The new on-line system for applying for and renewing certificates is live and running. Whether you are a teacher who is currently teaching, or are retired, you can use this system to renew your certificate. In order to access the system, you need to create an account in the system, which you can easily do even if you have not yet received your Educator Identification Number (EIN) in the mail. Follow these easy steps to create your account, log in, and use the system.

1. Go to the State Department of Education web site – www.sde.ct.gov/sde 
2. On the main page, click on ‘Certification’ in the right-hand column under ‘Most Popular Links’
3. On the next page, click on ‘CT Educator Certification System’ (CECS)
4. Click on the ‘Create an account on the CECS’ link
5. Provide your name and email address, and click on the ‘submit’ button
6. You’ll receive messages saying that your User ID and Password are being emailed to you (which is done automatically).
7. Go back to the page in step #4 above.....click on ‘Log in to the CECS system’
8. Enter the User ID and Password that were sent to you via email and click the ‘login’ button.
9. The next screen will ask you to enter the Password assigned to you, and to change that to a new
10. Password, which will be your personal, permanent password. This is the one you will use from that point on to login to the system.
11. Once you enter your new password and click the ‘login’ button, you’ll be taken to the main page of the on-line system, which briefly lists what you can do within the system.
12. At the bottom of the page, click on ‘Acknowledge and Continue’ to access your personal account.
    At the top of the page, above ‘Educator Certificates List,’ you will see your EIN.

The new system is easy to use and can be accessed from any computer. The process to renew a professional educator certificate takes about 5 minutes; once your application is completed and submitted, you will receive an automatic email (at the address you provided when you created your account) that confirms receipt of your application, and provides a PDF copy of it. This system couldn’t be easier to use, provides copies that you can keep electronically or print out, and eliminates the worry of a certificate renewal application being lost in the mail. The State Department of Education will continue to conduct random audits of applications to verify the information provided by the applicant. Questions about use of the system can be sent to the SDE at teacher.cert@ct.gov.