Student Developmental Levels

Studies in this area prepare candidates to teach the specific age group of the certificate sought. There are four developmental levels corresponding to the different certificates available.

Information about acceptable coursework topics for each developmental level can be found here:

Early Childhood (Birth- Grade 2)

For the early childhood (birth-grade 2) developmental level, you must complete six semester-hours (s.h.) of coursework focused on early childhood education. Acceptable coursework includes pedagogical courses that would be required in an early childhood education teacher preparation program. Examples include, but are not limited to:

methods and strategies for assessing and teaching young children (ages 0-7)
literacy development for young children (ages 0-7)
early childhood curriculum and instruction in content
approaches to teaching and learning in grades pre-K through Grade 2
managing the early childhood classroom
early childhood development for diverse learners

Unacceptable courses include those that focus on:

life span developmental psychology
child and adolescent psychology
coursework spanning grades K-12
middle level/middle school education
secondary education

If you need further clarification, you should review college catalogs of institutions that offer early childhood teacher certification programs to learn about the types of courses that focus on this developmental level. New York State institutions of higher education that have approved early childhood education programs may be identified by using the Inventory of Registered Programs. You can search for programs leading to teacher certification and select: E CHLDHD BIRTH-2.

Childhood (Grades 1-6)

For the childhood (grades 1-6) developmental level, you must complete six semester-hours (s.h.) of coursework focused on childhood education. Acceptable coursework includes pedagogical courses that would be required in a childhood education teacher preparation program. Examples include, but are not limited to:

methods and strategies for assessing and teaching children ages 6-12
literacy development for children ages 6-12
childhood/elementary curriculum
managing the childhood/elementary classroom environment
methods of teaching in the elementary school
literacy instruction in the elementary school
child psychology courses - if they focus on childhood 1-6 education

Unacceptable courses include those that focus on:

life span developmental psychology
coursework spanning grades K-12
middle level/middle school education
secondary education

If you need further clarification, you should review college catalogs of institutions that offer childhood teacher certification programs to learn about the types of courses that focus on this developmental level. New York State institutions of higher education that have approved childhood education programs may be identified by using the Inventory of Registered Programs. You can search for programs leading to teacher certification and select: CHILDHOOD 1-6.

Middle Childhood (Grades 5-9)

For the middle childhood (grades 5-9) developmental level, you must complete six semester-hours (s.h.) of coursework focused on middle childhood (also known as middle level) education. Acceptable coursework includes pedagogical courses that would be required in a middle childhood education teacher preparation program. Examples include, but are not limited to:

middle level curriculum development
methods of teaching in middle school
interdisciplinary middle level curriculum standards
assessment of the intellectual, social and physical development of young adolescents
early adolescent psychology

Unacceptable courses include those that focus on:

early childhood education (birth-grade 2)
life span developmental psychology
coursework spanning grades K-12

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If you need further clarification, you should review college catalogs of institutions that offer middle childhood teacher certification programs to learn about the types of courses that focus on this developmental level. New York State institutions of higher education that have approved childhood education programs may be identified by using the Inventory of Registered Programs. You can search for programs leading to teacher certification and select: GENERALIST 5-9.

Adolescent (Grades 7-12)

For the adolescent (grades 7-12) developmental level, you must complete six semester-hours (s.h.) of coursework focused on adolescent (or secondary) education. Acceptable coursework includes pedagogical courses that would be required in a secondary education teacher preparation program. Examples include, but are not limited to:

adolescent development
adolescent psychology
methods of teaching content in the secondary school
adolescent literacy
curriculum development in the secondary school

Unacceptable courses include those that focus on:

early childhood education (birth - grade 2)
childhood education (grades 1-6)
life span developmental psychology
coursework spanning grades K-12

If you need further clarification, you should review college catalogs of institutions that offer secondary education teacher certification programs to learn about the types of courses that focus on this developmental level. New York State institutions of higher education that have approved secondary education programs may be identified by using the Inventory of Registered Programs. There is no generalist secondary education certificate in New York, so you would need to search any of the specific subjects offered in secondary education, such as Biology, Chemistry, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, etc. In the menu, grades 7-12 must be listed next to the subject. For example, you can search for programs leading to teacher certification in secondary Biology by selecting: BIOLOGY 7-12

Note: 5-6 and 7-9 Extensions. Coursework must be focused within the middle childhood level (grades 5-9) and cannot contain other developmental levels (e.g., K-12 or grades 5-12). There are specifc courses that will meet these requirements: Early Adol Dev/Instructional Strategies in Middle Child Ed.

Pedagogical (professional education) coursework must be earned at, or transferable to, an approved teacher education program at an institution of higher education that offers a bachelor's or higher degree. In addition, the institution must be accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized for this purpose by the U.S. Department of ��Ů or approved by the New York State Commissioner of ��Ů.

Six (6) semester hours of coursework must be completed for each developmental level requirement. Three (3) of these semester hours must be exclusively focused on the developmental level of the application, with none of the content falling outside those specific grades. For the other 3 semester hours, we will consider coursework that overlaps the developmental level but is not exclusively focused on it.

Example: Applicant has completed early childhood coursework only, and they apply for the Initial certificate in Childhood ��Ů – Grades 1-6, which requires 6 semester hours of childhood developmental level coursework. Their early childhood coursework covers birth through grade 2, which overlaps the childhood developmental level – in grades 1 and 2. As a result, 3 semester hours can be credited toward the childhood developmental level requirement. They would need to complete an additional 3 semester hours that are exclusively focused on the childhood developmental level (grades 1-6).

Note: Coursework covering more than 2 developmental levels (e.g., K-9, Pre K-12) is too broad and is not acceptable for any developmental level requirement.

Coursework cannot be pre-approved. All determinations on coursework requirements will be made by our staff when a paid application and official transcripts are on file and the application is ready for review in our work queue.

College Recommendations (from colleges and universities located in New York only)

Initial college recommendations can be accepted toward the developmental level requirements as described below:

Early Childhood ��Ů - Birth-Grade 2 recommendation = 3 semester hours toward childhood developmental level (grades 1-6)

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Childhood ��Ů – Grades 1-6 recommendation = 3 credits toward Early Childhood (B-2) developmental level, and/or 3 credits toward Middle Childhood (5-9) developmental level

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Literacy B-6 recommendation = 6 semester hours toward early childhood developmental level (birth – grade 2), and 6 semester hours toward childhood developmental level (grades 1-6)

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Middle Childhood ��Ů – Grades 5-9 recommendation = 3 credits toward Childhood (1-6) developmental level, and/or Adolescent (7-12) developmental level

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Literacy 5-12 recommendation = 6 semester hours toward middle childhood developmental level (grades 5-9), and 6 semester hours toward adolescent developmental level (grades 7-12)

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Adolescent ��Ů - Grades 7-12 recommendation = 3 semester hours toward middle childhood developmental level (grades 5-9)

Note: College recommendations for Provisional and Permanent certificate titles, such as Pre-Kindergarten - Grade 6, were completed under old regulations and are not acceptable for any developmental level requirement.

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