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Licensed Professionals

For the 2012-2020 Statewide Plan for Higher Education, the Regents adopted the following commitment: New York State is a world leader in education. Working together in a highly effective higher education system, the State’s colleges and universities – public, independent and proprietary – will demonstrate even greater leadership during the first decades of the 21st Century to continue to advance the educational and economic needs of the State and its people.

New York State also offers an alternative preparation model aimed at mature, second career professionals. Alternative programs are offered by colleges with local school partners. They feature an accelerated introductory component, followed by paid employment, with extensive mentoring, coursework and other supports from the college and school district.

Education Law §310 provides that persons considering themselves aggrieved by an action taken at a school district meeting or by school authorities may appeal to the Commissioner of Education for a review of such action. A §310 appeal must be initiated within 30 days of the decision or action complained of, unless the delay is excused by the Commissioner for good cause shown in the petition.

To help provide a broad range of services to New York State residents who, because of academic and economic circumstances, would otherwise be unable to attend a postsecondary educational institution.

The Federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act (Perkins IV / CTEA) provides funds to postsecondary institutions, preparing students to be more competitive in the world economy.

The New York State Education Department conducts site visits to determine compliance with federal Civil Rights Laws and Regulations as part of the State's agreement with the U.S. Department of Education.

The purpose is to increase the number of students from under-represented groups who are pursuing professional licensure and careers in mathematics, science, technology and health-related fields.

Driver & Traffic Safety Education in New York State schools is a course implemented via a joint partnership between the New York State Education Department (NYSED), and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The NYS Board of Regents has identified a regional grouping for all institutions of higher education in New York State to be used by the Office of Higher Education in its work relating to grant and contract funding, program registration and other activities administered by the Department.  This listing provides a quick reference of institutions of higher education to determine their regional designation and provides the State Education code number (SEDCODE) associated with that institution.

The Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) was established in 1988 under Section 612, Subdivision 6 of the Education Law to address the significant dropout rate among New York’s youth.

This service is available for licensees in all professions who are in the final 5 months of their current registration period or no more than 4 months past the expiration of their last valid registration period. Each month a new group of licensees will be mailed their registration renewal documents and be eligible to renew online. With this service you may:

  • Complete your registration renewal application, request an optional Professional Photo ID Card, and pay for both with a credit card
  • Choose to become inactive in your new registration period, and/or
  • Change your address

Search by name, establishment, license number to verify a professional's license to practice in NYS.

The practice of licensed clinical social work and the use of the title "Licensed Clinical Social Worker" and the designation of "LCSW" or derivatives thereof in New York State requires licensure as a licensed clinical social worker, unless otherwise exempt under the law.

To be licensed as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in New York State you must:

  • be of good moral character;
  • be at least 21 years of age;
  • have an education that includes a masters degree in social work (M.S.W.) with at least 12 semester hours of clinical coursework acceptable to the Department;
  • have at least 3 years of post M.S.W. supervised experience in diagnosis, psychotherapy and assessment-based treatment planning acceptable to the Department;
  • meet clinical examination requirements; and
  • complete coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse offered by a New York State approved provider.

The practice of licensed master social work and the use of the title "Licensed Master Social Worker" and the designation of "LMSW" or derivatives thereof in New York State requires licensure as a licensed master social worker, unless otherwise exempt under the law.

To be licensed as a licensed master social worker (LMSW) in New York State you must:

  • be of good moral character as determined by the Department;
  • be at least 21 years of age;
  • meet education requirements;
  • meet examination requirements; and
  • complete coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse offered by a New York State approved provider.

An Individuals may report possible testing misconduct by educators (teaching personnel and administrators) related to New York State assessments.

The Board of Regents, on the recommendation of the Commissioner of Education, appoints a State Board for each licensed profession to advise and assist the Board of Regents and the State Education Department on matters of professional regulation. The Board of Regents also appoints a Committee for Professional Assistance to advise them on matters relating to practice by professional licensees with alcohol or other drug abuse problems. The 29 State Boards for the Professions and the Committee for Professional Assistance are comprised of professional members and one or more representatives of the general public. The composition of each board and the Committee is specified in Title VIII of Education Law. In addition, Board and Committee composition should reflect the State's regions, cultural diversity, and the various aspects of the professions.

Professional board members must be New York State-licensed professionals who are residents of the State. For many boards, professional member appointees must have at least five years of experience. Committee members are not required to be licensed professionals.

Every State Board must also have at least one public representative (and in some cases up to five public members), who is a consumer of services of the profession(s) on which the board advises. The individual must be a New York State resident and meet various requirements to ensure that the public perspective is not compromised.

The Board of Regents, on the recommendation of the Commissioner of Education, appoints a State Board for each licensed profession to advise and assist the Board of Regents and the State Education Department on matters of professional regulation. The Board of Regents also appoints a Committee for Professional Assistance to advise them on matters relating to practice by professional licensees with alcohol or other drug abuse problems. The 29 State Boards for the Professions and the Committee for Professional Assistance are comprised of professional members and one or more representatives of the general public. The composition of each board and the Committee is specified in Title VIII of Education Law. In addition, Board and Committee composition should reflect the State's regions, cultural diversity, and the various aspects of the professions.

Professional board members must be New York State-licensed professionals who are residents of the State. For many boards, professional member appointees must have at least five years of experience. Committee members are not required to be licensed professionals.

Every State Board must also have at least one public representative (and in some cases up to five public members), who is a consumer of services of the profession(s) on which the board advises. The individual must be a New York State resident and meet various requirements to ensure that the public perspective is not compromised.

Before any prospective school owner decides to pursue school licensure, consideration should be made to be certain that the owner and the institution are in a position to be able to operate in compliance with all of the requirements set forth in Education Law and Commissioner’s Regulations.

A person may complete a teacher education program in a New York college or university and be recommended for a certificate provided that program has been registered by the Department as leading to the designated certificate.

The NYS P-TECH program is a public-private partnership that will prepare thousands of New York students for high-skills jobs of the future in technology, manufacturing, healthcare and finance.

In 1891, medicine became the first profession licensed by the New York State Board of Regents. New York's unique system of professional regulation, recognized as a model for public protection, has grown to encompass 800,000 practitioners and over 30,000 professional practice business entities in 50 professions.

Guided by the Regents, a citizen body, the professions are within New York State's unified system of education - The University of the State of New York. This recognizes the key role education plays in both preparing licensed professionals and in ensuring their continuous development.

The State Education Department, under Regents' direction, administers professional regulation through its Office of the Professions, assisted by the twenty-nine State Boards for the Professions.

This service is available for licensees in all professions who are in the final 5 months of their current registration period or no more than 4 months past the expiration of their last valid registration period. Each month a new group of licensees will be mailed their registration renewal documents and be eligible to renew online. With this service you may:

  • Complete your registration renewal application, request an optional Professional Photo ID Card, and pay for both with a credit card
  • Choose to become inactive in your new registration period, and/or
  • Change your address

This service is available for licensees in all professions who are in the final 5 months of their current registration period or no more than 4 months past the expiration of their last valid registration period. Each month a new group of licensees will be mailed their registration renewal documents and be eligible to renew online. With this service you may:

  • Complete your registration renewal application, request an optional Professional Photo ID Card, and pay for both with a credit card
  • Choose to become inactive in your new registration period, and/or
  • Change your address

The purpose of the Regents Physician Loan Forgiveness Award Program is to increase the number of physicians practicing in areas of New York State designated by the New York State Board of Regents as having a shortage of physicians. Emphasis is placed on primary care.

This online incident reporting process has been designed to provide individuals a means of reporting possible testing misconduct by educators (teaching personnel and administrators) related to New York State assessments.

Pending the appropriation of State funds by the New York State Legislature, 8,000 scholarships will be awarded for students graduating in 2015.  Of the 8,000 scholarships, 2,000 scholarships will have a value of $1,500 each and 6,000 scholarships will have a value of $500 each.

STEP provides academic enrichment in science and mathematics content areas.

Through the Smart Scholars Early College High School Program, institutions of higher education (IHEs) partner with public school districts to create early college high schools that provide students with the opportunity and preparation to accelerate the completion of their high school studies while earning a minimum of twenty but up to sixty transferable college credits at the same time.

The New York State Department of Education investigates allegations concerning the moral character of individuals who hold or who are applicants for New York State teaching certificates, or about illegal practice of the profession by an uncertified person. Under the law, School District Superintendents must file a report with the Department upon knowledge that a certificate holder has been convicted of a crime or has committed an act that raises a reasonable question about the individual's moral character.