What Tests Do I Need to Take?

Testing Requirements for New York State Certification

New York State candidates for a first Initial teaching certificate in most certificate areas must achieve passing scores on the Educating All Students (EAS) test and the Content Specialty Test(s) (CST) in their area of certification.

Safety Nets for Certain NYSTCE Exams

At its May 8, 2018, and June 11, 2018, meetings, the Board of Regents amended §80-1.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to safety nets for teacher certification examinations. For more information, see "Safety Nets for Certain NYSTCE Exams."

Testing Requirements by Certificate

The table below lists test requirements for most candidates seeking certification. The New York State testing requirements for specific teaching certificates are available from the Office of Teaching Initiatives. Visit its website link opens in a new window for more information.

Certificate	Exams
Initial Teaching	Educating All Students (EAS) test Content Specialty Test (CST)
New York State Initial Certificates for Education Technology Specialist Teachers	Educating All Students (EAS) test Education Technology Specialist Content Specialty Test (CST)
Initial New York State Certificates for the Speech and Language Disabilities Teachers	Educating All Students (EAS) test
New York State Initial STEM Pathway Certification	Educating All Students (EAS) test
New York State Initial Certificates in CTE Fields—Option A	Educating All Students (EAS) test
New York State Initial Certificates in CTE Fields—Option B	Educating All Students (EAS) test Communication and Quantitative Skills Test (CQST)
New York State Transitional B or C Certificates	Educating All Students (EAS) test Content Specialty Test as prescribed by the Commissioner of Education
New York State Initial School Building Leader	Revised (Sept. 2013) School Building Leader assessment, Part One and Part Two OR Revised (May 2019) School Building Leader assessment, Part One and Part Two AND Educating All Students (EAS) test
New York State Professional School District Leader	School District Leader assessment, Part One and Part Two Educating All Students (EAS) test
New York State Professional School District Business Leader	School District Business Leader assessment, Part One and Part Two
Bilingual Education Extension to a teaching certificate	Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA) in the target language of instruction
Candidates seeking a Level I, Level II, Level III, or Pre-Professional New York State teaching assistant certificate	Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills (ATAS) (Progression from one level to another does not require that a candidate retake the ATAS.)

Questions? If after reading this guidance you have questions regarding the new certification tests, please submit them to tcert@mail.nysed.gov with "exam" in the subject.

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