What should I do if I am offered a job before I receive my certification?
Upon successful completion of your TCNJ program, conferral of your degree and the submission of your TCNJ application for certification, you can request a letter from the Certification Office for any school district interested in interviewing or hiring you for a teaching position that will provide an update on your candidacy status. If you have your Substitute Teacher Certificate you can work under that certification temporarily.
Where can I find the NJDOE requirements for the certification/endorsement I am pursuing?
Go to: Certifications and Endorsement page.
What clearances are required to participate in field experiences?
Criminal History and Background Checks are required. You will also need to apply for a Substitute Certification. For more information, go to Clearances and Obtaining a Substitute Teacher Certificate.
How do I obtain a copy of my fingerprints/criminal history background results?
The NJDOE and Identogo will not notify you when the background check is complete. You will need to sign into your account on NJDOE Office of Student Protection Services to obtain a copy of your clearance. Go to: Clearances and Obtaining a Substitute Teacher Certificate page for more information.
How do I get a Substitute Teaching Certificate?
If you are at least 18 years of age and have a minimum of 30 semester-hour credits completed at an accredited college or university, you can apply for your Substitute Teaching credential in New Jersey. You will need a copy of your background check and have TCNJ send your official transcript. For directions on the process and link to the application go to: Clearances and Obtaining a Substitute Teacher Certificate page. NJDOE takes six to eight weeks to process application. Plan accordingly please. For more information from the NJDOE go to their Substitutes page.
What is the state required Health and Physiology Test?
All teacher candidates must successfully complete a course in the Biological Sciences, BIO104, or register for the Health/Physiology test administered by NJDOE.
You can access the test here. In order to register, you must already have an account with NJEdCert and have a tracking number (found in your NJEdCert account). Please take a screenshot of your submission when finished.
DOWNLOAD THE HEALTH TEST STUDY GUIDE
What is the Grade Point Average (GPA) and Praxis Flexibility Requirements for Instructional Certificates?
View the NJ Gov Page on GPA and Praxis Flexibility.
PRAXIS/ETS FAQs
What is ETS Testing?
ETS, or Educational Testing Service, is a non-profit organization that develops and administers a wide range of educational assessments, including Praxis tests. In some cases, you will be required to complete PRAXIS exam(s). See New Jersey’s testing requirement by certification type.
IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT BASIC SKILLS
As of January 1, 2025, you are no longer required to complete the PRAXIS basic skills tests to receive a CEAS. The Governor signed A1669/P.L.2024, c.26, which eliminates the requirement to complete a Commissioner of Education-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills (Basic Skills) for all instructional certificates except for the limited certificate of eligibility (CE) and the limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing (CEAS).
How do I register for the Praxis II exam?
You can register online with ETS here.
*2023/2024 Praxis Test Codes for New Jersey:
Please see the 2023-2024 Updated Praxis Test Requirements.
IMPORTANT: Once you are registered, be sure to DOUBLE CHECK that you have signed up to take a test that NEW JERSEY accepts. Different states have very similar test names, but if you wish to be certified in New Jersey, you must register for ONLY those test codes accepted by New Jersey. Exams for New Jersey can be found here.
What happens if I fail the Praxis II exam?
The Praxis II may be re-taken. You do not need to pass the PRAXIS to graduate but you will need to if it is required for your certification.
Do Praxis II scores expire?
Unused Praxis II passing scores have an expiration date of 10 years.
Is there a middle school Praxis test?
Yes, teacher candidates applying for middle school subject area endorsement(s) must pass the Elementary Praxis II test and the subject specific middle school Praxis II test.
If I take the Praxis II in a content area for secondary education certification, do I have to take the Praxis II in the same content area for middle school?
No. A passing score in secondary content area qualifies the teacher for middle school instruction in that subject area.
How do I request accommodations for the Praxis II Test?
Accommodations for the Praxis exams and instructions for how to request them are on the ETS website:
https://www.ets.org/praxis/register/disabilities/accommodations/
Can I get support with the Praxis II fees?
Fee Waivers may be available for college students who meet certain eligibility criteria. Please refer to the Praxis/ETS site for more information.
Contact: Dr. Rachel Townley in the STEP Office – dawsonr@tcnj.edu
Can I take the Praxis II exam at home?
There are more than 70 Praxis exams that may be taken remotely.
Please note the following tips and best practices you should be aware of when taking Praxis tests at home:
- Candidates should add their state licensure agency or relevant association as a score recipient, as there is no “Automatic Score Reporting” for at home tests
- Candidates can add score recipients for free until three days after testing by contacting Praxis Customer Service
- Confirm equipment and environment requirements before registering
- Registration is a two-step process, starting with the test taker’s ETS account, then through their ProctorU® account
- Changing a date and/or time of an at home test can be done through the candidate’s ProctorU account
- Cancelling an at home test is done through Praxis Customer Service
ETS has developed videos to support the test taker when getting started with at home testing. The videos provide a preview of the entire testing from home process.
How do I request accommodations for a Praxis test?
Go to ETS Disability Accommodations page for accommodation requests for test-takers with disabilities or health-related needs.
How do I apply for certification?
We suggest you apply for certification through our own application process. We then nominate you to receive your NJ certification. The Certification office works hard to make sure this is a smooth and straightforward process for its candidates. You can do this for up to one year after you complete your program. For specific information on applying for your certification, please refer to our pages: Apply for Instructional Certificates or Apply for Advanced Certificates. Note: you can, however, apply for certification directly through NJDOE. Please refer to the NJDOE FAQ on Certification.
What type of certification do I need?
The NJDOE offers three certificates: Certificate of Eligibility (CE), Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS), and a Standard Certificate. Details on each certificate are available here. For information on the different types of Instructional endorsements and their requirements, see the ‘Instructional Endorsement Specifications’ section on the NJDOE Teachers page.
If you are still unclear, you should meet with your Program Coordinator or Department Chair for advisement or email us the Certification office at certification@tcnj.edu.
How long will it take before I receive my certificate?
Once your conferred degree has been posted on your transcript and you apply for your certification, the Certification Office will confirm you have completed your requirements for certification and begin processing to the NJDOE. The Certification Office process usually takes one week from your application date. Candidates will be issued their certificates instantly after accepting the NJDOE Nomination email and making their application payment.
Can I check the status of my certification?
Yes, this can be found by logging into your account on the NJEdCert Portal. If you do not see your nomination yet, email us the Certification office at certification@tcnj.edu.
What if I need to request a name change?
To request a name change, log in to your NJEdCert Portal account. If you do not have an account in the system you will need to create one on the NJEdCert Portal website.
How do I communicate with the Certification Office?
If you are not finding the information you are looking for on our website, email us at certification@tcnj.edu.