NYSTCE Testing Program Update

Educator Involvement Opportunities

NYSED seeks qualified educators to serve as committee members for ongoing test development activities for the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE). For more information, visit the NYSED website link opens in a new window.

Test Redevelopment Schedule updated October 2024

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the New York State Board of Regents in May 2010 approved the initiative to revise the Content Specialty Tests (CSTs).

The following non-regulatory guidance is subject to revision throughout the redevelopment process. Please consult this page frequently for updates to this guidance.

Test Field Frameworks Posted Test Operational Date New Test Is Required
CST Group 1:
English Language Arts
Health Education
Library Media Specialist
Literacy
Mathematics
Multi-Subject
Physical Education
Fall 2014 September 2014 Required for all candidates taking a Group 1 CST on or after September 22, 2014
CST Group 2:
Agriculture
Business and Marketing
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Educational Technology Specialist
Family and Consumer Sciences
Gifted Education
Students with Disabilities
Fall 2014 September 2014 Required for all candidates taking a Group 2 CST on or after September 22, 2014
CST Group 3:
Blind and Visually Impaired
Technology Education
Spring 2015 Fall 2015 Required for all candidates taking a Group 3 CST on or after September 21, 2015
CST Group 4a:
English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Social Studies
Fall 2015 Fall 2016 Required for all candidates taking a Group 4 CST on or after November 14, 2016
CST Group 4b:
American Sign Language
Cantonese
French
German
Greek
Hebrew
Italian
Japanese
Latin
Mandarin
Russian
Spanish
Spring 2015 Fall 2016 Required for all candidates taking a Group 4 CST on or after November 14, 2016
CST Group 5:
Biology
Chemistry
Earth Science
Physics
Summer 2018 Fall 2019 Required for all candidates taking a Group 5 CST on or after November 11, 2020
CST Group 6:
Dance
Music
Theater
Visual Arts
Summer 2019 Fall 2020 Candidates may take either the CST or Safety Net CST through November 8, 2021
BEA Group 7:
Arabic (10/7/2024 and after)
Bengali (10/7/2024 and after)
Cantonese (10/7/2024 and after)
French (10/7/2024 and after)
Haitian Creole (10/7/2024 and after)
Hebrew (6/17/2024 and after)
Italian (10/7/2024 and after)
Korean (10/7/2024 and after)
Mandarin (6/17/2024 and after)
Polish (10/7/2024 and after)
Russian (6/17/2024 and after)
Spanish (4/22/2024 and after)
Urdu (10/7/2024 and after)
Yiddish (10/7/2024 and after)
Summer 2021 April–October 2024
When they are available in 2024
Group 8a:
Revised (May 2019) School Building Leader
Spring 2019 Spring 2021 Candidates may take either the Revised (Sept. 2013) SBL assessment or Revised (May 2019) SBL assessment during the safety net period, which ends on 8/31/2025
CST Group 9a:
Business and Marketing
May 2021 Fall 2022 When it is available in Fall 2022
CST Group 9b:
Computer Science
Fall 2022 Summer 2025 When it is available in Summer 2025
CST Group 10a:
School Counselor
Fall 2022 February 2024 When it is available in February 2024
CST Group 10b:
Physical Education
Fall 2022 December 2024 When it is available in December 2024

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