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Certification

CTE Certificate Types: Transitional A, Initial, and Professional

Career and Technical Education Certificate Types听

Individuals can choose the Transitional A or the Initial certificate type when they first apply for a Career and Technical Education (CTE) certificate in a specific subject area. The Transitional A certificate is valid for three years and allows individuals who need time to complete for the Initial certificate to work in a classroom as a certified teacher. To be eligible for the Transitional A certificate, individuals must have a commitment from a 91精选 State school, school district, or BOCES to employ and mentor them while they complete the Initial certificate requirements.听

The Initial certificate is valid for five years, during which time individuals work on completing the requirements for the Professional certificate. The Professional certificate requirements include completing additional specific education coursework, three years of full-time teaching experience or its equivalent, and passing the external website link.听

The following table compares the Transitional A, Initial, and Professional certificate features, including the requirements and validity period of the certificates. The baseline certificate requirements for each pathway/option are the same across all certificate types (e.g., Option A requires an associate鈥檚 degree or higher within the Transitional A, Initial, and Professional certificate types).听

Certificate Features Transitional A Certificate Initial Certificate Professional Certificate

Diploma/Degree

Varies by
pathway/option

Varies by pathway/option

Varies by
pathway/option

Education coursework at the college level

None

9 semester hours

18 semester hours (SH), including the previous 9 SH from the Initial certificate

Employment commitment

Yes

No

No

Certification test

Option B only: 听external website link

None

听external website link

Work experience

Varies by
pathway/option

Varies by pathway/option

Varies by
pathway/option

Teaching experience

None

Student teaching or 40 days of paid teaching experience

Three years full-time or 540 full-time equivalent days

Validity

3 years

5 years

Continuously valid