in New York City are employed by the New York City Department of Educationthe largest public school district in the country with over one million students and 75,000 teachers in 1,800 schools.1 Although the application process for teaching jobs in NYC is generally competitive, there are many opportunities available, especially if you teach a high-demand subject, such as science, math, or languages, or are interested in teaching in a high-needs area of the city. You will need teaching certification to work in the public school system, although this certification is not necessarily required in private and charter schools in New York City. Continue reading to learn more about how to become a teacher in New York City.
New York Teacher Benefits And Retirement
Benefits attached to education and teaching jobs can vary in New York State. New York City currently provides full-time teachers with health insurance coverage. Retirement in New York State is handled by the New York State Teachers Retirement System. Retirement in New York City is handled by the New York City Teachers Retirement System and the New York City Board of Education Retirement System.
Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.
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Application & Hiring Process
The NYC Online Teacher Application is required for all candidates who are interested in securing a full-time teaching position with the New York City Department of Education. For the current application period, you must possess a valid New York State teacher certification.
While our deadline has passed, we are still accepting and reviewing applications from individuals who are certified in one or more of the following areas:
- Early Childhood Education B-2
- English as a New Language
- Mathematics
- Students with Disabilities 7-12
- Bilingual Extensions
If you are not yet on a pathway to teacher certification, explore alternative certification pathways to teaching in this section of our website.
Occupational Employment And Wage Statistics
The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.
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Earn A Bachelors Degree At Minimum And Complete A Math Teacher Preparation Program
First and foremost, to meet math teacher certification requirements in New York youll need a bachelors degree at minimum in mathematics.
Once you have fulfilled the major requirements for the mathematics portion of your program you will need to complete an approved teaching preparation program as part of your overall degree. This is the traditional route for undergraduate students and one of the main pathways candidates can take to become eligible for teaching certification in New York.
Each of the following pathways has a specific program you will need to choose depending on what grades you intend to teach: Middle Childhood grades 5-9 or Adolescence grades 7-12. Choosing the right pathway depends on your individual circumstances:
- Approved teacher preparation program for undergraduates pursuing a math major
- Alternative teacher preparation programs for candidates who already have a degree in the field of mathematics
- Reciprocity for out-of-state teachers for candidates who are certified teachers in another state or who completed their math teaching degree in another state
- National Board Certification a route open to any candidate who is already a classroom teacher
Approved Teacher Preparation Program
Colleges and universities across the state offer hundreds of approved teacher preparation programs in math specific to the two grade range certification options in New York:
Alternative Teacher Preparation Programs
Reciprocity for Out-of-State Teachers
What Is An Elementary School Teacher
An elementary school teacher is an education professional who is licensed and trained in the areas of childhood education. They work at elementary schools, which typically includes grades K-6 and children 5-11 years old. They must have a diverse skill set to teach a wide array of topics while also handling young children and understanding their needs.
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Find Elementary Education Programs By Degree Level
As an elementary school teacher, you can start your career with a bachelors degree and continue your education with a masters degree for more job opportunities and higher pay. However, if you have a bachelors degree in a subject other than education, you can still teach with an alternative teacher certification. Learn more about the different degree options:
Explore Sponsored Program Options In Education

Sponsored
University of Southern California
Master of Arts in Teaching
The online Master of Arts in Teaching from the USC Rossier School of Education prepares you to become a transformative K12 teacher. Through live online classes and enriching field experiences in your community, you can earn your MAT in less than 18 months without relocating.
Harvard University’s Bok Center
Advanced Certification in Teaching
The 8-week Teaching and Learning Strategies for Higher Education online short course is delivered by Harvards Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, in association with HarvardX. Students in this course will engage deeply with the most relevant research on effective teaching methods in the higher education context, while refining their own practices, portfolio, and teaching philosophy.
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Physical Education Teacher Training Programs In New York
Every child deserves a well-rounded, effective education. When you turn your love of athletics and wellness into a teaching degree, you may help students learn to love sports, fitness, and healthy living. But before you can get started teaching, you will be required to earn a bachelors degree.
Many universities in the state of New York offer physical education teaching programs. Here is an overview of a few of the programs you might consider, including what makes each program unique and the average tuition cost you can expect to pay.
SUNY Cortland
At State University of New York Cortland, you will learn to integrate physical education theory into a range of teaching styles and strategies with an emphasis on hands-on learning. Their 126-credit hour physical education program leads to certification to teach P.E. in any school for grades K-12. They offer two concentration options in Adapted Physical Education and Outdoor Adventure Education. Undergraduate students with New York residency can expect to pay $3,535 per semester for this program.
Adelphi University
Located about an hour outside of New York City, Adelphi University will help you learn not just how to teach, but how to best work in a complex, multi-cultural society and nurture inclusive communities.
All programs lead to teaching certification, and you can expect to pay an average of $19,235 per semester for undergraduate courses. Tuition for graduate physical education programs is $1,375 per credit hour.
Certification Reciprocity In New York
Interstate teacher certification reciprocity is a program that allows teachers who are certified in one state to teach in another state without having to go through all the steps required to earn a teacher certification in that state. Find out more about the New York Completion of a College Teacher Education Program in Another U.S. State pathway. If you have more specific questions about your teaching situation, please contact the New York State Education Department.
To find out what other state teaching licenses can be used in New York, check out our Teacher Certification Reciprocity page on Teach.com.
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New York State Teaching Certification Requirements
Getting a teaching license is the most important step in becoming a teacher in New York state. There are a number of paths individuals can follow to meet New York state teaching certification requirements. But generally speaking, prospective teachers must hold a bachelor’s degree, complete an approved teacher preparation program, receive a passing grade on required exams, and pass a background check. Depending on what subject and grade level you plan to teach, you may need to meet additional specific criteria. Check out the New York City Department of Education for more information about teaching certification requirements.
To receive a teaching certificate in New York, public teachers must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. The degree can be in any subject it does not have to be in teaching or education.
New York also requires that prospective teachers complete an approved teacher preparation program. The state maintains a database of approved programs within New York. Individuals who complete teacher prep programs in other states may be eligible to get their certificate without completing an additional program in New York, as long as it is found to be comparable to New York’s approved programs. Many bachelor’s and master’s programs in education include these types of programs as part of their curricula.
Choose What You Want To Teach
First, you need to consider in which setting you would like to teach. For example, would you like to see yourself teaching in elementary, middle, or high school? Would you like to be in special education? If you have a passion for a specific subject, perhaps you can consider becoming a high school teacher. If you prefer teaching multiple subjects, you might enjoy teaching elementary school. Answering these questions will determine some of the steps you take.
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Elementary Education Program Outline
The program outline indicates the types of courses you need to take in Elementary Education. A significant number of required courses in the first two years are liberal art courses. Starting from your third year, you will begin to take the professional educational courses, the elementary education core courses, and the academic content electives. Your final semester involves student teaching, one of your experiential learning requirements, and the seminar in teaching course allowing you to simultaneously develop an exit portfolio based on the cumulative experiences you have had to indicate your accomplishment in the program.
The program experiences in the Elementary Education Program include five areas:
A strong liberal arts experience is essential to the success of being an elementary teacher. Liberal arts courses include experiences in English, mathematics, sciences, history, psychology, sociology, ethics, children’s literature, and microcomputing. These are the foundation of a well rounded professional elementary education teacher.
For more information
S To Become An Elementary School Teacher
While the process can vary a bit, these are the general requirements to becoming an elementary school teacher:
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New York City Teacher Shortage Areas
The US Department of Education bases some student loan forgiveness programs on teacher shortage areas, meaning that your chances of qualifying for loan forgiveness may be stronger if you are teaching a subject that has been formally identified as a shortage area. You may also qualify for other funding opportunities or a more competitive salary based on your endorsement. Note that shortage areas may change from year to year, so you should be sure to check with state education agencies, your selected education program, and your student loan providers about funding options. For the 2017-2018 school year, the following subject areas were recognized as shortage areas in New York City:4
- Arts
- Bilingual Education: Not Special Education
- Career and Technical Education
- Childhood and Elementary Education
New York City Teacher Certification Requirements

If you have a bachelors degree and completed teacher preparation from a recognized New York state program or a similar program in another state, you can apply for a traditional certificate. New teachers will be issued an Initial Certificate, while experienced teachers may be eligible for the Professional Certificate. Take a look at our New York certification page for more information.
If you did not complete teacher preparation as part of your bachelors degree program, you can complete this requirement while you teach through a New York alternative certification program. These types of certificates include the Transitional A certificate for career and technical education teachers with experience but no degree or the Transitional B certificate for teaching fellows who are eligible to earn the certificate while they teach through programs such as the New York Teaching Collaborative, which places teachers in the highest-need schools. Our New York alternative certification page has more information about these options.
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