Pathways to Certification

The initial-only track is typically a one-year course of study that leads to an advanced certificate from UB and a recommendation for an initial teacher certificate issued by the New York State Education Department.

The initial/professional track is typically a two-year course of study that leads to an EdM degree from UB and a recommendation for initial and professional teacher certificates issued by the New York State Education Department.

You can receive teacher education from our Department of Learning and Instruction if you are seeking a master’s degree to advance your existing initial teacher certificate to a professional teacher certificate in the same area of certification. The department also provides program options for literacy specialists (birth–grade 6 and grades 5–12). 

All of GSE’s teacher preparation programs include a full-year, clinically rich residency designed to help you enter the classroom with confidence and skill. As a resident teacher, you will co-teach alongside an expert mentor for an entire school year while completing rigorous UB coursework. This immersive approach blends theory with real-world practice, giving you daily opportunities to apply what you learn and receive meaningful feedback from both your mentor teacher and university faculty. UB’s teacher preparation programs also offer funded residency opportunities through partnerships with local school districts, helping make your pathway into education more accessible.

In our teacher education program, two tracks are available if you are seeking an initial teacher certificate to begin teaching in public schools in New York State: initial and initial/professional. Options are also available if you are seeking a master's degree to advance your initial certificate to a professional certificate in the same content area. Explore our track options, including certification areas and the related coursework within each.

If you have completed the teacher education program at the University at Buffalo, and you are in the process of applying to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) for the issuance of a teacher certificate associated with the completed program, the links and information on this page will be helpful for you.