Student Teaching & Certification
Welcome to the Office of Student Teaching & Certification
Our office is responsible for early field experiences, student teaching, and teacher certification in Medaille College's Department of Education.
Buffalo Campus
81 Humboldt Pkwy
(716) 880-2623
(800) 292-1582 toll-free
(716) 880-2634 fax
Welcome to the Office of Student Teaching & Certification
Catherine Sedota
Director, Student Teaching & Certification
18 Agassiz Circle
Buffalo, NY 14214
catherine.sedota@medaille.edu
Susan Beier
Office Manager, Student Teaching & Certification
18 Agassiz Circle
Buffalo, NY 14214
susan.m.beier@medaille.edu
Early Field Experience
As part of the program requirements, all education students are required to complete early field experience hours. The number of required early field experience hours varies by program.
B.S.Ed. Education
- B.S.Ed. Adolescent Education with Students with Disabilities (Grades 7-12)
- B.S.Ed. Early Childhood/Childhood Education (Birth – Grade 6)
M.S.Ed. Adolescent Education
M.S.Ed. Elementary Education
M.S.Ed. Students with Disabilities
Advanced Certificate in Students with Disabilities
Student Teaching
Student teaching is the culmination of the educational preparation process. It is where students have the opportunity to utilize the knowledge and skills gained through coursework at Medaille College. This exciting opportunity allows students the ability to learn through a hands-on experience with the support and mentorship of classroom associate teachers and a college supervisor.
Medaille College student teachers participate in two full-time, eight-week student teaching placements. Student teaching requirements, policies, and procedures are outlined in the Student Teaching Handbook.
Associate Teachers
Associate teachers play a key role in the development of a student teacher. They may be called upon for advice in areas such as classroom management, planning and evaluating, and selection of instructional media. Associate teachers serve as mentors, modeling best teaching practices for the student teacher. The student teacher looks to the associate teacher for suggestions, guidance, support, advice, encouragement, and assistance in identifying areas of strengths as well as areas that need improvement.
The Associate Teacher Handbook is designed to serve as a reference tool during the student teaching experience.
Forms for Associate Teachers
Associate Teacher Stipend Form
College Supervisors
College supervisors play an integral role in the development and mentoring of a future educator. Serving as a liaison between the Office of Student Teaching & Certification, the associate teacher, and the student teacher, the college supervisor is responsible for observing and evaluating the student teacher, as well as guiding the student and their associate teacher through the student teaching experience.
Student Teaching Progress Monitoring Report
Teaching Certification
Medaille College offers education programs that lead to institutional recommendations in a variety of New York State teaching certificates. The Office of Student Teaching & Certification is committed to offering assistance to our students and graduates to help navigate the certification process. While we are glad to offer our expertise, please remember that certification is the responsibility of the individual student or graduate.
Jump to:
New York State Teacher Certification Exams
Fingerprinting
Certification Recommendation
Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) Application & Instructions
NYSTCE® Certification
New York State Teacher Certification Exams
Prospective New York State teachers must pass designated tests as a requirement for receiving state certification. The explicit purpose of these tests is to help identify for certification those candidates who have demonstrated the appropriate level of knowledge and skills that are important for performing the responsibilities of an educator in New York State public schools. Students should check their program handbook for the specific NYSTCE exams required for each certification area. Learn more about registering for these exams.
Learn about the fingerprinting process.
In order to be recommended by Medaille College for a NYS Teaching Certificate, each student must complete and submit the recommendation form to the Office of Student Teaching & Certification.
Ontario College of Teachers (OCT)
OCT Application & Instructions
Learn more about the Ontario College of Teachers.
Prospective New York State teachers must pass designated tests as a requirement for receiving state certification. The explicit purpose of these tests is to help identify for certification those candidates who have demonstrated the appropriate level of knowledge and skills that are important for performing the responsibilities of an educator in New York State public schools.
Students applying for NYS certification are required to pass the following exams:
EAS (Educating All Students)
CST (Content Specialty Test) in their content area
BSED and MSED Elementary Education students will take the CST: Multi-Subject exam
BSED Adolescent students will take the CST in Students with Disabilities AND the CST in their content area (example: Math, English, Biology, Social Studies)
MSED Adolescent students will take the CST in their content area (example: Biology, Chemistry, French, Social Studies, English, or Math)
MSED Students with Disabilities students will take the CST in Students with Disabilities
MSED Literacy students will take the CST in Literacy
edTPA (Educational Teacher Performance Assessment)
This exam will be completed during the student teaching experience.
NYSTCE® Exam Preparation
There are numerous options to help you prepare for the NYSTCE® exams, including study guides in PDF format on the NYSTCE® website. Other options include:
Purchase a practice exam from NYSTCE. Each practice test offers:
- Access to the sample test for a 30-day period
- Full-length test simulation
- Immediate feedback on your performance for the multiple choice questions
- Sample written responses for the constructed responses assignments
- A realistic online experience similar to an actual computer-based testing environment
Review the test framework
Explore the computer-based testing tutorials
Exam-specific web resources: