Introduction
A professional license is the authorization
to practice and use a professional title in
New York State. Your license is valid for
life unless it is revoked, annulled, or suspended
by the Board of Regents.
Licensure and Registration
Once received, your application and all required
supporting material will be reviewed. If you
meet all the licensure requirements, we will
issue you a license number. You will be entitled
to practice in New York State as of the effective
date of licensure. Written confirmation of licensure
- your license parchment and registration certificate
- is mailed within two working days following
the licensure date.
Before you receive written
confirmation of your licensure, you may find
out if your license has been issued (including
your license number and effective date of
licensure) by calling our telephone verification
service at (518) 474-3817 or checking your
name on our online
license verification service.
To practice in New York
under the authority of your license, you must
reregister every three years (two years for
medicine). You are automatically registered
for your first registration period when your
license is issued. Thereafter, we will send
you a renewal application to the name and
address we have on file (see Address or Name
Changes, below) at least four months before
your registration expires.
Verifying
Your Credentials
To ensure authenticity of credentials, the New
York State Education Department's Office of
the Professions requires evidence of your compliance
with each licensure requirement be sent directly
to us from the organization where you met the
requirement (e.g., school, testing agency, licensing
authority, certifying board, hospital, employer,
etc.). These records and documents must bear
an original (not photocopied) signature
of the official who maintains the records and
stamp or seal of the institution where the credentials
are maintained. The Office of the Professions
regularly reverifies credentials directly from
the issuing entity to assure authenticity. While
this may delay licensure in some cases, it is
a necessary step to ensure protection of the
public.
You are responsible for
asking organizations to complete and directly
submit to us the documentation you need. Keep
a record of your verification requests.
NOTE: Forms
and transcripts sent from the originating
institution to the Department must be enclosed
in a sealed official school envelope bearing
the institution’s name and address. Verifying
organizations may take eight weeks or more
from the date of your request to send the
required independent verifications. The Office
of the Professions cannot officially evaluate
your credentials until we receive the required
documentation. You must consider this time
factor in deciding when to submit your application
for licensure.
Once you are licensed, Education
Law requires that you notify the Department
of any change in your name or mailing address
within 30 days of the change.
NYS Education Department
Office of the Professions
Division of Professional Licensing Services
Education Building - 2nd Floor
Albany, NY 12234-1000
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