1. Teaching Assistant Certification
Hillary Brewer
WSWHE BOCES
Regional Certification Officer Supervisor, Teacher Registry

2. Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Teaching Assistant
Description- A teaching assistant is appointed by a board of education to provide, under the general supervision of a licensed or certified teacher, direct instructional service to students.
Duties- Teaching assistants assist teachers by performing duties such as:
Working with individual pupils or groups of pupils on special instructional projects
Providing the teacher with information about pupils that will assist the teacher in the development of appropriate learning experiences
Assisting pupils in the use of available instructional resources, and assisting in the development of instructional materials
Utilizing their own special skills and abilities by assisting in instructional programs in such areas as: foreign languages, arts, crafts, music and similar subjects; and assisting in related instructional work as required.

3. Levels of Teaching Assistant Certification
Level I- valid for 3 years
Level I Renewal- valid for 3 years
Level II- valid for 3 years
Level III- no expiration date attached
Must complete 75 hours of Professional Development each 5 year period to maintain validity

4. Requirements of Teaching Assistant Certification
Level I
Education - High School Diploma or GED
New York State Teacher Certification Exam - ATAS
Workshop - Child Abuse Identification
Workshop - School Violence Intervention and Prevention
Workshop- DASA (Dignity for All Students)
Fingerprint Clearance

5. Requirements of Teaching Assistant Certification
Level I Renewal
The Level I Renewal is only for those people that held a Level I TA certification, but were unable to obtain the 1 year of TA experience to qualify for the Level II or Level III
Education - High School Diploma or GED
New York State Teacher Certification Exam - ATAS
Workshop - Child Abuse Identification
Workshop - School Violence Intervention and Prevention
Workshop- DASA (Dignity for All Students)
Fingerprint Clearance
School District Recommendation- A NYS public school would enter this when hiring a TA that qualifies.

6. Requirements of Teaching Assistant Certification
Level II
Education - High School Diploma or GED
College Coursework - 9 S.H.
New York State Teacher Certification Exam – ATAS
Experience as a NYS Licensed Teaching Assistant - 1 Yr.
Workshop - Child Abuse Identification
Workshop - School Violence Intervention and Prevention
Workshop- DASA (Dignity for All Students)
Fingerprint Clearance

7. Requirements of Teaching Assistant Certification
Level III
Education - High School Diploma or GED
College Coursework - 18 S.H.
New York State Teacher Certification Exam - ATAS
Experience as a NYS Licensed Teaching Assistant - 1 Yr.
Workshop - Child Abuse Identification
Workshop - School Violence Intervention and Prevention
Workshop- DASA (Dignity for All Students)
Fingerprint Clearance

8. Completing the Requirements
Education Requirements
High School Diploma or GED
Submit a photo copy of document
College Coursework 9 s.h. or 18 s.h.
Submit official college transcript from college
Official transcripts are sent directly by a college in a sealed envelope
All documents must list at least the last 4 digits of individuals Social Security number.
If high school diploma lists maiden name and maiden name is not listed in your TEACH account, please also include a copy of your marriage certificate showing last name matching TEACH account.

9. Completing the Requirements
Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills (ATAS) Exam
All test information including preparation materials on-line at
Register for exam on-line
Exam fee is $79
Test is only available through an appointment for computer based testing
Results go directly to TEACH account 4 weeks after exam
Once exam result is entered in TEACH it will remain valid

10. Completing the Requirements
Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting , School Violence Prevention & DASA
All workshops required for anyone seeking certification through the NYS Education Department
Child Abuse and SAVE can be completed on-line in 2 hours each at
Child Abuse is $39.95, SAVE is $50- complete both for $74.95
DASA training is a new requirement. See for a list of approved providers. Cost will vary by provider.
Will receive Certificate of Completion that will be signed and submitted to NYSED
Once workshops are entered in TEACH they remain valid

11. Completing the Requirements
Fingerprint Clearance
Apply Online for Fingerprint Clearance & Appointment at Make Payment through account-$102 fee. Use ORI Number- TEACH
Schedule Appointment at nearest location
In some cases hiring school district will pay for associated fees. Process is slightly different.
Once Fingerprints are cleared through the FBI and DCJS- clearance will be listed in TEACH
Clearance remains valid

12. Completing the Requirements
1 Year Experience as a NYS Licensed Teaching Assistant
Work 1 year as a Teaching Assistant under a valid Teaching Assistant certificate
List experience in personal TEACH account and submit completed Verification of Teaching Assistant Experience document.

13. Application Process
All Teaching Assistant applications are completed through the NYS TEACH system
Applications can be assigned to either the NYSED office or to a BOCES Regional Certification Officer
Applications processed by BOCES RCO are generally expedited in a more timely fashion. BOCES will charge a $25 fee for this service.

14. Application Process www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert
Website will bring you to this page
Self-Register with TEACH first if you have not set up a TEACH account
Then click Login to TEACH

15. Enter Username & Password to Sign In
On the following Screen click TEACH Online Services

16. TEACH Home Page
Check on personal information or status of applications by going to Account Information
Choose Apply for Certificate to begin application
Level III TA’s can view their PD hours by clicking here
Can submit a payment here if began an application and needed to come back for payment

17. Read through information & then select Next

19. Once you have updated your Personal Information if necessary
Entered or updated education information
Entered or updated employment information
Then click Next
You will almost always get the message below
Hit Next until you are allowed to the following screen

20. Select certificate areas as above
Choose the Level that is appropriate for you
Then Click Add

21. Select the circle for Individual Evaluation Pathway
Then Select Next

22. After adding certificate- system will take you back to add another certificate
Click Next at the bottom of the page
Then system will ask you to assign to SED or BOCES RCO
Choose BOCES RCO

23. Finish Certification Application
Sign Affidavit
Confirm and Sign Application
Make Payment
Send all Documentation Attention:
Hillary Brewer
Regional Certification Officer
1153 Burgoyne Ave. Suite 2
Fort Edward, NY 12828