Office of Clinical Practice

For students pursuing initial certification, at least 100 clock hours of field experiences related to coursework are required before student teaching. Fieldwork includes observation and active instruction. Your placement must be aligned both with assignments and requirements of each course and your expected certification.

How and when do I get placed?

• The first step is to visit the Office of Clinical Practice. You will be asked to complete a request form. We will also ask you about fingerprinting and your TB test.  Although we can begin the process of placing you in a school, we cannot finalize the placement until we receive proof of your TB and fingerprinting clearances.

• Go to your doctor for a tuberculosis (TB) test. There is a form in the OCP for reporting TB results, or you can use your doctor-issued form. Test results must be provided each year.

• All students must be fingerprinted if they have not completed the process already. See the Fingerprinting tab for more information. NYC Public Schools may refuse fieldwork participation in the absence of fingerprinting; in some schools a limit of 30 hours of fieldwork may be permitted.

Am I required to complete the form if I have identified my own placement?

• Yes. Each semester, complete the form for each course requiring fieldwork. Completing this form supports documentation of your fieldwork hours.

What is the first step to apply for fieldwork?

• The first step is to visit the Office of Clinical Practice (OCP), 6/207A, to speak with one of the members of the OCP team.  All students are required to submit an up-to-date TB form as a step in their fieldwork; confirm their fingerprint status; and complete either a digital Placement Request or a Self-Placement form.
   
• Upon request the OCP will coordinate your fieldwork placements with our partner schools. 

If you have further questions please browse through our FAQs.

What this is about
City College SOE students pursuing initial certification require a college supervised student teaching or practicum experience of at least 70 school days, or its equivalent, in an educational setting, and in alignment with the daily schedule and annual calendar of that educational setting. The requirements differ when candidates pursue additional and advanced certifications.

When to apply for Student Teaching

• Student teaching is usually your final semester.
• Student teaching application deadlines are April 15 to student teach during the fall semester and November 15 to student teaching during the spring semester.

What is required

• Student teaching requires program permission.
• New York State Certification Exams are required.
• Detailed directions for the Student Teaching Application

How and when will I get my placement?

• The OCP responds to applications, once programs approve you, by finding you placements that align with your certification.
• You will be notified of your placement at the Student Teaching Orientation conducted at the beginning of each semester

If you have further questions please browse through our FAQs.

What this is about
Planning for fingerprinting is a necessary step for City College School of Education students (CCNY SOE) to access to New York City Public Schools for both fieldwork and, later, student teaching.

Who must be fingerprinted
As of Spring 2024, all new admits and current students are required to complete a fingerprinting application through CCNY SOE. Fingerprinting is required for fieldwork and student teaching.

If you are an undocumented student without DACA*, or an international student without a Social Security number, see Jose Osorio ( josorio1@ccny.cuny.edu ) to receive a TEACH Access Number (TAN) to begin the fingerprinting process.

All other students, including those who have been previously fingerprinted, should begin the fingerprinting process by visiting the Office of Clinical Practice. Completing an application with the SOE OCP will be your initial step for obtaining eligibility in the NYC Public Schools' Personnel Eligibility Tracking System, known as PETS.

What if I have already been fingerprinted or if I am an employee of the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS)

• CCNY SOE candidates who have already been fingerprinted are required to check in with the Office of Clinical Practice (OCP).  If you have been fingerprinted for NYCPS, the OCP will ask you to provide your social security number and your legal name.  At the OCP, your information will be entered into the New York City Public Schools Personnel Eligibility System (PETS). We do not recommend sending your social security number via email because email is not secure.  You may call the office.  

• With the information entered into PETS, CCNY SOE can establish your eligibility in the system.  Occasionally this inquiry may result in a request to you from PETS for a profile update. You will not be required to undergo additional fingerprinting.

• If you have been fingerprinted for another agency, such as the Department of Health (DOH), you will be required to be fingerprinted again for PETS. Please see the fingerprinting instructions above.

• If you have been fingerprinted by another town, city, or county in New York State, you might be able to transfer your fingerprint history by completing an OSPRA 103 form to request that your fingerprint history be transferred from the state to the city. 

Hours for submitting fingerprinting documents
All the members of the OCP team, located in NAC 6/207A, are prepared to accept the application and the supporting documents you will need to provide.

• Monday - Friday 9:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

What is required

• If you have a Social Security card you will also have to present one of these forms of identification: State-issued Driver License or a Non-Driver ID, or a passport
• For international students and undocumented students without DACA*, a TEACH Access Number (TAN) needs to be obtained from the Certification Officer Jose Osorio ( josorio1@ccny.cuny.edu )
• Activated City College email address

*See the CUNY FAQ for additional information for undocumented students and NYS guidelines regarding student teaching, fieldwork and certification.