International Teachers

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Overview

Please Note: In order to work as a teacher in New York City, you must be a United States citizen or permanent resident. For the 2009-2010 school year, the New York City Department of Education will not sponsor international teachers who have not already met federal regulations to work here.


Certified teachers in countries and jurisdictions other than the United States may qualify for employment based on their credentials from their country of origin.  In general, international teachers must meet three requirements to be considered eligible for employment in New York City:

  • You must have completed an approved program of teacher preparation.
  • You must have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree, a minimum grade point average of 2.5 or above, a valid teaching certificate, and teaching experience in the same subject and grade level.
  • You must meet the necessary residency requirements for working within the United States.

To facilitate the transition of teacher certification from different countries, the Office of International Teacher Support assists international applicants with the paperwork related to teaching certification. For purposes of employment and certification, international teachers must meet the specific guidelines as outlined by the New York State Education Department.

There are two categories of international teacher requirements.  The first category has been outlined by the New York State Education Department with specific qualifying credentials for teachers from specific countries possessing the equivalent of a bachelor's degree and a valid teaching certificate (awarded as a result of completing an approved teacher preparation program). Most teachers from these countries will qualify for international reciprocity.  For a more detailed outline for any of the eligible countries, click here.

The second category of international teachers is for those teachers who are not from one of the above-named countries.  The New York State Education Department needs to make a determination of your qualifications based on your credentials in order to qualify you for certification.  If you are not offered a full-time position and wish to determine your eligibility to teach in New York State, please download an Application for Teacher Certification with Request for Evaluation of Foreign Credentials.