Question about Teacher certification - I'm so confused!

Hello, teachers! I was wondering if anyone knows the answer to this. I have my initial certification in Childhood Ed. (1 - 6) and I want to get certified in Birth - 2 as well. I was told by my college that I would just need to take one more course in order to qualify. Has anyone else gotten certified in more than one area? I know to get my Professional certification I have to fulfill 3 years of teaching experience in my certification area within the next 5 years. But if I have 2 certification areas, do I need to fulfill the Professional cert. requirements for both areas, or just one? Meaning, if I get certified birth - 2 and work as a pre-school teacher for 3 years, will I be able to get my Professional certification for B - 2 and 1 -6? Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm so confused, and of course the NYSED website doesn't make it easy to find the answer! TIA!

Grace I have no idea but I'm bumping this for you. Somebody's gotta know!
I agree, the NYSED website is no help.

I saw this earlier and tried doing some research since I am in the same boat with the atrocious NYSED website. Im trying to apply for an initial cert & my professional. It suucks.

Your best bet would be to call BOCES. Theyve been pretty helpful with me!

Sorry thats all i know! Hope that helps, even a lil

I don't know about the new guidlines (which you are under if you have an initial certificate) but I hold an N-6 license... which i received after havign a dual major of early childhood education and elementary education. I taught 1 year of pre-k, one year of K and a year of 5th and I was able to make the certification permanent. I would imagine if you got a job teaching K-2, that would apply for both the early childhood piece and the elem. ed. piece. I clearly didn't have the two years in the upper level. I then have taught 3 years special ed. and have a permanent cert. in special ed. as well.

Hope this helps! Please feel to FM if you need anything. Also, LIF has a Teacher's Board where a lot of teachers post... you might get some answers there since now i'm an old fart when it comes to teaching.

I HIGHLY recommend the dual certification--it's a tough market out there. Also, many school districts are starting to offer universal Pre-K in public school settings so you would earn a public school teacher salary, but teaching Pre-K. A definite perk because otherwise, early childhood educators are grossly underpaid.