PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT

Your Certification Team

 

Loretta Waldron Regional Certification Officer Phone: 315 433-2628 Fax: 315 433-2650 Calls accepted: Monday through Friday 8:30 am - 11:30 am Assist and advise candidates in their efforts to secure NYS certification from the New York State Education Department, Office of Teaching Initiatives Provide certification information to clients in the OCM BOCES service area Evaluate applicants for NYS certification and submit recommendations for issuance of their certificate. Provide technical assistance to component school districts regarding certification regulations

Kenna Tavernia RCO Support Staff Phone: 315 433-2628 Fax: 315 433-2650 Calls accepted: Monday through Friday 8:30 am - 11:30 am Assistant to the Regional Certification Officer Assist candidates in the efforts to secure Teaching Assistant and Coaching certification Provides certification information to clients in the OCM BOCES service area

The OCM BOCES Regional Certification Office can be reached:

By phone: (315) 433-2628

Monday through Friday (8:30 AM - 11:30 AM only)

By email: certification@ocmboces.org

By mail:

Certification Forms:

• Classroom Teachers - Experience Verification Form
• Pupil Personnel Service Professionals - Experience Verification Form
• Teaching Assistant Level II or III - Experience Verification Form
• Mentored Experience - Verification Form
• District Superintendent Statement Request Form

Required Workshops:

For information on all NYSED approved workshop providers please visit: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/workshops-required-for-educator-certification.html

• School Violence Prevention and Intervention Workshop
• Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Workshop
• Needs of Students with Autism Workshop
• Dignity for All Students (DASA)

Submitting Official Transcripts:

Official College Transcript may be submitted using one of the following methods: 

• Electronic PDF Official Transcripts must be emailed by an approved third-party vendor to the NYSED Office directly at transcriptsoti@nysed.gov.
• Paper Official Transcripts may be mailed to the NYSED Office directly at: NYSED Office of Teaching, Room 5N-EB, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany NY 12234.
• Paper Official Transcripts may be mailed to the OCM BOCES Office at: OCM BOCES, Attn: Certification, P.O. Box 4754, Syracuse, NY, 13221. NOTE: Electronic Official PDF transcripts cannot be accepted by the OCM BOCES Office. 

Overview:

The BOCES Regional Certification Office is authorized by the State Education Department to evaluate and recommend certification for most certificate titles. If you reside or work in the OCM BOCES component district area you may wish to have us evaluate your application. Applications and materials that have been evaluated and submitted by Regional Certification Offices are given priority. Your actual certificate will be issued by the New York State Office of Teaching Initiatives.

The following certificate titles cannot be evaluated by BOCES: Adult Education, Bilingual Education, Career and Technical Education, Educational Technology, English to Speakers of Other Languages, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Education, Leadership Certificates, Statements of Continued Eligibility, Students With Disabilities Subject Area Extensions, Supplementary Certificates, and Technology Education.  Also, we cannot evaluate applicants applying through the Approved Teacher Preparation Program Pathways or the Interstate Applicant Pathways. However, you may ask this office to forward all materials to the State Education Department.

This office cannot perform informal evaluations. You must submit an application for certification through your TEACH Online Services Account and select the option to have your application reviewed by the BOCES Regional Certification Office. Evaluations are not done by appointment; they are completed in the order in which the application and supporting documentation are received by the Certification Office.

• To research all NYSED certification guidelines please visit the Office of Teaching Initiatives Website: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/
• To research certification requirements for teachers, teaching assistants and coaches visit Search Certification Requirements
• For information and/or to register for NYS Teaching Certification exams visit New York State Teacher Certification Exams
• Fingerprint clearance: Schedule your appointment with Morpho Trust or call directly at (877) 472-6915. The Service Code: 14ZGQT

Candidates may contact the New York State Office of Teaching directly at:

Office of Teaching Initiatives
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Ave., 5N EB
Albany, New York 12234
Tel: (518) 474-3901
Mon - Fri, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM