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Certification Questions and Support
Please reach out to:
Kimberly Ashbery at Orleans/Niagara Boces
716-731-6800, ext. 2236
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to Noon
Glen Jeffers at NYSUT Certification Specialist
518-213-6000, ext. 6693
Mandatory Training for Certification (see below in red for who needs/does not need)
Dignity for All Students Training
Here is the link to approved providers for DASA training. Local providers are Orleans-Niagara Boces and Erie 1 Boces.School professionals (teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, psychologists and social workers) who are applying for state certification after December 31, 2013 must take this six-hour course. This includes members who are applying for new certificates (for example, paraprofessionals going from a Level 1 to a Level 2 or 3).
Members who meet the following criteria do not need to take the course: a) permanently or professionally certified; b) hired prior to 2004; c) Level 3 certificate holders (paras) and applicants for certification prior to Jan. 1, 2014.
Certification Requirement: Autism TrainingFor Special Education Teacher certification and for Administrator certification on or after September 2, 2009 a new 3-hour autism training is required.Coursework or Training in the Needs of Children with AutismEffective with applications submitted after September 1, 2009, all candidates for a Classroom Teaching certificate in all areas of Special Education are required to complete coursework or training from a State Education Department approved provider of such training.
This requirement applies to three groups of applicants:- After September 1, 2009 applicants for an Initial certificate in one of the following certificate titles:
- Students with Disabilities Early Childhood Birth – Grade 2
- Students with Disabilities Childhood Grades 1-6
- Students with Disabilities Middle Childhood Generalist Grades 5-9
- Students with Disabilities Middle Childhood Academic Subjects Grades 5-9
- Students with Disabilities Adolescence Academic Subjects Grades 7-12
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Blind and Visually Impaired
- Speech and Language Disabilities
- After September 1, 2009, for a Professional certificate in the certificate titles listed in #1.
- After September 1, 2009, applicants holding a Provisional certificate and progressing to the Permanent certificate in each of the following certificate titles:
- Special Education
- Deaf and Hearing Impaired
- Blind and Partially Sighted
- Speech and Hearing Handicapped
The Office of College and University Evaluations maintains a listing of approved providers of the Coursework or Training in the Needs of Students with Autism. There you will find approved providers listed alphabetically by city. After completing the minimum three clock hours of coursework or training, send the approved provider’s certificate of completion to the Office of Teaching Initiatives at 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12234.
Any individual completing a New York State registered teacher education program leading to a recommendation for any of the certificate titles listed above on or after September 1, 2008, will have had the required coursework or training in the needs of students with autism included in their special education program. These individuals do not need to submit documentation for this requirement.
Training Workshops can be taken from the following SED Approved Providers:More providers will be receiving approval.SAVE Course Online (Violence Prevention, Identification of Child Abuse)Required for NYS certificationfee using credit card $50 for Violence Prevention and $40 for Identification of Child Abuse (discount if you take both together online: $75)Violence prevention course is also available on specific dates through the Orleans-Niagara BOCES Center for School Improvement and Professional Development (Check under "Current Offerings")Fee for this course is $35 payable to ON Boces.Teacher and Teaching Assistant Certification Information: NYS Education Department siteTeacher and Teaching Assistant Certification Officer:Nicole BensleyON Boces in Medina(800) 836-7510 x2236 BOCES school days 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.If you do not reach her by phone, you WILL NOT be allowed to leave a message.It may be more effective to contact her via email at:NYSUT certification hotline:1-800-342-9810 or 518-213-6000Teacher and Teaching Assistant Certification Testing InformationPreparation Guides are available for all tests online at the website listed above.Register online or by mail. All forms and information are available on the website.Register for the Buffalo location. When they know the number of registrants for a specific date, they select the location. You will be notified of the exact location in Buffalo when you receive your admission ticket.Fees:Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills (ATAS)..........................................$35Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST)........................................................$88Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W).........................................$88Content Specialty Test (CST)......................................................................$88Communication and Quantitative Skills Test (CQST)....................................$88Assessment of Teaching Skills-Performance (ATS-P video)..........................$145Late Registration..........................................................................................$30Emergency Registration................................................................................$70 - After September 1, 2009 applicants for an Initial certificate in one of the following certificate titles: