Prospective school teachers in New York are required to take the New York State Teacher Certification Examination (NYSTCE). The NYSTCE is administered in several different forms, depending upon the area in which the teacher requires certification. Elementary school teaching credentials, for example, may require knowledge in the area of Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood (i.e., from grades 1 to 6). Secondary-level teachers take a different test, as do applicants in some other areas, as for instance bilingual education.

The Liberal Arts and Science Test (LAST) component of the NYSTCE is a measure of the generalized knowledge required of all teachers. A positive result on the LAST indicates that a teacher has a broad range of skills, knowledge, aptitudes, and capabilities for teaching in New York. The individual areas covered by the LAST are common critical thinking problems, abstract analysis, written and oral communication skills, and sociological awareness of the diversity of student populations. The LAST requires answers to a variety of multiple-choice questions in the areas of science, math, history, and the humanities. Some questions are aimed at determining whether the prospective teacher is sufficiently skilled in research, and in communicating the results of that research in an effective, organized manner. Teachers are not expected to be walking encyclopedias, but they are expected to know where they might go to mine information from libraries and databases and all other sources. Similarly, the teacher must show a proficiency in analysis, especially noting similarities, conflicts, or anomalies of logic. A thorough command of language is mandatory, as the prospective teacher must be able to revise text and reorganize disparate ideas and concepts. The teacher applicant must also be grounded in the literature of different historical periods. The mathematics and science elements of the test require that the teacher demonstrate a functional proficiency in those elements that are common to all areas of higher education: statistics, graphical interpretations, mathematical models, data analysis, and the application of math concepts.

Test registration for the LAST is convenient and can be done by mail, by internet, or by telephone. New York rules for taking the test are specific and extensive, so it is incumbent on the test taker to read the guidance information regarding prohibitions on cell phones, calculators (allowed only in specific content areas), tote bags, food, and other electronic media.

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