The New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) are criterion-referenced tests designed to measure an applicant’s knowledge and skill and determine whether they meet the standards as set by the state to successfully perform their required duties as an educator in New York State public schools. The questions within the examinations help identify candidates that have achieved mastery to a level sufficient to receive certification. The NYSTCE Students with Disabilities test is made up of both selected-response items and a constructed-response item:
Selected-Response Items
The selected-response items will test your mastery of the following competencies:
- Foundations of Special Education
- Knowledge of Students with Disabilities
- Assessment and Individual Program Planning
- Strategies for Planning and Managing the Learning Environment and for Providing Behavioral Interventions
- Instructional Planning and Delivery to Promote Students’ Success in the General Curriculum
- Strategies for Teaching Communication Skills, Social Skills and Functional Living Skills
Constructed-Response Item
The constructed-response item will test your mastery of Analysis, Synthesis and Application, and will account for 20% of your final examination score.
This is a computer-based test (CBT) that contains 90 selected-response questions and one constructed-response question designed to determine whether an applicant’s knowledge and skills of the subject area meet the state’s standards for certification.
You will have a total of three hours and 15 minutes to successfully complete the examination. For examples of questions you may encounter, try our NYSTCE Students with Disabilities Subject Practice Test.
Scoring
A minimum passing score of 520 is required for certification as set by the state’s standards. Your performance is evaluated against established standards, not in relation to the performance of other candidates.
Upon completion of the exam, you will receive a preliminary score report. These scores are not an acceptable substitute for the official score report, which will be received on the designated score report date following successful completion of your examination.
Registration Information
Test appointments are available year-round, by appointment Monday through Saturday. When you register, you may select a testing site located in New York State and nationwide. There is a $134 registration fee. Upon registering for the exam, you agree to abide by all testing rules and policies.