NYS Certification - Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities

Initial Certification Requirements

NY State Education Department does not require United States citizenship or permanent resident status for the initial certificate. Citizenship or permanent residency is required for permanent or professional certification.

The CDS Department, through its Competency Based Teacher Education Proposal, approved by the State Education Department, provides initial teacher certification at the Master’s degree level only. Undergraduate students are not precluded from beginning to work toward fulfilling initial certification bytaking specified courses at the undergraduate level.

The CDS Department is only able to process applications for Initial Certification for New York State Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities for graduate students who have completed a major portion of the requirements within the CDS Department at the University at Buffalo.

Academic Requirements

The following outline of recommended courses to meet the requirement of 12 credits of teaching/pedagogy contains both undergraduate and graduate offerings. Equivalent transfer courses will be considered by the department through completion of a course waiver form accompanied by a course description and a transcript.

  1. MA Degree: Completion of degree requirements including 24 credits in speech and hearing development, basic science, and disorders.
  2. 12 credit in teaching/pedagogy covering learning, child development, and teaching methods
    • Two courses in CDS:
      • CDS 482/522: Diagnostics in Communicative Disorders (3 credits)
      • CDS 485/580: Speech Pathology in the Schools (3 credits
    • Two courses outside CDS (suggestions below):
      • CEP 400: Educational Psychology (3 credits)
      • ELP 405: Sociology of Education (3 credits) 
      • LAI 205 / SSC 208: Introduction to Child Development and Learning (3 credits)
      • PSY 336: Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
      • CEP 501: Psychological Foundations of Education (3 credits)
      • CEP 560: Psychology of Learning and Instruction (3 credits)
      • ELP 585: Sociological Bases of Education (3 credits)

Clinical Requirements

Minimum of 150 clock hours of supervised practicum experience in child speech and language disorders within the University at Buffalo Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Clinic through:

  • registration in CDS 595 and CDS 596 and
  • an educational setting approved by the New York State Education Department through registration in CDS 624 SCH: Communication Internship (6 credits)

New York State Requirements

New York State Teacher Certification Exam Requirement

Successful completion of the New York State Teacher Certification Examination (NYSTCE) includes passing the Educating All Students test (EAS). The NYSTCE is separate from the Praxis Series Specialty Exam (ASHA exam) which is required for the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC).

Teacher candidates should register for the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) online at www.nystce.nesinc.com. The current Registration Bulletin is also available on this Web site. It is necessary to apply to take the test by the registration closing dates specified in the NYSTCE Registration Bulletin which may be obtained at the Web site address listed above.

Child Abuse Identification Training Requirement

Documentation of completion of two hours of training/coursework in the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse. Recommended workshop: http://www.childabuseworkshop.com/

Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Training Requirement

Documentation of completion of two hours of training/coursework in safe schools against violence in education. Recommended workshop: http://www.violenceworkshop.com/

Workshop in Autism

Completion of a two-hour workshop in Autism.  https://www.autismautism.com

Training in Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention Requirement

Documentation of completion of a workshop complying with the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)- the six-hour course must be completed through a NYSED approved provider.  The University at Buffalo is an approved provider: http://ed.buffalo.edu/alberti/trainings/dasa.html

Fingerprinting

Certification Application Process

Complete and submit the online application found on the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of Teaching Initiatives web site: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach  No paper applications will be accepted by the NYSED. Use the State registered, approved program of preparation and the University's recommendation pathway.

After submission of the online application, complete and submit the CDS Checklist for Requirements for NYS initial certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities. Attach photocopies of the required documentation (NYSTCE-EAS score, Child Abuse Identification Training, Safe Schools Against Violence in Education, Autism workshop, and Dignity for All Students Act coursework) to the checklist and submit to the CDS Department office located in 122 Cary Hall. The applicant’s signature on the checklist will authorize the CDS Department to release information to NYSED.

Program Code/Name: 03843 – Communicative Disorders and Sciences

Certificate Title and Type: Speech and Language Disabilities – Initial Certificate

Upon submission of the online application and receipt of the checklist and required documentation in the CDS Department, the CDS Teacher Certification Officer will prepare the final audit of all teacher certification requirements and approve the online application.