Students interested in the optional NYS Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities initial certification program need to apply for admission to this track. This occurs during CSD 359 Pre-Clinical Observation in Speech, Language, and Hearing. Upon acceptance to this track, the certification option will be added to a student's Naznet program evaluation.

Students in the teacher certification program must maintain good standing in the major, must show signs of adequate progress toward meeting minimum GPAs (i.e. the 3.0 minimum major GPA for clinical work, the colleges' minimum 2.7 overall GPA for student teaching, and the minimum CSD GPA of 3.0 for student teaching as of Fall 2012), must meet minimum course grade requirements for student teaching (i.e. "C" or higher grades in EDU 204 and 475, PSY 221, CSD 335, 360, 361; and "B" or higher grades twice in CSD 362(L)), and must demonstrate professional behaviors consistent with those expected of teachers in order to remain in the program.

The NYS Department of Education requires all teacher certification applicants be fingerprinted and for those fingerprints to be cleared through the fingerprint registry. Information packets are available in the CSD Dept. Office. Fingerprinting must be completed according to NYS DoE guidelines and through an approved agency. They can be done by Campus Safety during designated hours. Because it often takes 15 to 20 weeks for fingerprints to be processed, and if there is a clarity problem they might need to be redone, it is strongly recommended that you complete this requirement in the Junior year, and at least one semester prior to student teaching.

The LAST (Liberal Arts & Science Test) and ATS-W (Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written, either elementary or secondary version) are New York State-mandated tests for Education and Speech-Language Pathology majors. Both tests must be taken before student teaching; a passing grade is required for initial teacher certification.

The LAST covers historical and social-scientific consciousness, scientific & mathematical processes, artistic expression & the humanities, and contains both multiple-choice questions & an essay question. The ATS-W also consists of both an extended written response and a series of multiple-choice questions. Test objectives fall into 4 main areas: knowledge of the learner, instructional planning & assessment, instructional delivery, and the professional environment. There are 2 versions: elementary & secondary. Most CSD students opt to take the elementary level exam.

The tests can be taken the same day. Each test lasts about 4 hours. The LAST is always administered in the morning and the ATS-W in the afternoon. Each test costs $70; the fee can be paid by money order, personal check or cashier's check. Registration materials can be picked up in the Education Dept. Office on the second floor of Smyth.

If you plan on leaving New York State for employment or graduate school, please check with the state to which you will be relocating. Most other states require the Praxis series.

For additional information about the New York State Teacher Certification examinations visit: www.nystce.nesinc.com