Steps to Become a Spanish Teacher in New York

<h2 id="section---CareerInfo">Career Info</h2> <p>There are several pathways to certification as a Spanish teacher in the state of New York. Each pathway has unique eligibility requirements depending on the candidate's educational background and prior teaching experience. The table below is an overview of the required education and examination requirements for Spanish teachers in New York. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Education Required</b> </td><td> Bachelor's degree</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Exam Requirements</b> </td><td> Educating All Students (EAS), Content Specialty Test (CST), and edTPA World Language Performance Assessment</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Certification Renewal Period</b> </td><td> 5 years</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>New York Educator Average Salary (2018)*</b> </td><td> $83,490 (for all middle school teachers) <br /> $85,3000 (for all high school teachers)</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026)*</b> </td><td>8% (for all middle school and high school teachers nationwide)</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics </i></p> <h3 id="section---Step1EnrollInANewYorkEducatorPreparationProgram">Step 1: Enroll in a New York Educator Preparation Program</h3> <p>The easiest pathway to certification involves a state-approved teacher preparation program. The state of New York separates Spanish teacher certification into grade levels, with one certification for teachers of middle childhood students (grades 5 thru 9) and another for teachers of adolescents (grades 7 thru 12). It is important to decide which certification you may want to pursue before enrolling in a teacher preparation program as some programs only have one of these two grade level certifications available. Once you have successfully completed an approved teacher preparation program, you must receive an official certification recommendation from your program's administration (known as institutional recommendation). </p> <h3 id="section---Step2CompleteTheRequiredExaminations">Step 2: Complete the Required Examinations</h3> <p>Once you have completed formal teacher preparation and received the required recommendation, the certification process continues with the completion of three separate examinations. The first is the Educating All Students (EAS) test, which evaluates each certification candidate in liberal arts and science skills as well as teaching theory. The second is known as the Content Specialty Test (CST), which will evaluate your Spanish skills. The third is the edTPA World Language performance assessment, where your ability to design and execute lesson plans will be evaluated. This examination includes the videotaping of a live lesson with students. Check the NYESD website for relevant instructions on enrolling for these examinations. </p> <h3 id="section---Step3CompleteTheRequiredTrainingPrograms">Step 3: Complete the Required Training Programs</h3> <p>Beyond the required examinations, all teacher certification candidates are required to complete the Dignity for All Students Workshop. This workshop is mandatory and covers the prevention of harassment and bullying in both physical and digital (cyber-bullying) settings. You can register for the six-hour program with several pre-approved providers across the state. Check the NYES website for the list of providers and reach out to them directly for registration instructions. </p> <h3 id="section---Step4PassTheBackgroundCheck">Step 4: Pass the Background Check</h3> <p>The final requirement for certification involves passing a criminal background check. The NYESD website has a list of pre-approved vendors who will process your finger prints to check them against state and national databases. Candidates must not have a criminal record or prior convictions in order to be approved for the certification. </p> <h3 id="section---AlternativePathway">Alternative Pathway</h3> <p>Those with a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution who did not complete a teacher preparation program must have a minimum GPA of 2.5, 30 semester hours in liberal arts and sciences, 30 semester hours in Spanish, 21 semester hours in pedagogical training, and 40 days of supervised teaching experience. Be sure to check the NYSED website for a list of relevant course specifications for each of these requirements.</p>