To All Students:
Below is a chart which indicates the current exams for individuals applying for New York State Initial
Certification up to April 30, 2014 and the new examination requirements for ALL individuals who apply
for New York State Initial Certification as of May 1, 2014.
Current Exams
Assessment of Teaching Skills – Written
(ATS-W)
Teacher

New Exams
Teacher Performance Assessment
(Portfolio)
Educating All Students Test
Liberal Arts And Science Test (LAST)
Academic Literacy Skills Test
Content Specialty Tests (CST)
Revised Content Specialty Tests
All candidates for the Initial teaching certificate MAY take the current Content Specialty Test in
their field. Candidates who do not pass the current CST prior to implementation of the new CST
will have to pass the new CST. Candidates who apply for their first Initial certificate on or before
April 30, 2014 and who will have completed all of their requirements by April 30, 2014 will be
required to pass the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) and Assessment of Teaching SkillsWritten (ATS-W). Candidates who do not complete all requirements (including passing both the
LAST and the ATS-W) by April 30, 2014 will be required to pass the new Teacher Performance
Assessment, Educating All Students test, and Academic Literacy Skills Test.
Anticipated requirements for candidates graduating or applying for a certificate on or after May 1,
2014

All candidates for the Initial teaching certificate may take the current Content Specialty Test
in their field. Candidates who do not pass the current CST prior to implementation of the new
CST will have to pass the new CST. Candidates who apply for their first Initial certificate on
or after May 1, 2014—including candidates who will graduate from an approved teacher
preparation program on or after May 1, 2014—should not take the LAST or the ATS-W.
These candidates will be required to pass the new Teacher Performance Assessment,
Educating All Students test, and Academic Literacy Skills Test.
With this in mind, for the Fall 2013 semester and Spring 2014 semester students applying to either
Student Teach or an Internship will NOT be required to take any of the exams before applying for
either course. However, in order to receive NYS Certification, a student will have to pass the
required examinations as determined by the date they complete the program of study and receive
their degree.
The requirement for taking certification exams prior to student teaching or an internship is a
school policy and will be reviewed during the 2013-2014 school year.
Additional information regarding the new exams and other Department initiatives in educator preparation
and certification can be found at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/resources.html