Transferring your teaching license from Washington to New York
Both Washington and New York participate in the NASDTEC interstate agreement, which standardizes how states evaluate out-of-state teaching credentials. Educators relocating from Washington can generally expect a streamlined review process, though state-specific content exams or coursework may still be required.
See 725 open teaching jobs in New York →Your current credential (Washington)
- Issuing authority
- Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
- License type
- Initial Certificate (3 years)
- Reciprocity policy
- Washington participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. Teachers with valid out-of-state certificates and 2+ years of experience may receive a Washington certificate; West-E subject tests typically still required.
New York certification
- Issuing authority
- New York State Education Department (NYSED)
- License you'll earn
- Initial Certificate (5 years (non-renewable))
- Typical timeline
- 12–24 months for Initial Certificate; master's degree needed for Professional Certificate (typically 1–2 additional years)
- New York reciprocity policy
- New York participates in NASDTEC but requires New York-specific exams (NYSTCE) in most cases. A master's degree is required for the Professional Certificate, making NY one of the more demanding reciprocity states.
Exams typically required in New York
Out-of-state applicants are usually asked to demonstrate content-area knowledge on New York's preferred exams, even when basic-skills testing is waived through reciprocity. Plan for one or more of the following:
- New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST)Academic literacy and reading comprehension
- NYSTCE Content Specialty Tests (CST)Content knowledge for your certification area
- NYSTCE Educating All Students (EAS)Knowledge of diverse learners and cultural responsiveness
- edTPAPerformance assessment during student teaching
Steps to transfer your license
- Verify your Washington credential is current. New York will request a verification of your active Initial Certificate from Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
- Apply through New York State Education Department (NYSED). The application packet typically includes official transcripts, prior teaching service verification, and a fingerprint-based background check.
- Sit for any New York-specific exams. Most states honor out-of-state content-area exams when scores meet their cutoff, but New York may require an additional jurisprudence or state-specific assessment.
- Apply to New York districts that match your endorsement. We're currently tracking 725 active openings — browse New York teaching jobs to start identifying districts.