Requirements for Instructional Certificates
STEP 1: Create a NJEDCert Portal Account
Create an account on the New Jersey Educator Certification (NJEdCert) Portal. Please review the following information:
- Use a personal email address you will have prolonged access to. TCNJ uses this email address in the nomination process. Notifications and updates from NJDOE will be sent to this email.
- If you applied for a substitute credential or other certification on or after May 31, 2022, you’ve already established your NJEdCert account. Please use this email address on the Application for NJ Certification submitted in the TCNJ Certification Online Application (Qualtrics form) in Step 2.
DO NOT APPLY for certification via the NJEdCert portal. The TCNJ Certification Office will nominate you for certification directly. See step 2.
STEP 2: Complete the TCNJ Certification Online Application
TCNJ’s Certification Office reviews all candidates’ certification materials to ensure they are complete. Our office uses this information to nominate students for New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) licensure.
Gather the following materials and upload to the TCNJ Certification Online Application:
- Application for NJ Certification – Please sign and date the application. This application is a PDF that you upload to the online certification application.
- Test scores – Praxis II subject tests or ACTFL oral and written test results – please include copy of your test scores in your application.
- HIB documentation (if applicable) – please include an HIB certificate or note the relevant course you took on your application (SED 99, ELE 99, ECE 301, ELM 695, ELE 90)
- NJ Health requirement – Take the NJDOE Health Test or note the relevant college level Biology course, such as BIO 104. If you are taking the test, please take a screenshot of the final page for your records. Here is a Health & Phys Test Review Guide for your reference.
Submit the documents via the TCNJ Certification Online Application. Please use the link provided on the TCNJ Certification Application Portal to complete a survey about your program experience. Once your application is submitted, you will receive an email verification; keep it for future reference.
Please do not complete the TCNJ Certification Online Application until you are able to submit all of the required documents at once. If you have questions or want to check you have all your materials, email the Certification Office at Certification@tcnj.edu.
STEP 3: Wait for an email notification from NJDOE (NJEdCert) that TCNJ has nominated you for licensure
- You will receive an email from NJDOE, subject: Your Teaching Certificate Nomination
- The email will ask you to either create an account or log into the account
- Select Apply Now and proceed as directed by the system to pay for the certification application fee.
Timeline and Notes
Only complete the online application after program completion or degree conferral dates have been posted on your PAWS account and official transcript and you have all your materials gathered. The Certification application process takes roughly 1-2 weeks.
Graduating this semester? Email the Certification@tcnj.edu with any questions. You may also send a preliminary Certification Application and your materials via email to confirm all your requirements have been met. Do not apply via the online platform.