New York State takes pride in the high quality of its licensed and certified professionals. For the protection of its citizens, each license and certificate has requirements that individuals must meet in order to be licensed or certified in New York State. SUNY’s academic programs leading to licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed these State requirements and those of related accrediting agencies. This is a role SUNY plays in protecting the public.
Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV-eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in:
- the U.S. State where the institution is located and
- the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program1 or, if applicable, the U.S. State where such students attest they intend to seek licensure/certification and employment, and
- the U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements.
SUNY New Paltz's licensure/certification programs are registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in New York State.
In addition, SUNY New Paltz's undergraduate engineering programs:
are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Graduates from ABET-accredited bachelor-level engineering degree programs have met the educational requirements for licensure in all U.S states and territories:
Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, the Federated States of Micronesia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, the Republic of Palau, Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
and thus are eligible to become registered professional engineers (PE) in all U.S. states/territories by a process of two examinations (the FE and PE exams) and documentation of engineering work experience.
All other programs listed below do not meet, or have not been determined to meet, the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following U.S. States and Territories:
Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, the Federated States of Micronesia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, the Republic of Palau, Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Certification Programs:
Teacher Preparation, Educational Leadership, Pupil Personnel Services2
SUNY New Paltz possesses full and current accreditation from the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
Adolescence Education: Biology (BA, BS, MAT, MSED)
Adolescence Education: Chemistry (BA, BS, MAT, MSED)
Adolescence Education: Earth Science (BA, BS, MAT, MSED)
Adolescence Education: English (BA, BS, MAT, MSED)
Adolescence Education: Mathematics (BA, BS, MAT, MSED)
Adolescence Education: Physics (BA, BS)
Adolescence Education: Social Studies (BA, BS, MAT, MSED)
Biology (BA)/Adolescence Education: Biology (MAT)
Chemistry (BA)/Adolescence Education: Chemistry (MAT)
Geology (BA)/Adolescence Education: Earth Science (MAT)
Mathematics (BS)/Adolescence Education: Mathematics (MAT)
- All BA or BS Adolescence Education programs lead to eligibility for New York State initial certification to teach the listed subject in grades 7-12.
- All MAT Adolescence Education and dual-degree (BA/MAT, BS/MAT) programs lead to eligibility for New York State initial/professional certification to teach the listed subject in grades 7-12.
- All MSED Adolescence Education programs lead to eligibility for New York State professional certification to teach the listed subject in grades 7-12.
Bilingual Education Extension (Adv Cert) - leads to eligibility for New York State initial/professional bilingual/teacher extension
Childhood Education (MSED, MST 1-6, MST B-2 & 1-6)
- MSED Childhood Education leads to eligibility for New York State professional certification to teach grades 1-6.
- MST Childhood Education leads to eligibility for New York State initial/professional certification to teach grades 1-6 or birth to grade 2 and grades 1-6.
Communication Disorders (MS; accredited by ASHA) - The concentration in Speech & Language Disabilities leads to eligibility for New York State initial/professional or professional Speech/Language Disabilities teaching certification (TSSLD).
Early Childhood & Childhood Education (BS) - leads to eligibility for New York State initial certification to teach birth to grade 2 and grades 1-6
Literacy Education - All Grades (MSED)- leads to eligibility for New York State initial/professional Literacy certification for all grades
School Business Leadership (Adv Cert) - leads to eligibility for New York State professional School Business Leader certification
School Counseling (MS; accredited by CACREP) - leads to eligibility for New York State initial/professional School Counselor certification
School Leadership (Adv Cert) - leads to eligibility for New York State initial/professional School Building Leader certification and professional School District Leader certification
Second Language Education (MSED) - leads to eligibility for New York State initial/professional ESOL teacher certification
Social Justice Educational Studies (MPS) - leads to eligibility for New York State professional certification to teach special subjects (family/consumer science, health, music, physical education, technology education)
Teaching English to Second Language Learners (Adv Cert) - leads to eligibility for New York State initial/professional ESOL teacher certification
Teaching Students with Disabilities - All Grades (MSED) - leads to eligibility for New York State initial/professional SWD certification to teach students with disabilities in all grades; also leads to eligibility for multiple subject-area extensions
Visual Arts Education (BS, MAT, MSED)
- BS Visual Arts Education leads to eligibility for New York State initial certification to teach Visual Arts to students in all grades.
- MAT Visual Arts Education leads to eligibility for New York State initial/professional certification to teach Visual Arts to students in all grades.
- MSED Visual Arts Education leads to eligibility for New York State professional certification to teach Visual Arts to students in all grades.
World Language Education (MAT) - leads to eligibility for New York State initial/professional certification to teach French and/or Spanish in grades 7-12.
Licensure-Qualifying Programs
Accounting (MS) - leads to eligibility for CPA-150E licensure in New York State
Behavior Analysis & Interdisciplinary Autism Studies (MS) - leads to eligibility for Behavior Analyst licensure in New York State
Counseling Programs - lead to eligibility for Mental Health Counselor licensure in New York State:
Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MS; accredited by CACREP)
Mental Health Counseling (Adv Cert)
Communication Disorders (MS; accredited by ASHA) - leads to eligibility for Speech-Language Pathology licensure in New York State.
Geology (BS) - leads to eligibility for Geologist licensure in New York State
Music Therapy (MS; accredited by NASM and approved by AMTA) - leads to eligibility for Creative Arts Therapist licensure in New York State
Public Accountancy (MBA; accredited by AACSB) - leads to eligibility for CPA-150 licensure in New York State
Regarding Institutional Authority
It is important to note that SUNY New Paltz is not the licensure/certification authority in any U.S. States/Territories and cannot assess whether an individual candidate will be issued a license/certificate in any U.S. States/Territories. Instead, it is incumbent on each individual candidate to contact the licensure/certification authority in the applicable U.S. State/Territory for further guidance on that state's licensure/certification requirements and application processes.
Current contact information for applicable certification agencies and licensing boards is provided in compliance with the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) Policy Manual 24.2. Students may also consult NC-SARA’s Professional Licensure resources, including the Professional Licensure Directory, for additional information.
1SUNY New Paltz's Student Location Policy explains how the university determines student location for the purpose of compliance with federal regulations for professional licensure disclosures.
2NYSED's Office of Teaching Initiatives cannot determine eligibility for certification until an application has been submitted and a review of the applicant's credentials has been completed. New York State does not pre-approve teacher preparation programs completed in other U.S. States or Territories.
