Early childhood educators seeking employment in New York must obtain certification from the New York State Department of Education, allowing them to teach children from birth through second grade. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data from May 2013, New York boasted the second-highest number of preschool teachers in the United States, with a total of 27,930 early childhood educators in the state.
Furthermore, New York offers the most attractive annual salaries to preschool teachers compared to any other state in the country. In May 2013, the average annual salary for preschool teachers in New York was $43,650, which was approximately $11,000 more than the national average for early childhood educators.
If you aspire to become a preschool teacher in New York, you’ll need to follow these steps:
- Complete a Degree and Teacher Preparation Program in Early Childhood Education;
- Successfully pass the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations;
- Apply for your New York Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood Education;
- Maintain and continuously enhance your New York Teaching Certificate to meet ongoing requirements.
While Early Childhood Certification in New York may differ from the requirements for becoming a kindergarten teacher in North Carolina, both pathways share a common goal of preparing educators to positively impact the lives of young children.
Earn a Degree and Teacher Preparation
The New York State Department of Education offers multiple pathways for those aspiring to become preschool teachers, based on their educational background and experience:
- First Pathway: Enroll in a New York State registered teacher preparation program in Early Childhood Education (programs can be found in this database) along with earning a bachelor’s degree as a minimum requirement. Additionally, completion of a workshop on the Dignity for All Students Act is mandatory;
- Second Pathway: Undertake an alternative teacher certification program in Early Childhood Education while teaching under a Transitional B certificate. This path also requires the completion of a workshop on the Dignity for All Students Act;
- Third Pathway: Specifically designed for individuals already certified to teach a certain subject or grade in New York, seeking to add Early Childhood certification. Options include:
- Completing an approved teacher preparation program in New York;
- Completing specific college coursework, which includes 6 semester hours each in Concepts in Historical and Social Sciences, Scientific Processes, Mathematical Processes, and Student Developmental Level from Birth to Grade 2, along with 3 semester hours in Teaching Literacy Skills Methods;
- Additionally, a workshop on the Dignity for All Students Act must be completed.
- Fourth Pathway: For those who have completed a comparable, approved Early Childhood education teacher preparation program in another state and hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA. To verify if New York accepts your out-of-state credentials, an individual evaluation can be requested. Additional requirements include workshops on the Dignity for All Students Act, School Violence Intervention and Prevention, and Child Abuse Identification;
- Fifth Pathway: Applicable to individuals with a valid teaching certificate from another state or country, a bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.5 undergraduate GPA, and three years of full-time early childhood education teaching experience. Mandatory workshops include the Dignity for All Students Act, School Violence Intervention and Prevention, and Child Abuse Identification;
- Sixth Pathway: For holders of a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certificate as an Early Childhood Generalist with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. This pathway also requires completion of workshops on the Dignity for All Students Act, School Violence Intervention and Prevention, and Child Abuse Identification.
Experience for Prospective Preschool Teachers in New York
Joining a traditional New York teacher preparation program offers valuable experience for prospective preschool teachers. This includes a practicum for observing classroom teachers and learning techniques like classroom management. The second component is student teaching, also known as field experience or internship, where you’ll lead a classroom in an early childhood setting, handling tasks like instruction, student assessment, and lesson plan preparation. Evaluation of your performance will be conducted by both a mentor teacher and a college official. A minimum of 40 days in student teaching is necessary to qualify for certification as an early childhood educator in New York.
NY State Teacher Certification Exams Success
To embark on a fulfilling career as a preschool teacher in New York, you must fulfill a crucial requirement: passing the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTE) that align with your chosen pathway. The specific examinations you need to excel in depend on your pathway:
Pathway 1, 2, 4, and 5 Candidates:
NYSTEs – Reading and Writing to Sources:
- Tests Competencies in Reading and Writing;
- A passing score of 520 is required.
Educating All Students Test (EAS) – For Pathway 1, 4, and 5 Candidates:
- Evaluates Competencies in Diverse Student Populations, Teacher Responsibilities, English Language Learners, School-Home Relationships, Students with Disabilities, and Special Learning Needs;
- A passing score of 520 is required.
Content Specialty Test (CST) – Multi-Subject: Teachers of Early Childhood (Birth-Grade 2) – For Pathway 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 Candidates:
- Comprises three parts: Literacy and English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Arts and Sciences;
- A passing score of 520 is required.
edTPA-Early Childhood – For Pathway 1, 2, 4, and 5 Candidates:
- Assesses your readiness to take charge of a preschool classroom;
- These NYSTEs are administered at Pearson VUE test centers, including various locations across New York, such as Brooklyn, New York City, Rego Park, Elmhurst, Flushing, Forest Hills, Bronx, Albany, Latham, Utica, Monticello, and New Paltz.
Prepare diligently and strive to achieve the required scores to advance in your journey toward becoming a certified preschool teacher in the vibrant state of New York.
Applying for Your NY Early Childhood Teaching Certificate
Irrespective of your chosen pathway to become a preschool teacher in New York, obtaining your teaching certificate in Early Childhood Education is a crucial step. The application process is conveniently done online, along with a $100 application fee payment. However, certain essential documents need to be mailed via postal service:
- Official transcripts from all educational institutions attended;
- Copies of any teaching certificates or licenses from out-of-state, if applicable;
- Institutional recommendation;
- NYSTCE exam score reports;
- Experience verification form, if required;
- Substitute of Experience for College Supervised Student Teaching form, if needed;
- Fingerprint clearance (mandatory criminal history background check for all candidates).
Completing this process ensures that you are well on your way to receiving your Early Childhood Teaching Certificate in New York.
Maintaining and Enhancing Your New York Teaching Certification
Congratulations on achieving your certification as a preschool teacher in New York! Your Initial Certificate grants you five years to fulfill specific obligations. During this period, you’ll need to undergo mentoring in your first year of teaching and accumulate at least three years of full-time teaching experience. When you’re ready, your school district will guide you through the process of applying for your Professional Certificate.
Sustaining Your Professional Certificate through Professional Development
Your Professional Certificate remains valid on an ongoing basis, but you must complete 175 hours of professional development every five years to ensure its continuity. Your school district will endorse your Professional Development hours and submit them to the New York State Education Department while also maintaining your Professional Development records. Additional details regarding approved activities can be found here.
Childcare Provider Requirements in New York
If you aspire to become a childcare provider or preschool teacher at a non-public school level in New York, you must meet specific criteria established by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services – Division of Child Care Services. Training prerequisites vary depending on the type of childcare center where you are employed:
- Registered Family Day Care – Providing care for 3 to 6 children in a residence: Staff members must complete 15 hours of training in their first six months of employment and 30 hours of training each year the center is registered. The training should cover the following subjects:
- Principles of childhood development;
- Record management;
- Nutrition and health needs of children;
- Safety and security procedures;
- Child abuse identification and prevention;
- Child day care program development;
- Child day care statutes/regulations;
- Child abuse statutes/regulations;
- Identifying, diagnosing, and preventing shaken baby syndrome
- Group Family Day Care – Providing care for 7 to 12 children in a residence: Training requirements are the same as for Registered Family Day Care, as mentioned above;
- School Age Child Care – Providing care for more than 6 children ranging from kindergarten through 12: All staff working 20 or more hours per week must complete 30 hours of training every two years, including 15 hours in the first six months of employment. The training should focus on the nine subjects listed above;
- Small Day Care Center – Providing care for up to 6 children (not in a residence): All providers, regardless of their hours worked, must fulfill the same training requirements as those for School Age Child Care, as described earlier;
- Day Care Center – Centers catering to six or more children (not in a residence): All directors and employees must complete 30 hours of training every two years, with 15 hours in the first six months of employment, covering the nine subjects mentioned above.
New York Preschool Teacher Compensation
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2012, early childhood educators in New York State received a median salary of $65,520 annually ($31.50 per hour).
In the Empire State, preschool teachers are required to possess an Early Childhood Educator Certificate issued by the New York State Education Department. With 9,580 actively employed preschool teachers in 2012, New York State ranks fourth in the nation for educators specializing in this field. Furthermore, the greater New York City Metropolitan Area boasts 3,510 preschool teachers, making it the second-largest concentration of early childhood educators among all U.S. metropolitan areas.
Salaries exhibit significant disparities across various cities within the state. Notably, preschool teachers in New York City command the highest salaries. According to U.S. News and World Report, Manhattan’s preschool teachers enjoy an annual median income of $46,750, which is nearly $20,000 above the national average.
For detailed salary breakdowns in New York’s major cities in 2013, the Bureau of Labor Statistics offers percentile data, as illustrated in the following table:
| Area Name | Employment | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage | Hourly Median Wage | Hourly 75th Percentile Wage | Hourly 90th Percentile Wage | Annual Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy NY | 980 | $14.51 | $30,190 | $13.34 | $16.17 | $19.30 | $27,740 |
| Binghamton NY | 250 | $12.88 | $26,790 | $11.02 | $13.61 | $18.88 | $22,920 |
| Buffalo-Niagara Falls NY | 1760 | $14.10 | $29,320 | $12.11 | $14.40 | $24.41 | $25,180 |
| Elmira NY | 70 | $16.58 | $34,480 | $14.63 | $21.02 | $26.82 | $30,420 |
| Glens Falls NY | 140 | $11.38 | $23,660 | $9.78 | $12.35 | $17.51 | $20,350 |
| Ithaca NY | 180 | $15.05 | $31,300 | $13.73 | $16.35 | $19.68 | $28,560 |
| Kingston NY | 130 | $15.34 | $31,900 | $12.63 | $14.53 | $29.53 | $26,270 |
| Nassau-Suffolk NY Metropolitan Division | 4080 | $15.75 | $32,760 | $13.17 | $17.36 | $27.92 | $27,390 |
| New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island NY-NJ-PA | 30170 | $21.46 | $44,650 | $18.22 | $27.43 | $39.59 | $37,900 |
| New York-White Plains-Wayne NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 18880 | $24.19 | $50,320 | $21.40 | $32.01 | $42.52 | $44,510 |
| Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown NY | 1050 | $14.46 | $30,070 | $13.43 | $16.38 | $20.18 | $27,920 |
| Rochester NY | 920 | $16.03 | $33,340 | $13.47 | $19.98 | $27.26 | $28,020 |
| Syracuse NY | 720 | $14.46 | $30,080 | $12.51 | $14.40 | $25.87 | $26,020 |
| Utica-Rome NY | 340 | $15.91 | $33,090 | $12.42 | $21.09 | $28.68 | $25,840 |
| Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | 420 | $15.58 | $32,410 | $14.70 | $17.74 | $26.87 | $30,580 |
| East Central New York nonmetropolitan area | Estimate not released | $11.99 | $24,940 | $10.03 | $11.42 | $18.50 | $20,870 |
| Central New York nonmetropolitan area | 290 | $17.15 | $35,670 | $15.78 | $17.95 | $31.51 | $32,820 |
| Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | 570 | $17.77 | $36,950 | $14.38 | $21.55 | $34.60 | $29,910 |
Conclusion
Obtaining your early childhood certification in NY is a rewarding journey that can make a significant difference in the lives of young learners. This comprehensive guide provides you with all the information you need to navigate this journey and fulfill your career aspirations. Start your journey today and make a lasting impact in the field of early childhood education.