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Office of Teaching Initiatives

Teaching Assistant

Teaching Assistant

In response to the national teacher shortage and with input from NYS stakeholders, changes were made to Sections 52.21, 80-1.2, 80-3.7, and 80-5.6 and Subpart 80-6 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Teaching Assistant Certification have created expanded pathways for Teaching Assistants to broaden the scope of responsibilities and has created opportunities for teaching assistants to become teachers.

The TA I, II, III, TA I Renewal, and the TA Pre-Professional certificates will be phased out and replaced with the Initial TA, TA Pre-Professional, and TA Professional level certificates.

The Continuing TA certificate was phased out in 2004. If the Continuing TA certificate holder has not remained continuously employed as a teaching assistant by a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø State public school district, then their certificate is no longer valid per regulation. If they wish to become certified in the future, they will need to pursue one of the available certificate types described below.

TA Phase Out Timeline

Title Date
All new TA titles and Pathways operational 10/1/2025
TA I application active until 09/30/2025
All requirements met for TA I applications on file 12/31/2025
TA I Renewal application active until 02/01/2029
TA II application active until 08/31/2028
All requirements met for TA II applications on file 12/31/2028
TA III application active until 08/31/2031
All requirements met for TA III applications on file 02/01/2032
TA Scope of Practice
TA I, II, III, and Initial Pre-Professional and Professional
  1. Working with individual pupils or groups of pupils on special instructional projects.
  2. Providing the teacher with information about pupils that will assist the teacher in the development of appropriate learning experiences.
  3. Assisting pupils in the use of available instructional resources and assisting in the development of instructional materials.
  4. Utilizing their own special skills and abilities by assisting in instructional programs in such areas as: foreign languages, arts, crafts, music, and similar subjects.
  5. Assisting in related instructional work as required.

While under the general supervision of a teacher, perform such duties as:

  1. Working with small groups of children so the teacher can work with a large group or individual children;
  2. Helping a teacher construct a lesson plan;
  3. Presenting segments of lesson plans, as directed by the teacher;
  4. Communicating with parents of students at a school site or as otherwise directed by a teacher; and
  5. Helping a teacher train other teaching assistants.

TA Pathways

Click on the dropdown that best suits you:

I have never possessed a Teaching Assistant or Classroom Teaching certificate in 51³Ô¹ÏÍø State

Apply for the Initial TA Certificate

I possess a valid TA Level I certificate

You have the following options:

I possess a valid TA Level II certificate

You have the following options:

I possess a valid TA Level III certificate

You have the following options:

I possess a valid 51³Ô¹ÏÍø State Classroom Teaching Certificate

You have the following options:

New TA Progression Pathway
Initial TA
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Initial TA Renewal

(Available in 2030)
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Pre-Professional TA
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Pre-Professional TA Renewal
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Professional TA

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Old TA Progression Pathway

TA Level I

Phased out 09/30/2025
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TA Level I Renewal

(Active until 02/01/2029)
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TA Level II

(Active until 08/31/2028)
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TA Level III

(Active until 08/31/2031)
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Pre-Professional TA
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Pre-Professional TA Renewal
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Professional TA

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