ART EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

What do I need to take or do for Initial Certification?
When should I take the tests?
What are the required seminars?
Where can I take them?

What do I need to take or do for initial Certification?

  1. New York State Teacher Certification Examination (NYSTCE) series:
    • Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST)
    • Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W) *There are two versions of the ATS-W: elementary and secondary. (Candidates for K-12 art certificate may select either version and we do not have a recommendation as to which to take.)
    • Content Specialty Test (CST) - Visual Arts
  3. Four seminars
  4. Fingerprinting

When should I take the tests?

Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST):
Sophomore or beginning junior year, after completion of most of the basic liberal art and sciences courses (general education classes).

Assessment of Teaching Skills -Written (ATS-W):
The department encourages AED majors to take the ATS-W while enrolled in AED302W. If you do not achieve a passing score, you will then have your student teaching semester to re-take the ATS-W prior to your job search.

Content Specialty Test (CST):
End of junior year when you have completed the majority of your studios and all art history courses.

NYSTCE tests are scheduled across New York State four or five times each year. Please obtain a NYSTCE Registration Bulletin from the AED Office, the Office of Teacher Certification, or the Career Development Center. This booklet offers answers to many questions in addition to your registration form(s) and Internet registration. www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert

A preparation guide is available for each test in the NYSTCE program. Preparation Guides can be purchased at bookstores, or can be viewed or downloaded (at no charge) at: www.nystce.nesinc.com. Each preparation guide contains information about the tests, test objectives, and sample questions.

What are the required seminars?

  1. S.A.V.E (School Anti-Violence Education Workshop)
  2. Child Abuse Identification Workshop
  3. Drug and Alcohol Awareness Seminar
  4. Fire and Arson Safety Seminar

Where can I take them?

Training in the S.A.V.E., Fire and Arson, and Drug and Alcohol Abuse workshops:

  1. On-campus: Call the Continuing Education Office at 878-5907, or check their Web site: http://www.buffalostate.edu/academics/cenc/
  2. Off-campus: Call your local BOCES. Click here for a list of BOCES offices.
  3. On-line: www.francisschool.com

Training in the Child Abuse Identification workshop:

  1. In-person, on campus: Call the Center for the Development of Human Services at 876-7600.
  2. In-person, off campus: Call your local BOCES. Click here for a list of BOCES offices.
  3. On-line: www.nysna.org. Click "Logon & Learn."

Registration forms are available in the Art Education Office (Bishop Hall 103) or in the Continuing Education Office (Cleveland 210).

The next level of certification is now referred to as Professional (formerly Permanent) which also requires three years of full time teaching and a masters degree in a related field.