02.17 Teacher Certification in New York State

There are several degree programs at Eastman that can lead to the New York State Teacher Certification in Music. Much of the responsibility for obtaining certification resides with the student.

Bachelor of Music General
BM-MEG
Program Code:
23682		 Master of Music General
MM-MEG
Program Code:
32498		 Master of Arts General
MA-MEG
Program Code:
32497
Bachelor of Music Instrumental
BM-MEI
Program Code:
23682		 Master of Music Instrumental
MM-MEI
Program Code:
32498		 Master of Arts Instrumental
MA-MEI
Program Code:
32497
Bachelor of Music Vocal
BM-MEV
Program Code:
23682		 Master of Music Vocal
MM-MEV
Program Code:
32498		 Master of Arts Vocal
MA-MEV
Program Code:
32497

Professional Licensure and Disclosure Statement

In accordance with the federal regulation §668.50(b)(7) Professional Licensure/Certification (PLC) education requirements, the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music provides the following information for programs that lead to professional licensure or certification:

Per U.S. Federal Regulations §668.14 and §668.43, and in compliance with the SARA Policy Manual, the University of Rochester provides the following disclosure related to the educational requirements for professional certification and licensure. The University of Rochester has designed the curriculum for professional certification and licensure, that if successfully completed, is sufficient to meet the certification and licensure educational requirements in the state of New York.  For information regarding licensure in another state, enrolled and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact that State’s licensing body to review all certification and licensure requirements.

All of our approved certification programs are aligned with New York State Teacher Certification in Music requirements. To find out whether a New York State has an interstate certification agreement with another state please check the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification.

The Department of Music Teaching and Learning will provide students with the following:

  1. Appropriate coursework and advising;
  2. State Mandated Workshops offered early May of the spring semester prior to the start of the academic year you will be student teaching.;
  3. Two supervised student teaching placements, one in a setting that includes K-6th grade students and another in a setting that includes 7th-12th grade students.

Upon successful completion of required coursework, the Sophomore Review, the Pre-Internship Review, attendance at the State Mandated Workshops, and student teaching, the registrar will recommend the student for initial certification on the New York State Education Department TEACH website.

It is fully the student’s responsibility to:

  1. Create a TEACH online account
  2. Register for and pass two New York State Teacher Certification Examinations*. Both tests are written examinations, which we recommend you take in the last year of your program, after most coursework has been completed. 
  3. Apply for and complete Fingerprint Clearance.
  4. Through your TEACH online account, apply and pay for the teaching certificate. To apply for initial teacher certification a program code is needed.
    The program codes are as follows:

    • If you completed the BM-MEG, BM-MEI OR BM-MEV, the code is 23682
    • If you completed the MM-MEG, MM-MEI, or MM-MEV, the code is 32498
    • If you completed the MA-MEG, MA-MEI, or MA-MEV, the code is 32497

*Following are recent passing rates for Eastman teaching candidates for the two required exams:

Music Content Specialty Test
Academic Year 2023 100%
Academic Year 2022 100%
Academic Year 2021 100%
Educating All Students Test
Academic Year 2023 100%
Academic Year 2022 100%
Academic Year 2021 100%

Policy Handbook Table of Contents
Course Descriptions Index
Registrar Home