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Office of Teaching Initiatives

Certification

Transitional D Certificate – School District Leader

The Transitional D certificate was created for candidates who have exemplary service in leadership and wish to pursue a career change to become a district-level administrator (e.g., - superintendent of schools) in New York. The candidate must meet specific criteria to enroll in a Transitional D degree program – at an institution of higher education (IHE) located in New York. Additionally, the candidate must receive an employment commitment from a public school district or BOCES in New York in a district-level administrator position in the unclassified service (i.e., - not a civil service position).

The following table provides an overview of the Trans D certificate. Additional information is also provided below the table.

Transitional D Certificate– School District Leader
Description The Transitional D certificate is issued to permit the employment of an individual as a school district leader in a New York State public school district only. The individual must be enrolled in a New York State Transitional D graduate degree program.
Validity

Upon issuance, the Transitional D certificate is valid for up to five years from its effective date. However, if the student completes or leaves the program, the certificate is no longer valid. The Transitional D certificate cannot be renewed or otherwise have its expiration date extended.

The IHE is responsible for monitoring the TEACH system and informing the Office of Teaching Initiatives (OTI) if the candidate’s certificate is no longer valid and needs to be expired. See below for more information.
Leads to Professional Certificate
Application Fee $50
Paper Certificate Printed? No. Transitional D certification is verified in the TEACH system.
Documentation Required --- for Enrollment in a Transitional D Degree Program

Candidates must demonstrate at least three years of exemplary service in a leadership position in an organization (or organizations) and demonstrate the following accomplishments:

  • Developed and promoted a vision for an organization.
  • Collaboratively identified goals for achieving that vision.
  • Communicated effectively to promote goals.
  • Led data-driven long-term planning.
  • Made change through fact-based, ethical decision-making to overcome a challenge.
  • Established accountability for achieving goals and objectives.
  • Developed aligned professional development.
  • Supervised the management of finances and facilities to support achievement of goals.
  • Applied statutes and regulations in accordance with law and developed and implemented policies in accordance with law.

The candidate is responsible for providing documentation of their prior exemplary service to the IHE to enroll in the Trans D program. Any questions about that documentation must be directed to the IHE. Upon enrollment, the Certification Officer at the IHE would enter a College Recommendation for the Trans D certificate onto the candidate’s TEACH account.

Documentation Required --- in TEACH

The public school district must enter a Superintendent Statement (entitled “Transitional D – SDL”) onto the candidate’s TEACH account. It must also submit the documentation requested therein, confirming the job description, supervision responsibilities of the candidate, organizational chart detailing where the position fits in the district structure, and a copy of the board agenda item supporting the candidate’s appointment.

Upon enrollment in the Transitional D program, the candidate must immediately apply for the Transitional D certificate in their TEACH account. The candidate cannot be placed into a district-level administrator position until they have been issued a valid Transitional D certificate.

If the candidate has not yet submitted an official master’s degree (or higher degree, such as a doctorate) transcript to OTI, they need to do so. They can find information on how to do so on our Transcripts webpage.

If the candidate has not yet passed the School District Leader exam (parts 1 and 2), they will need to do so. Information about the certification exam requirements can be found on our Testing webpage.

Note: An exam waiver process was put into place by the Board of Regents last year for the content knowledge exam requirement. The criteria and an explanation of the process can be found on our Certification Exam Waiver page.

Progressing from the Transitional D to the Professional Certificate

To advance from the Transitional D to a Professional certificate, the candidate must complete three years of classroom teaching, educational leadership, and/or pupil personnel service experience in public or non-public schools. At least one of the three years of service must be in a position that requires certification as a school district leader while holding the Transitional D certificate.

Experience in an administrator and/or pupil personnel services position in a NYS public school district or BOCES can only be accepted if the candidate was working under an appropriate, valid certificate. Verification of paid experience must be submitted directly by the employer(s). NYS public schools, BOCES and NYS charter schools must verify experience by entering an electronic Superintendent Statement (“Classroom Teaching Experience”, "Pupil Personnel Services Exp" or "Verification of Admin Exper") onto the applicant’s TEACH account.

All other employers may use these forms:

Classroom teaching

Pupil personnel services

Administrative experience