A 2016 instructional guide to pursuing a standard certificate in NJ using the alternate route program and the role that New Pathways plays in the program.

1. What is New Pathways
to Teaching?
The Role of New Pathways in the alternate route to
teaching process: an informational presentation-
June 2016
Prior to proposed NJDOE changes for 2017

2. Alternate Route in NJ
Before you can understand New Pathways to Teaching (NPT), you need to better
understand the Alternate Route to Teaching process in NJ.
The purpose of the alternate route track is to help someone who did not take a traditional education
track for becoming a certified teacher in NJ become one. The end product, after the journey is
complete, is a standard teaching certificate in the area for which you are eligible.
Summarized, the Alternate Route Process contains 3 parts:
❖Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (CE)
❖Enroll in a 200- hour instructional program
❖Participate in a provisional teacher program (PTP)
Please remember this information is a summary. For more information about the Alternate Route to Teaching Process, please go to
http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/alternate.htm or call NJ Dept of Education Office of Licensure and Credentials (609) 292-2070.

3. Certificate of Eligibility (CE)
The CE is issued by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), and it is an essential part of the
Alternate Route to Teaching Process in New Jersey because you are unable to move forward with your
certification process without it; for this reason it is the first step in the process. In other words, you are
unable to enter a 200-hour program or participate in a PTP. For this reason this presentation will spend
some time on the CE process.
★ To obtain your CE, you must complete the items on the following slide. They do
not need to be completed in order; however starred items(** *) are time sensitive
because of their collaborative nature.

4. To Obtain Certificate of Eligibility (CE)...
❖ Apply for CE
➢ http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/tcis/
❖ Pay the required fee
➢ A tracking number will be issued. Use it when submitting the supporting documents.
❖ Submit the NJDOE’s Oath of Allegiance form
➢ http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/forms/verify.pdf (This will need to be notarized.)
❖ Submit original transcript ( or evaluation if Bachelor’s degree was earned outside the U.S.)
❖ *** Take a 24 Introduction to Teaching pre-service program. (Please see next slide to see where you can take
this class) Note: You will receive two original completion certificates. One goes to the state, one you keep.
❖ *** Take the Praxis Subject Assessment Test in your content area ( Go to www.ets.org )
❖ *** Take the Academic Core Basic Skills test ( Go to www.ets.org)
➢ *** Important Note: You may be exempt from this test if your SAT, ACT or GRE test(s) meet a minimum
score. Please see link for information:
http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/rpr/preparation/BasicSkillsExemptionCutScores.pdf

5. A Note about obtaining your CE
The previous slide summarized the requirements for obtaining your CE. Please
keep in mind that depending on what CE you are looking for there may be some
added requirements. Although it is always better to provide completed
applications packets, if your are missing requirements, a NJDOE reviewer will
provide this information to you via email.
You can also check this link to view the exact requirements of the CE you are
seeking ( makes sure to click on “CE”. CEAS is for traditional applicants):
http://www.state.nj.us/education/educators/license/endorsements/1001CE.pdf

6. The 24-hour Introduction to Teaching
class requirement
At New Jersey City University, this class is regularly available in blended and online formats. The next class is July 5th, - it
is fully online and self-paced, which means that you have until the closing day ( August 2nd) to submit your work, but you
can submit it earlier if you are done.
Registration will be available for this class on June 27th. Your certificate is issued once the work is submitted and graded
as passing. Therefore, if you need to receive your certificate before August 2nd ( which you will need to do if you are trying
to begin a 200-hour instructional program in September) you can finish the class in a few days and send your certificate to
the state within a timeline that will work.
To register for the class just click on the link below. Once the link has opened, click on “ Register Now” , then “Summer
2016” , then “NCD” classes, then look for the Introduction to Teaching class, K-12 ( Online Only)”. :
https://secure.touchnet.net/C21117_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=4&SINGLESTORE=true .
Once you register, please call the Department of Continuing Education ( 201) 200-3089 to provide your full social security
number so that you may be granted access to the Blackboard online learning system .

7. Checklist to Make Sure you are on the right
track towards Obtaining your CE...
● Did you already fill out the application for a CE with the NJDOE?
● Did you pay your fee?
● Did you sign and notarize the Oath of Allegiance?
● Did you order you order your transcript(s) ( keep it in the envelope)?
● Did you complete the 24-hour class and receive the 2 original certificates of completion?
● Did you take and pass the subject assessment test ( may go by the old name- Praxis II)?
● Did you take and pass the Basic Skills test ( remember you don't take this if you had a
specific score in your SAT- information for this in slide #3)?

8. So, to have completed all steps for a CE, you should have:
→Applied online with the NJDOE for a CE
→Paid the fee online for the CE.
→Completed both Praxis tests ( or have proof of acceptable scores for ethe one test you can be exempt
from)) and the tests have arrived to the NJDOE ( in NJ the NJDOE is a default setting in NJ, so the test
scores go there automatically. They can take up to two weeks to arrive there).
→Mailed your Oath of Allegiance, one original Certificate of Completion from the 24-hour class and your
sealed transcript(s) -with the tracking number that your received when you actually applied.
Remember, once this is all received, if there is something else required, you will be contacted via email.
Once all this has been done, you have officially completed applying for you CE. You check your NJDOE
account regularly because the issuance process takes 4-8 weeks. Once issued, you will see a change from
"processing" to "issued". That is what you print out as prove that you have a CE.
Once you have the CE, you are able to begin your 200-hour instructional program and are eligible to be
hired as a teacher in a public or charter school- or any other institution requiring at least a CE.
Obtained your CE.

9. The Role of New Pathways To Teaching (NPT)
NPT is a 200- hour instructional program; it is one of many in NJ and it fulfills
one of the requirements in the alternate route process. What makes NPT distinct
from other programs is that you don’t need to be employed to start the program (
but you do need to be employed to complete it).
Additionally, it is a consortium of 19 colleges; therefore, you can begin the first
Stage in one, and if need be, completed the program at one of the other
institutions within the consortium.

10. Stage I- The Instructional Beginning
Once you have the CE you can apply to first part New Pathways, referred to as
“Stage I”. In this Stage you begin learning the mechanics of teaching and observe
a total of 15 hours in a classroom(s).
The Requirements for Stage I are:
● Application (can request if not available on website)
● Stage I Letter of Agreement (can request f not available on website)
● Transcripts (3 originals- don’t have to be sealed)
● CE Verification ( printout when it is “Issued”)
● Copy of Praxis Score(s)

11. Stage II- The Instructional Finale
Once you have completed Stage I and are employed at some capacity (full or part-time
permanent, long-term substitute) as the teacher of record you have met the two primary
requirements for Stage II. During Stage II you will be teaching in a classroom, applying
both the knowledge gained in Stage I and that which you continue to learn in Stage II. In
this stage you will be observed twice by an NPT observer.
Below are all the requirements for Stage II:
● Application
● Stage II letter of Agreement
● Copy of Stage I Completion Report
● Letter of Employment noting you as the teacher of record

12. What About the Provisional Teacher Program
(PTP) ?
Every novice teacher, whether traditional or alternate route, will need to apply to the PTP. This can only
be done through your hiring district. When you are hired, if information is not provided to you at the time
of hire, make sure to ask about this.
In this part of the alternate route process you will be assigned a mentor, a veteran teacher who will
commit to a number of hours to observe you and provide feedback. This is often confused with the NPT
observer, but it has nothing to do with NPT- it is a distinct requirement. Because of this in order to
receive the most accurate information when you are at this point please reach out to the PTP at
laltroute@doe.state.nj.us or call 609—984-6377.
Depending on the instructional program you choose, this step may be done before you can start
it, as mentioned earlier, ths step does not have to happen before you start New Pathways
because you are not required employment to start, but, as stated in the previous slide, you will
need it to enter Stage II.

13. Final Thoughts....
Once you have your CE, have successfully completed a 200-hour instructional program ( again, this is what NPT is) and
have fulfilled teaching two years under the provisional license you are eligible to receive your standard certificate in the
area of you CE, which is ultimately the area you want to teach in. Essentially, what occurs s that your CE becomes your
standard.
Please keep in mind that all this information is presented in summary format so that you may have a better
understanding of the alternate route process and the role NPT plays in the process. It does not supplant information
provided by the NJDOE. However, I hope it does give you a better understadning of what you will need to do.
Also, remember that the alternate route program will change in 2017; however, the specific manner on how the changes
will be implemented in NPT are not yet available. Once inforation is available, I will try to format them, as with these
slides, in a way that facilitates the process.
If you have questions about NPT, please feel free to reach out to 201-200-2128 or email newpathways@njcu.edu

14. Credits
These slides were made possible by using information from sources believed to be reliable: the New Jersey Department
of Education’s website, and the New Pathways to Teaching in NJ program; and were inspired by the countless prospects
that called with some confusion.
The interpretive information included in these slides is for the purpose of summarizing information as a guide. It is not
intended to supplant information found on either the NJDOE site nor that on the NPTNJ site.
I hope this information will help assist you in your journey towards becoming a teacher in NJ.
Regards,
Ozzie. P. Lourenco
Program Coordinator- NPTNJ