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Alternative certification to become a teacher

NYC Teaching Fellows by NYC Public Schools (Department of Education DOE)

Services Provided Apprenticeships and job training, College enrollment, prep, and completion, Internships and fellowships

Eligibility BIPOC Black, Indigenous, Hispanic/Latino, and people of color, CUNY student, Immigrant, Justice-impacted individual, LGBTQ+ Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and more, Low-income, NYCHA resident, Person with a disability, Public assistance recipient, Veteran, Woman

Schedule 6 months or more, Full-time

Last Updated Last updated on Jun 02, 2025

Next Steps

Train in a NYC Public School for 7 weeks and become a full-time teacher.

The NYC Teaching Fellows is an alternative teacher certification program that helps you become a full-time teacher. Work in NYC Public Schools while getting all your requirements to earn your initial teaching certification in New York State. Get seven weeks of extensive hands-on training experience in a classroom setting before teaching full-time. You will also get your master’s degree in education, with financial help from the program. The NYC Teaching Fellows timeline is as follows:

  • Training begins in June and concludes in early August.
  • After training, you will be eligible to begin working as a full-time NYC Public Schools teacher in September.

Who it's for Who it's for

You must meet these requirements to be eligible:

  • Completed Bachelor’s degree by the start of training
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5
  • Fluent in written and spoken English
  • Authorized to work in the United States
  • Never been certified to teach or completed a program that would lead to certification in the U.S. or Puerto Rico

Duration and Length Duration and Length

Summer training is full-time, from June till August. University coursework continues during the summer. During your first year as a full-time teacher, you get support and mentorship. Continue your master’s degree coursework into your second year until you are able to apply for initial certification in New York state.

Next Steps

Next application season opens in Winter 2025.

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