Tips for Candidates: Successfully Completing Exam Registration with a Credit/Debit Card Payment 

If possible, candidates should complete their registration using a home or otherwise private internet connection. If a candidate is experiencing any difficulty completing a registration using a school or work internet connection, we recommend they try registering again once they are at home.

Before attempting a registration, the candidate should open a new web browser or browser tab on their device and navigate directly to www.nystce.nesinc.com by typing the www.nystce.nesinc.com URL directly into your web browser. Internet search results or a previously opened webpage should not be used. Candidates are encouraged to bookmark the website homepage for easy access: www.nystce.nesinc.com.

Exam registration fees must be paid using a credit card (VISA or MasterCard only) or a debit or check card that carries the VISA or MasterCard logo, and that can be used without the entry of a personal identification number (PIN). 

When entering payment, candidates must confirm that all the information shown on the payment screen matches the billing information for the credit/debit card being used for payment. This includes the full zip code (e.g., 12345-6789). 

If the information does not match the billing information for the card, this information needs to be updated under "Customer Information" on the payment screen. 

If a candidate is seeing a message in their Cart that states "Please check back in a few minutes when your initiated payment has either been completed or abandoned" this means a recent payment attempt was not successful. Please wait at least one hour and then try again.

Scheduling Testing Appointments

As we head into the busy Spring/Summer testing season, we encourage EPPs to encourage candidates to schedule their testing appointment(s) as early as possible. This provides them with the best chance of finding the location/date/time of their choice. If students cannot find their first choice of location/date/time, they should schedule what they can find as appointments fill quickly. Appointment availability is fluid and changes as candidates cancel/reschedule, or as additional capacity is added, therefore candidates with a scheduled appointment can keep checking to see if a more desirable appointment becomes available, and if so, reschedule as they choose. There is no cost for candidates to reschedule, though note that a modification to an appointment needs to be completed through the student's www.nystce.nesinc.com website account no later than 48 hours in advance of the currently scheduled appointment time. 

Correcting or Updating Your Testing Account Information

Updating Candidate Name in a Pearson Testing Account

As a reminder, the name shown in the candidate testing account must exactly match the first and last name as it appears on the ID documents presented at the test center at the time of their appointment (excluding hyphens, accents, and spaces). The name that appears in the testing account at the time the registration is created is the one that will appear in the exam roster for test center staff for admission of candidates.  The name on your score report also must match exactly how it appears in your TEACH account.

NOTE: This is especially important for candidates with a multiple-part last name.

If the ID document that will be presented by the candidate on the day of the exam contains a multiple-part last name (e.g., Pena-Delgado or Suarez Thomas), and the name in the testing account is a singular last name (e.g., Pena or Suarez), the candidate will not be admitted and will be turned away.  The same is true in reverse, if multi-part last name appears in testing account, but ID presented shows a singular last name, the candidate will be turned away. Supplemental ID cannot be used to resolve last name discrepancies.     

If the candidate is prohibited from testing, the exam fees will be forfeited, and they will not be eligible for a credit or refund of any kind.  

Name changes must be made to the candidate's TEACH account via the NYSED.gov website for Office of Teaching Initiatives.

Candidates must log into their TEACH account at www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/namechg.html to request a change to their name.   

Updating Candidate Email Address

Candidates are required to log into their www.nystce.nesinc.com website accounts using a multi-factor authentication process. This results in a PIN code sent to the email address on file in their testing account.     

As soon as the candidate becomes aware they will be losing access to the email address currently associated with their testing website account, they should log into their account to change the email address to a new permanent email address. They should log in at www.nystce.nesinc.com, go to "Update Account Information" to enter and save their new email address.  

If they no longer have access to the email address associated with their website account—in order to update the email address, they must submit a copy of their unexpired government-issued photo ID to Candidate Customer Service, along with a written request confirming the email address currently associated with the account, and the new email address they wish to use to log into the account.  

All email correspondence from Pearson will be sent to the email address that you indicate. A permanent email address should be used, not an account such as one associated with a college or district affiliation which they may not always have access to.  

Alternative Testing Arrangements

Our Alternative Testing Arrangements Coordinators are happy to support you in providing them with the accommodations candidates may require to support a successful testing experience. The most important thing you can do as a candidate when you may need testing accommodations is to understand the process. Please carefully read through the details in the Alternative Testing Arrangements section of the program website. There is helpful information there, including the timeline for the processing of requests. Following are a few helpful reminders when supporting your students. 

Requests are reviewed/processed in the order they are received.
Pearson can only work with the information that has been submitted with the request form. If sufficient or appropriate documentation is not provided, obtaining that information will add time to the process.
For privacy reasons, Pearson cannot share student/candidate specific information with a third party, e.g. Academic Advisor, school Accommodations Coordinator, etc. The candidate must provide their express permission for their information to be shared, i.e. giving their verbal permission while on a three-way with the third party and Pearson. The candidate is free to share any emails/resolution letters they receive with you so that you can assist them in developing their questions, but it is always best to direct the candidate to contact Customer Support themselves with their inquiries.

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