Overview
Alternative certification programs offer an accelerated route into the classroom for career changers and recent college graduates who have subject matter expertise but no formal education coursework or training. The NYC Department of Education actively seeks and welcomes high quality candidates to consider an alternative route to becoming a classroom teacher. Candidates who are accepted and enroll in one of these programs typically complete a pre-service program of 1-2 months and then teach under a Transitional B state certificate while they are earning their graduate degree and other requirements for Initial Certification. While alternative certification pathways can be quite demanding, teachers who have entered our classrooms through these programs have experienced great success.
Candidates must already possess a bachelor’s degree to be accepted into an alternative program.
Individuals interested in alternative certification must apply directly to the particular program and not through the application link provided on this website.
Please see below for more information about the largest alternative certification programs in New York City.
New York City Teaching Fellows
The New York City Teaching Fellows (NYCTF) is a NYC Department of Education alternative certification program that recruits, selects, and trains talented individuals to become teachers in NYC public schools. Participation in the Fellowship does not require previous education coursework. Fellows use their diverse experiences, knowledge, and achievements to drive measurable academic performance in the classroom while working toward a subsidized master's degree and earning a regular teacher's salary and benefits.
While the Teaching Fellows program places teachers in many subject areas, the majority of Fellows will teach math, science, special education, Spanish, English, ESL, or bilingual education. Some candidates may be eligible for the Math or Science Immersion program, a special initiative that helps individuals with math or science backgrounds, but not a major, gain the credits they need to teach math or science in the City's schools. Most Fellows complete their pre-service program in the summer and begin teaching at the start of the school year. For more information about the NYC Teaching Fellows program, please visit http://www.nycteachingfellows.org/.
Teach For America
Teach For America (TFA) is a national corps of recent college graduates and professionals of varying academic majors and career interests who commit two years to teaching in urban and rural public schools in the effort to expand educational opportunity. For more information about Teach For America, please visit http://www.teachforamerica.org/.
Peace Corps Fellows Program
Based at Teachers College, Columbia University, the Peace Corps Fellows Program seeks to recruit small but outstanding cohorts of returned Peace Corps volunteer educators who are ready to make long-term, professional commitments to teach in New York City's public schools. Since 1985, the program has recruited and trained over 600 urban educators. As an AmeriCorps Professional Corps and Fellows / USA flagship teacher-training program, the Peace Corps Fellows Program provides AmeriCorps tuition awards and partial scholarships to select trainees.
Upon completion of a 15-week summer intensive training, new Fellows teach full-time in salaried positions at NYC public schools. Fellows make a minimum three-year teaching commitment and all related master’s degree coursework must be completed during this time. For more information about the Peace Corps Fellows program, please go to http://www.tc.columbia.edu/pcfellows/.
Teaching Opportunity Program
The Teaching Opportunity Program (TOP) is supported by the City University of New York (CUNY) system. Each year the program recruits participants in high need subject areas such as Math, Science, Literacy, and Foreign Language. TOP scholars complete graduate coursework towards a master’s degree at one of the senior campuses of the CUNY system. TOP scholars also have the benefit of being enrolled in AmeriCorps, which enables them to earn educational vouchers and take advantage of loan deferment.
NOTE: In addition to the above alternative certification programs, individuals without certification may also wish to consider a traditional teacher education program that provides more pre-service preparation as a pathway into teaching. In the New York City area alone there are over twenty colleges and universities offering approved teacher education programs. To see a list of approved programs, click here.