The New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) recognizes the invaluable contributions of paraprofessionals and is committed to fostering their professional growth. To support this commitment, NYCPS offers a range of comprehensive Career Training Programs designed to empower paraprofessionals to advance their education and careers within the school system. These programs provide financial assistance, release time, and pathways to teacher certification, creating opportunities for dedicated individuals to reach their full potential in education.
Career Training Program (CTP)
The Career Training Program (CTP) is a cornerstone initiative providing eligible UFT paraprofessionals with the opportunity to earn their first Bachelor’s degree. This program significantly eases the financial burden of higher education by covering tuition costs for 3 to 6 credits per semester at participating colleges and universities.
For participants enrolled in five or more credit hours, the program also offers a valuable benefit: two and a half (2.5) hours of Release Time per week to dedicate to their studies. Furthermore, paraprofessionals can apply for a Summer Stipend to provide additional financial support during summer coursework. It is important to note that paraprofessionals are responsible for independently researching, applying to, and enrolling in a participating and approved higher education institution.
| ELIGIBILITY: |
| To be eligible for the CTP Program, candidates must meet the following criteria: |
| – Be a full-time paraprofessional currently employed within a NYC public school and not yet possess a Bachelor’s degree. |
| – Be officially payrolled as a full-time paraprofessional at the time of application submission and maintain this full-time status throughout the application school year. |
| – Provide verifiable proof of mandatory matriculation into a degree-bearing program after having completed 45 credits. |
| – Substitute Paraprofessionals are not eligible to participate in the CTP Program. |
| – The Career Training Program provides financial support for a maximum of 120 credits towards the completion of a first Bachelor’s degree. *Exceptions may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis**.* |
| – Important Note: The 120-credit limit encompasses all credits, including transfer credits and credits earned before program entry. For those starting with zero credits, up to 120 credits will be covered. For those entering with existing credits, the program will cover the difference (120 – X credits). |
| – Applicants must maintain a minimum 2.0-grade point average to qualify for program eligibility. |
| – Enrolled paraprofessionals must maintain a “C” grade point average (2.0) to continue their participation in the program. |
| – Paraprofessionals whose GPA falls below a 2.0 will lose eligibility for the CTP Voucher. |
| – The NYC Public Schools will NOT cover courses with “F” grades, late withdrawals, or unofficial withdrawals. |
| – Paraprofessionals who become ineligible for the Career Training Program are responsible for all subsequent course credits, tuition, and associated fees. |
| FINANCIAL AID: |
| Financial aid resources, such as the Federal Pell Grant or the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) grant, will be utilized to cover tuition expenses for eligible paraprofessionals. The participating college/university will then bill the NYC Public Schools for any remaining tuition balance after these grants are applied. It is crucial to understand that the NYCPS does not cover the costs of course materials or any other fees levied by the college or university. Specifically, activity, application, technology, and all other miscellaneous fees are the sole responsibility of the paraprofessional. |
| APPLICATION AVAILABILITY: |
| – Fall Semester – Applications are accepted from May 1st through June 30th |
| – Spring Semester – Applications are accepted from September 1st through October 31st |
| – Summer Semester – Applications are accepted from February 1st through March 31st |
| NOTE: A separate application is required for each semester (fall, spring, and summer). Unused vouchers cannot be carried over to previous or future semesters. |
| CTP Fact Sheet |
Click Here |
| CTP FAQ Document |
Click Here |
| CTP UFT Paraprofessional Release Time Memo |
Click Here |
| CTP DC-37 Paraprofessional Release Time Memo |
Click Here |
| CTP Brochure |
Click Here |
| Approved Colleges and Universities |
Click Here |
| Summer Stipend Fact Sheet |
Click Here |
| Summer Stipend Application |
Click Here |
| CTP Voucher – University/College Name Change Form |
Click Here |
| CTP Sample Confirmation Email |
Click Here |
IMPORTANT – Effective Immediately:
- To ensure timely receipt of email confirmations and vouchers, applicants must use their official NYCPS email addresses. The Teacher Support Network (TSN) system will no longer accept email addresses from external domains.
- To request an update or change to the college or university name on your voucher, you must download, complete, and submit the CTP Voucher – University/College Name Change Form (linked above). Please allow a 48-hour processing period for these requests.
- Applicants can expect to receive a confirmation email within 24-48 hours of submitting their Career Training Program application.
For detailed guidance on the application process, please consult the CTP Application Guide.
Confirmation emails are automatically generated upon successful application submission. If you do not receive a confirmation email, your application was not successfully submitted and requires re-submission.
For further inquiries, please contact [email protected] or by phone at (718) 935-2449.
Paraprofessional Student Teaching Leave of Absence Program
For paraprofessionals aspiring to become certified teachers, the NYCPS offers the Paraprofessional Student Teaching Leave of Absence Program. This program provides up to 40 days of paid leave to fulfill student teaching requirements, a crucial step towards teacher certification. Recognizing that some institutions do not accept paraprofessional work in lieu of formal student teaching, NYCPS bridges this gap by offering this dedicated leave.
It’s important to note that this is a competitive program with a limit of 100 leaves per year (50 in the fall and 50 in the spring), and prior approval is mandatory before commencing any leave of absence.
| Student Teaching Leave of Absence Program Overview |
Click here |
| APPLICATION AVAILABILITY: |
| Fall Application Period: July 1st – October 1st |
| Spring Application Period: December 1st – March 1st (THE APPLICATION IS NOW CLOSED – Application cap has been reached.) |
| ELIGIBILITY: |
| To be eligible for the Student Teaching Leave of Absence Program, paraprofessionals must meet the following criteria: |
| – Be a full-time, active employee with a minimum of one (1) full school year of service as a Paraprofessional. Time spent as a substitute paraprofessional does not count towards this requirement. |
| – Be actively payrolled as a full-time paraprofessional at the time of application and maintain this status throughout the application school year. |
| – Possess a minimum GPA of 2.5 in their program of study. |
| – Be actively enrolled in a New York State Education Department (NYSED) approved program that leads to New York State teaching certification. Important considerations for online and out-of-state programs: Online colleges and universities not officially approved by NYSED and programs not leading to teacher certification are ineligible. Similarly, out-of-state colleges whose programs lack NYSED approval are also ineligible. |
| Eligible paraprofessionals must fit into one of the following categories: |
| – Category A – Paraprofessionals holding an education degree (undergraduate or graduate) but lacking student teaching for certification recommendation. |
| – Category B – Paraprofessionals enrolled in a Master’s degree program for initial certification requiring student teaching for program completion. |
| – Category C – Paraprofessionals enrolled in an undergraduate program for initial certification requiring student teaching for program completion. |
| RESTRICTIONS: |
| – All required documentation must be submitted at least four (4) weeks before the requested leave of absence start date. |
| – Student Teaching Leave of Absence applications are offered annually on a limited basis during the fall and spring semesters only. |
| – Maintaining full-time paraprofessional payroll status at application and throughout the school year is mandatory. |
| – Leave approvals are prioritized based on need, with preference given to paraprofessionals who have already completed initial teacher education programs. |
| – The program provides for a maximum of 40 days of student teaching leave. Applicants are eligible to apply to the Student Teaching Leave of Absence program only once. |
| – For leaves extending beyond the approved 40-day period, applicants must apply for an unpaid extended Leave of Absence through the SOE Self-Service Online Leave Application System (SOLAS). Leave will only be granted for student teaching directly related to initial teacher certification. |
| – Leaves of absence are not granted for non-teaching positions, such as school counselor, psychologist, social worker, attendance teacher, or similar roles. |
| APPLY HERE |
| Ensure successful application submission by clicking the SUBMIT button on the application form. A confirmation email will be sent upon successful submission. If no email is received, the application was not submitted and must be re-submitted. |
| Required documents must be mailed to: |
| New York City Public Schools |
| Scholarships, Incentives, and Pupil Personnel Services |
| 65 Court Street, Room 508, Brooklyn, New York 11201 |
| Attn: Paraprofessional Student Teaching LOA Program |
| For further information, please email [email protected] or call (718) 935-2449. |
Paraprofessional to Teacher Pathway Graduate Reimbursement Program
The Paraprofessional to Teacher Pathway Graduate Reimbursement Program offers financial support to paraprofessionals pursuing graduate education to become certified teachers. NYCPS will reimburse up to twelve (12) graduate-level credits for eligible paraprofessionals enrolled in a graduate education program leading to teacher certification. To qualify, New York State certification must be obtained after September 1st of the application year, and applicants must adhere to all program procedures. Eligibility also requires full-time paraprofessional payroll status at application and throughout the school year.
| Para to Teacher Pathway Graduate Reimbursement Program Information |
Click here |
| For comprehensive details about the Para to Teacher Pathway Graduate Reimbursement Program and required application documents, please refer to the program information document linked above. |
| APPLICATION AVAILABILITY: |
| Annual Application Period: February 1st — March 31st |
| ELIGIBILITY: |
| – Applicants must be officially admitted and fully matriculated into a NYS-approved and accredited graduate education program leading to teacher certification. |
| – Completion of at least twelve (12) graduate credits towards program completion is required. |
| – Applicants must have a minimum of one (1) full year of paid experience as a paraprofessional within the New York City Public Schools system. |
| – Maintaining full-time paraprofessional payroll status at application and throughout the school year is mandatory. |
| – All reimbursable coursework must be part of a master’s degree program in education, directly leading to a teaching degree and NYS certification. |
| – Eligible graduate programs must be in a classroom teaching discipline. |
| – Pre-requisite or required content courses are not eligible for reimbursement. |
| – Coursework must achieve a passing grade of “B” or better to qualify for reimbursement. |
| RESTRICTIONS: |
| – All reimbursements are capped at the current CUNY graduate tuition rate. |
| – Education programs outside of teacher education and not leading to NYS classroom teacher certification are ineligible for this program. |
| – This program specifically excludes the following disciplines: Guidance Counselors, Psychologists, Social Workers, Attendance Teachers, and Speech Pathologists. |
| – Reimbursement does not cover pre-requisite courses or coursework completed before program admission. |
| – Release time for graduate credits is not applicable under this program. |
| – Reimbursement is limited to courses specifically required for Initial certification. |
| – If students receive other forms of financial aid, these will be applied first to tuition expenses. NYCPS will then cover the remaining tuition balance. |
| – Reimbursement checks must be collected in person from the Office of Scholarships, Incentives, and Pupil Personnel Services at 65 Court Street, 5th floor, Room 508, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Photo ID is required for verification. |
| APPLY HERE |
| Ensure successful application submission by clicking the SUBMIT button. A confirmation email will be sent upon successful submission. If no email is received, the application was not submitted and requires re-submission. |
| Required documents must be mailed to: |
| New York City Public Schools |
| Scholarships, Incentives, and Pupil Personnel Services |
| 65 Court Street, Room 508, Brooklyn, New York 11201 |
| Attn: Paraprofessional to Teacher Pathway Graduate Reimbursement Program |
| For further information, please email [email protected] or call (718) 935-2449. |
Paraprofessional Certification Testing Reimbursement Program
To further support the transition to teaching, NYCPS offers the Paraprofessional Certification Testing Reimbursement Program. This program provides a one-time reimbursement of up to $400.00 to cover the costs of the state teacher certificate application and NYS certification examinations. This financial assistance is available to eligible paraprofessionals committed to becoming educators within the NYC Public Schools. Applicants must be full-time paraprofessionals at the time of application and maintain this status throughout the application school year.
| Certification Testing Reimbursement Program Overview |
Click Here |
| Paraprofessional Certification Reimbursement Application |
Click Here |
| APPLICATION AVAILABILITY: |
| Annual Application Period: March 1st – April 30th |
| ELIGIBILITY: |
| – Paraprofessionals must have achieved NYS teacher certification on or after September 1st of the application year. |
| – Applicants must provide receipts for both the NYS Examinations and the NYS Teacher Application fees. |
| – Reimbursement requests must be submitted within one year of certification. |
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
- Certification Testing Reimbursement Program Application; NYS Teacher Application and NYS Examination receipts; and Proof of passing examinations required for certification.
For further information, please email [email protected] or call (718) 935-2449.
Lead Teacher Assistant (LTA) / Bilingual Lead Teacher Assistant (BLTA)
The Lead Teacher Assistant (LTA) and Bilingual Lead Teacher Assistant (BLTA) positions are annual opportunities for active, full-time NYCPS paraprofessionals. These roles allow for a more diverse and impactful utilization of paraprofessionals to support student needs within classrooms and schools. LTAs and BLTAs provide instructional support under the guidance of classroom teachers throughout the school year.
These positions not only enhance paraprofessionals’ skill sets but also serve as a valuable career pathway towards becoming a teacher. Eligible full-time paraprofessionals selected for LTA/BLTA roles receive additional compensation of up to $5,000 annually. At the end of each school year, paraprofessionals revert to their previous title and base salary.
| APPLICATION AVAILABILITY: |
| Annual Application Period: January 1 – March 31 |
| ELIGIBILITY: |
| – Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree at the time of application. |
| – Applicants must possess an active and valid Teacher Assistant Certificate (Level I, II, or III) issued by the New York State Education Department. |
| – Submission of transcripts (official or unofficial) showing degree conferral date and a copy of the Teaching Assistant Certificate are required. |
| – Applicants must have completed one (1) full year of service as a full-time, active paraprofessional at NYCDOE. |
| – A satisfactory record of attendance and punctuality is required. |
| – Bilingual LTA applicants must demonstrate fluency (reading, writing, comprehension, and speaking without hesitation) and high proficiency in the relevant language. |
Explore these career training programs and take the next step in your education career journey within the NYC Public Schools. For additional questions about any of these programs, please utilize the contact information provided within each program description.
