Certification Workshops
If you are seeking an initial teaching certification in New York State, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires you to complete three* teacher certification workshops:
Registration is open to all. Please use the links above to register.
All three of these workshops are offered through a collaboration between the Office of Teacher Education and TC Academy at Teachers College, and will be offered through remote formats until further notice. Our Child Abuse Identification and School Violence Prevention workshops take place through live Zoom sessions, while our DASA workshops take place through a combination of a 3-hour online asynchronous component and a 3-hour live Zoom session.
*Important Note: Students seeking certification in Teaching Students with Disabilities are also required to complete coursework or a training in the Needs of Children with Autism. Please consult with your program advisor to confirm that your course of study will address this requirement.
New York State Education Department (NYSED) Certification Workshops at Teachers College, Columbia University FAQ
What is the format for the NYSED certification workshops provided by the Office of Teacher Education?
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) certification workshops provided by the Office of Teacher Education (OTE) at Teachers College, Columbia University are all presented over live synchronous sessions on Zoom. Because the workshops are state-mandated and approved, participants must have their camera on and be in the camera field for the duration of the workshop. Please note other workshop providers may have a different format.
Is there any prep work I need to do prior to a workshop?
There is preparation work required from NYSED for the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop. DASA includes asynchronous assignments that MUST be completed before the on-line session. You will be given access to a Canvas course approximately ten days prior to the workshop. The assignments include watching pre-recorded videos and then answering questions based on the videos. The work should take 3-4 hours to complete. The deadline to complete the Canvas asynchronous section is 11:59 PM on the Wednesday before the DASA Workshop. If the work is not completed, you will NOT be allowed to participate in the synchronous session. This is per our agreement with NYSED. You will be able to reschedule the synchronous session one time for free. You will have to pay again after that.
There is no prep work for the Child Abuse Identification and Reporting (CA) and the School Violence Prevention and Intervention (SVP) Workshops.
How will I get the link for the workshop(s)?
You will receive a reminder email about the CA and SVP Workshops early in the week of the workshop and one reminder on the Friday before the workshop. Both email reminders will have the Zoom link to the workshop and any updates you will need to know so be sure to pay attention and read the emails.
I have an emergency and can’t make the workshop I registered for. What should I do?
Immediately send an email to ote@tc.columbia.edu to notify us of your emergency. We will help you in transferring to a later session. You have one grace transfer for your workshop but will have to pay again for the workshop for each transfer after the grace transfer.
Why am I being asked to make a TEACH account?
A TEACH account is what connects you to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the NYSED certification system and allows NYSED to know you have met this requirement. This is required for many that are NOT teachers as well, such as mental health professionals.
How do I let NYSED know I have completed the required workshop(s)
Once you have successfully completed a NYSED workshop, our Certification Team creates and uploads your certificate to your TEACH account. Please note that while you do receive a copy of your certificate from OTE, NYSED will not accept the certificate from you. It must be received through Teachers College which is why our Certification Team will do this for you.
NYSED Workshop Certificate Related Questions
Why is accurate demographic information on my completed workshop certificate imperative? Who provides it?
The information on the certificate is received directly from you when you register for the workshop. It is imperative to use your LEGAL first and last name, as this is how your workshop certificate will be attached to your personal file at NYSED that also requires your legal name. Failure to use your legal first and last name will result in a “lost” certificate as it will not be attached to your official file at NYSED.
When will I receive my workshop certificate?
Certificates are generated and emailed to participants by OTE within the week following the workshop. These certificates are also uploaded to individual TEACH accounts by our certification team. The certification team will also upload certificates to individual TEACH accounts of non-TC students.
I’m not a teacher but I need to complete a workshop for the Office of Professionals. Do I still need to make a TEACH account?
Yes. Our certification team will also facilitate the transfer of your certificate to the Office of Professionals for both TC students and non-TC students. The office will not accept certificates sent directly from you.
Why isn’t my full Social Security Number (SSN) on the workshop certificate?
Listing the last five digits of your SSN allows us to email you a copy of your certificate. The five digit format is acceptable to NYSED.
I do not have a Social Security Number. What should I do?
You will need to apply for a TAN Number. Send an email request for a TEACH Access Number (TAN) to TCERT@nysed.gov with “TEACH Access Number” in the subject line. If you are a TC student, once you receive your TAN, send an email to ote@tc.columbia.edu with “TAN Number” in the subject line and your TAN number in the email so we can complete your certificate and send it to you.
Please send an email to ote@tc.columbia.edu if you are a non-TC student without a social security number.
My certificate says ‘approved’ on the signature line. Do I need to sign it and email it back to OTE?
You do NOT need to sign the certificate or send it back. We use ‘approved’ to disable the editing function per NYSED.
I moved and would like my address updated on my workshop certificate. Can you please update the certificate?
We are not authorized to change any information on the workshop certificate except a legal name change. We have checked in with NYSED and an incorrect address on the certificate is inconsequential.