Students who have outstanding certification requirements after completing all course requirements for their program have different paths to certification available to them depending on their program.

For students in a program where certification is the final award (e.g. Post-Baccalaureate, Job-Embedded Licensure, Alternative Certification/Licensure, etc.): 

Students are unable to complete their program until they have satisfied all certification requirements. After completing all academic requirements, students may elect to extend their enrollment in order to remain enrolled while completing certification requirements. Students must sign up for extended enrollment by the start of the term following completion of academic requirements (e.g. if a student completes all academic requirements by the end of the Spring term, they must sign up for extended enrollment by the start of the Summer term). Here are a few things to keep in mind: 

• Students who extend their enrollment will have up to 3 terms to resolve certification requirements. During these terms, they must enroll in a minimum of 1 credit-bearing course in support of their certification requirements. 

• When students complete certification requirements and are granted their final award (e.g. state licensure/certification) they may exit extended enrollment and will be marked as Program Complete.

• Students who do not extend their enrollment or who reach 3 terms of extended enrollment without completing all certification requirements will be exited from Relay and their status will be marked as Program Incomplete. 

For students in a program where certification is required for the final award (e.g. NY MAT where certification is required for the awards of Master of Arts in Teaching):

Students are unable to complete their program until they have satisfied all certification requirements. After completing all academic requirements, students may elect to extend their enrollment in order to remain enrolled while completing certification requirements. Students must sign up for extended enrollment by the start of the term following completion of academic requirements (e.g. if a student completes all academic requirements by the end of the Spring term, they must sign up for extended enrollment by the start of the Summer term). Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Students who extend their enrollment will have up to 3 terms to resolve certification requirements. During these terms, they must enroll in a minimum of 1 credit-bearing course in support of their certification requirements. 

• When students complete certification requirements and are granted their final award (e.g. state licensure/certification) they may exit extended enrollment and will be marked as Program Complete/Graduated and Master’s degree will be granted if applicable.

• Students who do not extend their enrollment or who reach 3 terms of extended enrollment without completing all certification requirements will be exited from Relay and their status will be marked as Program Incomplete.

Please note that based on NY state policy, failure to maintain continuous enrollment in the NY program will result in the expiration of Transitional B certificate(s). Students will be eligible for degree conferral, and institutional recommendation for an Initial license(s), at the end of the term in which they have satisfied all certification, academic, and financial responsibilities. 

For students in a program where certification is not required (e.g. non-NY MAT programs):

Students will graduate from their program and earn their Master’s degree irrespective of their certification requirements, if applicable. Students who wish to receive support towards completing certification requirements should apply to transfer to a non-degree-seeking offering. Students may remain enrolled in non-degree-seeking offerings for up to 3 terms or longer depending on state certification requirements.