Connecticut's Initial Educator Certificate

The following instructions apply to those who have completed the Neag School's Integrated Bachelor's/Master's (IB/M) Program or Teacher Certification Program for College Graduates (TCPCG).  In order to receive the institutional recommendation for certification in Connecticut (or other states), IB/M teacher candidates must complete all program requirements including the bachelor's degree, master's degree, and required licensure tests; TCPCG students must complete all program requirements including the master's degree and required licensure tests.

Please note that the state educator certification regulations may change frequently. Regardless of your career plans, it is in your best interest that you submit the application for state certification within 30 days after graduation from the Neag School.

Certification Process

Teacher candidates will start the certification process in spring of master's year (no earlier than May 1). Apply online through the Connecticut Educator Certification System (CECS).

• Watch Applying for Certification Tutorial Video and review FAQs for more information
• During the application, you will select certificate or position type: Select Teacher/Educator. You will then have to select your endorsement area.
  • A list of Endorsement Codes is below. Select your endorsement area.
  • Cross Endorsements – if you have taken all classes and passed the required test(s) for a cross endorsement, you can select that endorsement after adding your primary endorsement area. If you have not yet passed the cross endorsement test(s), you should not add it. Once you pass the required test(s) or completed required classes, you can apply for a cross endorsement via CECS.
  • Educational History
    • Select your bachelor’s degree (e.g., Bachelor of Science) and field of study (e.g., English) and save
    • The system will ask if you have college/university coursework/degree that is not shown, and you will click Yes
    • Add master’s degree (Master of Arts) and field of study: Curriculum and Instruction or Educational Psychology (Special Education students)
    • When asked if you have graduated with your master’s, you can check, “Yes” even though your degree will not officially be posted until later in the month of your graduation. The official conferral date for those graduating in Spring 2025 will be May 11, 2025. If you have already applied for certification and checked “No”, that is fine too.
• Professional History page asks, “Do you have any teaching, administrative, and/or special services experience that is not shown (considered experience under a valid teaching certificate). Answer No
• Continue with questions until complete.
• Pay $50 nonrefundable application review fee with a MasterCard, Visa, or Discover Card.
  • After submitting payment, you should receive a confirmation email. If you don’t receive one, check your spam folder.

After master’s degree is posted on transcript in Student Admin (typically late May/early June):

• The Neag School of Education Certification Officer will submit the institutional recommendation for certification to CSDE.
  • Candidate must have passed all required licensure tests for their endorsement area.
  • Candidates are eligible for Initial Educator Certificate.
• Transcripts:
  • Wait to order UConn official transcript until CAEP accreditation statement is added (we will add this after your master’s degree is posted; it appears after master’s classes)
  • Teacher candidates should order official copies of their transcript(s) from all institutions and have them sent to Bureau of Educator Standards & Certification, P.O. Box 150471, Hartford, CT 06115-0471 or to teacher.etranscript@ct.gov.
    • If possible, mail your official transcript to CSDE for review. Due to the large volume of e-transcripts the Bureau receives daily, the e-transcript may expire before they are able to download and scan it into your file.
• Once all application materials have been received and reviewed (official transcripts, etc.), CSDE will email applicants a credential letter via email with a request for the fee balance.
• The certificate will be issued with the date of application or when all program requirements have been met.
• Out-of-state certification: Send state verification form to Diane.Herlihy@uconn.edu. Certification officer will sign form once master’s degree is posted, and student has passed all required Connecticut tests.

If you have questions about your application, email teacher.cert@ct.gov.