College Recommendation

Teacher Certification

College Recommendation for NYS Educator Certification

What is College Recommendation?

Students who complete an educator preparation program at ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ can be recommended for a certificate provided that program has been registered by the New York State Education Department as leading to the designated certificate.Ìý The college recommendation is entered by the ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ Teacher Certification Office using the TEACH Online Services system (it is an electronic entry, not a letter).Ìý Students will be asked to submit a College Recommendation Request Form during the final semester of their program.

When should I request College Recommendation?

During the final semester of your educator preparation program and after you have applied for graduation on CUNYFirst.Ìý Please see the dates below.

Fall GraduatesÌý(January 1)
Deadline to Apply for Graduation:ÌýNovember 1
Submit a College Recommendation request: November 2 – December 10

Winter GraduatesÌý(February 1)
Deadline to Apply for Graduation:ÌýJanuary 1
Submit a College Recommendation request: January 1 – February 1

Spring GraduatesÌý(June 1)
Deadline to Apply for Graduation:ÌýMarch 1
Submit a College Recommendation request: March 1 – May 1

Summer GraduatesÌý(September 1)
Deadline to Apply for Graduation:ÌýJuly 1
Submit a College Recommendation request: July 1 – August 1

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Important

  • All program completers mustÌýapply for graduationÌýon CUNYFirst.
  • Candidates must have created & activated a TEACH accountÌýon theÌý.
  • You must have completed the required NYSED Workshops.
  • Your Social Security Number is required to access your TEACH Account.ÌýÌýIf your Social Security Number is not currently available on CUNYFirst please contact the Registrar’s Office to update your account.
  • Your name and identifying information (SSN, DOB) must be an exact match on all accounts and documents (TEACH Online, CUNYFirst, Workshops, etc).
  • The certification exams areÌýnotÌýrequired to receive College Recommendation.
  • Check your QC Email (@stu-mail.qc.cuny.edu) for messages from tcert@qc.cuny.edu.

NYSED Required Workshops

You are required to have completed the following New York State mandated workshops in order to receive a College Recommendation:

  • School Violence Prevention and Intervention (SAVE)
  • Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
  • Child Abuse Identification (Second Update) *This workshop was updated as of September 1, 2025.Ìý All candidates must have completed the .

The Autism workshop is only required for Students With Disabilities and Speech and Language Disabilities titles (included in program).

More Information:Ìýqc.cuny.edu/academics/se/workshop-information

Verifying Workshop Completion onÌýTEACH Online

Workshop completion will be verified on your .Ìý Check your TEACH account to confirm the workshop completion has been posted by going to the Workshops section of your Account Information page.

  • Log-in to your TEACH Account
  • Go to TEACH Home
  • Scroll to Inquiry Links
  • Click on Account Information
  • Select Workshops then click Submit
  • View your completed Workshops

If your workshop completion has not been reported to TEACH Online please contact the workshop provider.

How do I request College Recommendation?

Fall 2026 Graduates completing an educator preparation program at ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ on 1/1/2027, please submit the following form: (Form will be available November 2, 2026).Ìý The deadline to submit the College Recommendation request form is December 10, 2026.

Alumni who completed an educator preparation program at ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ on 9/1/2026 or before, and did not receive a college recommendation at the time of program completion, please submit the following form: .

When will I receive College Recommendation for certification?

Only students who have completed their educator preparation program, including the New York State mandated workshops, and have had their degree or advanced certificate conferred, will be recommended for certification.Ìý The college cannot recommend students for certification until the Registrar’s Office Graduation Audit Unit completes its final degree audit and the degree or advanced certificate is officially conferred/awarded on the transcript.Ìý The college recommendation will be entered on your TEACH Account within approximately 5 business days AFTER the degree or advanced certificate has been awarded on your transcript.

Graduation & Degree Conferral Info

Degree Conferral And College Recommendation Timeline

Degree conferral does NOT take place immediately upon completion of your program. After grades have been posted to your account and the college’s grading process is complete, a final review of your graduation application will be completed, and the degree conferral notation will be posted on your transcript. Participating in the commencement ceremony does NOT mean your degree has been conferred.

Fall Graduates
Degree Date: January 1
Degree Audit & Conferral occurs January through March.
College Recommendation is anticipated between January 4 and March 1.

Winter Graduates
Degree Date: February 1
Degree Audit & Conferral occurs February through April.
College Recommendation is anticipated between February 2 and April 1.

Spring Graduates
Degree Date: June 1
Degree Audit & Conferral occurs June through July.
College Recommendation is anticipated between June 2 and July 22.

Summer Graduates
Degree Date: September 1
Degree Audit & Conferral occurs September through October.
College Recommendation is anticipated between September 2 and October 1.

Periodically check your to see if the College Recommendation has been entered by going to TEACH Home → Account Information → College Recommendations.

How do I apply for certification?

Candidates who have received a college recommendation will be able to apply for certification via the application pathway.

  • Check if the college recommendation has been entered on yourÌý, go toÌýTEACH Home → Account Information → College Recommendations.
  • Student Application Information & Program CodesÌýcan be found here: qc.cuny.edu/academics/se/cert-application-info
  • Check theÌý of your application or view issued certificates by going toÌýTEACH Home → Account Information → Certificates.
  • For questions about your application contact the NYSED Office of Teaching Initiatives:Ìý

Please Note

College recommended applicants must also satisfy theÌýÌýand obtainÌýÌýbefore the certificate can be issued.

Fingerprint Clearance

Check yourÌýÌýto confirm that you have fingerprint clearanceÌý(go to TEACH Home → Account Information → Fingerprinting).ÌýÌýIf you see one of the following statements on your TEACH account –ÌýWe have received your fingerprint information from NYCÌýORÌýYour DCJS and FBI results have been receivedÌý– you have fingerprint clearance, no further action is required.

Students who have been fingerprinted by NYC Public Schools (NYC DOE) for student teaching and require their fingerprint clearance to be transferred to New York State for certification should submit anÌý.ÌýFor instructions on how to submit the OSPRA 104 formÌýclick here.ÌýPlease note it may take several weeks for the OSPRA 104 form to be processed and fingerprint clearance to be posted on your TEACH account.

More information:Ìý

Certification Exams

New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE)

Teacher Certification Office
  • î€tcert@qc.cuny.edu

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