How Do I Get Certified to Teach History in New York State with a Political Science Degree?
Certified history teachers can have a fulfilling career. The New York State public education system, nationally recognized for high student achievement, requires all teachers to gain certification. New York State public schools require history as part of the social studies curriculum starting in the fifth grade. You can become certified to teach history in New York State with a political science degree by following New York State's teacher certification guidelines.
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Instructions
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Search for the specific type of certification you want to earn. (In the Resources section, click on the New York State Application Portal link and then click on the "Teacher Certification Help" link. Select "Classroom Teacher" from the "Area of Interest" drop-down menu.)
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Select a subject area and grade level on the New York State Application Portal site. Select "Social Studies" from the "Subject Area" drop-down menu. In New York, teachers with a political science degree wishing to become certified to teach history should select social studies, as history is part of the social studies curriculum. Select which grade levels you would like to teach. Teachers with a political science degree who become certified to teach history can teach middle school students, high school students or students with disabilities.
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Select a certificate type. From the "Type of Certificate" drop-down menu, select "Transitional B Certificate," then click the "Search" link at the bottom of the page. Potential teachers with a degree in political science should select the "Transitional B Certificate" because the certificate indicates that you have earned a degree but still have additional coursework to complete. On the "Requirements for Transitional B Certificate" page, read the teacher certification requirements thoroughly.
Select another type of teaching certificates only if you have completed an approved teacher certification education program or if you have experience as a certified teacher.
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Apply to a New York State--approved teacher education program. Search the list of New York State--approved teacher education programs on the Requirements for Transitional B Certificate page (see Step 3) to find a program that best meets your needs. Fill out an application and pay the application fee, if applicable. Application fees vary from school to school.
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Order official transcripts from the school where you earned your political science degree; have that school send them to the school to which you are applying according to the application's instructions. The college or university where you earned your degree may or may not charge a fee for official transcripts.
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Take New York State teacher certification exams. Although many states require history teachers to take the Praxis subject test for certification, New York State requires all history teachers to take two additional tests: the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) and the Content Specialty Test (CST). (See the Resources section for a link to the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations website). Read about the LAST test, the CST test and the best time to register to take the tests.
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Have your fingerprints taken (see link in Resources section). Your fingerprints must be on file before you can work in a New York State public school. When you get a job, obtain a fingerprinting card from your new employer's personnel office to begin the fingerprinting process. New York State requires employees to pay for fingerprinting, which costs $94.25 as of 2010.
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Tips & Warnings
Get an unofficial copy of your political science degree transcript, and match up courses you have already taken with New York State teacher certification requirements. You may be able to save time and money if you are allowed to transfer credits from your political science course of study to your new school.
Neglecting to follow all the steps required by New York State Education Department for teacher certification could delay the start of your new career as a history teacher.
