Annotations and Extensions are offered for students who currently hold teacher certification and seek to extend their certification to a new area or to deepen their understanding in their current certification area.
Applying for Teacher Certification through New York State
Teacher candidates use the NYS TEACH system to apply for Initial and Professional certifications and need to pay the fees in effect at the time they apply. New York requires all teacher candidates to have a fingerprint/background check on file with TEACH, pass all appropriate New York State Teacher Certification Examinations www.nystce.nesinc.com> and have the appropriate years of teaching experience. New York State Education Department maintains a website with certification requirements: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/
DASA/Bullying Workshop
Per NYS requirements, all candidates in teacher certification programs must show completion of this mandated workshop. Students pursuing additional/professional certification must have this in place either through a workshop that is verified on TEACH, or through a completed state-approved course linked to their initial certification program.
Content Specialty Test
Teacher candidates adding an additional certification will need to take the appropriate Content Specialty Test in their new area of certification only.
Additional support may be obtained by contacting Nazareth University Teacher Certification Office at (585) 389-2051 or by email tcert@naz.edu, or naz.edu/education/teacher-certification
Academic Requirements
In keeping with Nazareth University and New York State Education Department regulations, all students completing an approved annotation, extension, or certification-only program must meet the following standards:
- Students must earn a minimum grade of B or higher in each and every course that is part of the annotation/extension or certification-only program, or the college will not recommend the student to the New York State Education Department for the program in question.
- The overall GPA within the annotation/extension or certification-only program must be a 3.0 or higher. For example, if a student is enrolled in or has completed a master’s degree program with an overall GPA of 3.2, but has earned a GPA of 2.9 in pursuit of an annotation/extension or certification-only program, the student will not be recommended to the New York State Education Department for the annotation/extension or certification in question.
- Graduate students must adhere to all graduate probation policies; within those guidelines students may have an opportunity to repeat selected coursework to achieve a grade of B or higher and/or an overall GPA of 3.0 within the annotation/extension or certification-only program of study.
BILINGUAL EXTENSION
Program Description: This program of study focuses on bilingual education. Teacher candidates who successfully complete this program will extend their New York State Teacher Certification to allow them to teach in bilingual settings of their original certification. For example, if a teacher is certified at the childhood level, the bilingual extension will extend their certification to include bilingual childhood level teaching.
Admission Requirements:
- Apply through https://www2.naz.edu/admissions/grad/how-apply/
- Two personal-professional statements as described on the application form: one in English, the second in Spanish
- One letter of recommendation that must address your commitment to working with English Language Learners in the field of education
- Proof of teacher certification
Required Course Credits:
Program Director:
Dr. Cindy McPhail
Golisano Academic Center, Room 294
(585) 389-2607
cmcphai2@naz.edu
Bilingual Extension Program Requirements (12 credits)
ESOL Certification-Only Program
Program Description: Teacher candidates who currently hold NYS teaching certification and have completed a master’s degree, and who are seeking to earn ESOL Certification are eligible for this program.
*Note: The New York State Education Department requires 12 credit hours of a language other than English for ESOL Certification. This prerequisite must be met prior to Nazareth being able to recommend candidates for ESOL certification.
Admission Requirements:
- Current NYS teacher certification
- Completion of master’s degree
Approval Process
Required Attachments
- An official transcript from the college where you completed your highest degree;
- A copy of your NYS teacher certification if available, or other printed documentation indicating that you hold certification (this may include a screenshot from your TEACH website profile demonstrating your completed certifications);
- A personal professional statement (details listed on approval form);
- Once approval has been granted for the ESOL Certification-Only Program, meet with Program Director for advisement and registration.
Payment - Students must be prepared to pay for the course(s) at the time of registration. Details of payment options can be found on the Student Accounts website.
Required Course Credits:
Program Director:
Dr. Rui Cheng
Golisano Academic Center, Room 297
(585) 389-2441
rcheng9@naz.edu
ESOL Certification-Only Program Requirements (18 credits)
GIFTED EDUCATION EXTENSION
Program Description: This is a distance education, nine-credit hour graduate level program designed for certified teachers who are interested in working with students who are gifted and talented, and would like to receive an extension certificate in this area. The program focuses on deepening teachers’ understandings of students with gifts and talents, of designing curriculum and differentiated learning experiences for students with gifts and talents, and of gifted education in the context of school organization and community.
Teachers who successfully complete this program will receive an extension on their New York State Teacher Certification: Extension in Gifted Education
Admission Requirements:
- Enrollment in a Master of Science in Education degree program at Nazareth University.
OR
- Apply through https://www2.naz.edu/admissions/grad/how-apply/
- Completion of the personal-professional statement as described on the approval form
- Proof of teacher certification
Required Course Credits:
Program Director:
Dr. Maria Hopkins
Golisano Academic Center, Room 285
(585) 389-5194
mhopkin8@naz.edu
Gifted Education Extension Program Requirements (9 credits)
TEACHING STUDENTS WITH SEVERE OR MULTIPLE DISABILITIES ANNOTATION
Program Description: This program of study focuses on deepening students’ understandings of teaching students with severe or multiple disabilities. Students focus on “Students with Challenging Behaviors,” based on an inclusive strength-based perspective.
Students who successfully complete this program will receive an annotation on their New York State Teacher Certification: Teaching Students with Severe or Multiple Disabilities
Admission Requirements:
- Enrollment in an Inclusive Education Program at Nazareth University (no additional approval or forms required).
OR
- Apply through https://www2.naz.edu/admissions/grad/how-apply/
- Completion of the personal-professional statement as described on the approval form
- Proof of teacher certification in Students with Disabilities
Required Course Credits: 6 credit hours
Students may take these courses as elective credit within the Inclusive Education: Additional Certification, Same Developmental Level Programs, and Childhood and Adolescence Education Professional programs. Completion of this annotation can also fulfill degree requirements in the Professional Program in Inclusive Adolescence Education.
Program Director:
Dr. Maria Hopkins
Golisano Academic Center, Room 285
(585) 389-5194
mhopkin8@naz.edu
Teaching Students with Severe or Multiple Disabilities Program Requirements (6 credits)
LITERACY Certification-Only Program
Program Description: Teacher candidates who currently hold NYS teaching certification and have completed a master’s degree, and who are seeking to earn Literacy Certification in Grades PK-12 are eligible for this program.
Admission Requirements:
- Current NYS teacher certification
- Completion of master’s degree
Approval Process
Required Attachments
- An official transcript from the college where you completed your highest degree;
- A copy of your NYS teacher certification if available, or other printed documentation indicating that you hold certification (this may include a screenshot from your TEACH website profile demonstrating your completed certifications);
- A personal professional statement (details listed on approval form);
- Once approval has been granted for the Literacy Certification-Only Program, meet with Program Director for advisement and registration.
Payment - Students must be prepared to pay for the course(s) at the time of registration. Details of payment options can be found on the Student Accounts website.
Required Course Credits:
- 15-21 credit hours - Up to six credit hours may be transferred in with program director approval if taken within the past five years and if appropriate to the certification program.
Program Director:
Dr. Laura Jones
Golisano Academic Center, Room 289
(585) 389-2634
ljones1@naz.edu
Literacy Education Program Requirements, Grades PK-12 (21 credits)