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BOCES for teachers

BOCES is where many New York teachers take workshops, earn CTLE hours, find jobs, join substitute lists and get help with data and technology.

Professional learning at BOCES

Every BOCES runs professional development for the districts it serves. Long Island examples from official sites:

Eastern Suffolk BOCES: Professional Development (workshops, Professional Learning Series, DASA training, autism training), Model Schools technology coaching, Curriculum Council, School Library System, LILIE graduate courses. esboces.org PD
Western Suffolk BOCES: Professional Development, Model Schools Program, Instructional Technology Services, School Library System, Health and Physical Education and Mental Health programs. wsboces.org instructional support
Nassau BOCES: Center for Professional Development and SEED Academy. nassauboces.org

Most BOCES workshops are bought by your district through a CoSer. Ask your building or district PD contact how to register and whether there is a fee.

CTLE: your 100 hours

NYSED says holders of Professional classroom teaching, educational leadership and Level III teaching assistant certificates who work in a NYS school district or BOCES must complete 100 clock hours of acceptable Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) in each five-year registration period. CTLE must come from an approved sponsor; NYSED's sponsor list includes BOCES, school districts and Teacher Centers.

CTLE pace check

Runs only in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent.

Hours you already have this period Years left in your registration period

Example with made-up numbers

A teacher has 35 hours with 3 years left.

Hours still needed: 100 − 35 = 65 Per year: 65 ÷ 3 ≈ 21.7 hours Per school month (10 a year): 21.7 ÷ 10 ≈ 2.2 hours

Always check your own record in your TEACH account and NYSED's CTLE page.

Teacher Centers

Teacher Centers are authorized by Education Law §316. NYSED says each is operated by a board made up mostly of elementary and secondary school teachers. They offer professional learning, coaching and mentoring, National Board Certification support, and are approved CTLE providers. NYSED's page lists state funding for 126 Teacher Centers (a figure tied to 2017-18 funding). Many are housed in or work closely with BOCES and districts; ask your union or district which center serves you.

Regional Information Centers (RICs)

There are 12 RICs in New York, organized under BOCES. A RIC typically serves several BOCES. RIC services named by BOCES of NYS include administrative systems and data analysis, integration and verification. For teachers, that often means:

Student management systems (attendance, grades, report cards)
State assessment data and reporting platforms
Regents exam scoring and assessment services (some BOCES)
Learning management systems and network support
Data privacy and cybersecurity services for districts

See all 12 RICs

State networks connected to BOCES

SCDN (Staff/Curriculum Development Network): curriculum and professional learning leaders from the 37 BOCES and the Big 5 cities, working with NYSED. NYSED: SCDN
OSE Educational Partnership: NYSED's special education support network. Its Regional Partnership Centers (RPCs) provide technical assistance and professional development. You may still see the older name RSE-TASC on some BOCES pages. osepartnership.org
RBERNs: eight Regional Bilingual Education Resource Networks for teachers of English Language Learners. Long Island RBERN is hosted by Eastern Suffolk BOCES. NYSED RBERNs
School Library Systems: many BOCES run a School Library System for school librarians (for example Eastern Suffolk and Western Suffolk BOCES).
Mentoring: Teacher Centers and BOCES PD offices support coaching and mentoring. Your district's mentoring program is described in its own plan; ask your mentor coordinator.

Jobs, substitute lists and certification help

BOCES jobs: BOCES hire teachers, teaching assistants, therapists, CTE instructors and more. Each BOCES posts openings (for example Western Suffolk, Eastern Suffolk, Nassau).
District openings through BOCES: Eastern Suffolk BOCES posts "Open Positions" for school districts. Many BOCES offer an online application system called OLAS (Online Application System for Educators); Otsego-Northern Catskills BOCES says it is "free to applicants."
Substitute pools: some BOCES run substitute services for districts (for example Eastern Suffolk BOCES Substitute Services). Ask your BOCES human resources office.
Certification help: some BOCES host a Regional Certification office (for example Eastern Suffolk BOCES). NYSED's TEACH system is where you apply.
Student teaching: Nassau BOCES posts a Student Teacher/Intern application on its employment page.

Sources

If this page and an official page disagree, the official page wins.

NYSED, Number of CTLE Clock Hours (100 hours, five-year registration period): highered.nysed.gov/tcert/resteachers/ctle-hours (checked Nov 8, 2026)
NYSED, Approved CTLE Sponsors: ctlesponsors.html (checked Nov 8, 2026)
NYSED, Teacher Centers (Education Law §316, boards, CTLE, 126 centers): nysed.gov/standards-instruction/teacher-centers (checked Nov 8, 2026)
BOCES of NYS, About RICs: boces.org/about-regional-information-centers-rics; RIC One, RICs/BOCES: ricone.org/ricsboces (checked Nov 8, 2026)
NYSED, Staff/Curriculum Development Network: nysed.gov; NYSED RFP #24-015 Regional Partnership Centers: nysed.gov; NYSED RBERNs: nysed.gov (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Eastern Suffolk BOCES programs (PD, Model Schools, School Library System, HR, substitutes, Regional Certification): esboces.org/programs-services; Western Suffolk BOCES Instructional Support: wsboces.org/instructionsupport; Nassau BOCES: nassauboces.org (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Otsego-Northern Catskills BOCES, Recruitment Service (OLAS, free to applicants): oncboces.org (checked Nov 8, 2026)