Here you will find all the information necessary to help you become a fully certified BPS coach. Below you will find a link containing a quick guide to the onboarding process for Buffalo coaches.

Athletic Coach Onboarding Guide

APPLY: We have many sports teams looking for a coach for this year! Please follow this link to apply for a position today!!!

http://buffaloschools.applicantstack.com/x/openings

All Buffalo coaching personnel are required to be certified in accordance with NYSPHSAA standards. As per state mandates, all coaches employed in our district are certified in CPR/AED & First Aid . In accordance with state mandates, Buffalo Athletics will always look to find qualified, certified educators to fill coaching assignments. If such a qualified educator is not available, the district may appoint a non-certified teacher as a coach. In addition to the NYSED requirements listed below, all Buffalo coaches must complete a Buffalo Police Department background check. 

• Each coach is responsible for guiding his/her student-athletes through practices, scrimmages and games appropriate for their age and level of play. These activities are conducted so that the physical welfare, health, and safety of the participants are protected and fostered. The coach is responsible for teaching each athlete: competition rules, sport specific development skills, moral values, sportsmanship, ethical conduct and fair play, in accordance with school philosophy. All activities should always be conducted in an appropriate educational environment. It is the responsibility of each individual coach to maintain their NY State coaching certification and mandated updates. Failure to do so can lead to the loss of a coaching position for that particular season.

Non-certified teacher, must complete the following to coach in New York State:

• Fingerprinting processed through MorphTrust with clearance through NYS Education Department. Instructions

• Current first aid certification (valid for 2 or3 years) and Current CPR/AED (valid for 1 or 2 years) NYSED Approved Courses

• Child Abuse Course.  Available through NYS Office of Child & Family Services (no cost on-line course). 
          Note: New Program required by April 2025  
                   2nd Update  required for any applications after Oct 1, 2025

• Violence Prevention & Intervention (SAVE) workshop. Available through NYS workshops. (choose "Violence Only" course)

• Concussion Awareness & Management CDC certification or NFHS certification (good for 2 years - no cost)

• Dignity for All Students Certification (DASA) - NYS approved course sites; Alberti Center @ UB; Erie 1 BOCES; Buffalo State College; Daemen; Orleans/Niagara BOCES

• Completed Temporary Coaches license. Done through NYS TEACH. Renewed annually. Licensing instructions

• Cheerleading only - USA Cheer Course 

AND one of the 2 coaching specific course pathways to certification in NYS.

1. NFHSlearn.com (Level 1, 2, 3 and a 30 hour internship)

2. NYS Coach Certification (Course 1, 2 3 listed below and internship)

PATHWAY ONE: NFHSLEARN.COM - You have 5 years from 1st appointment to complete courses as outlined below:

• Level 1: https://nfhslearn.com/home/level1_certification

  • Four courses - $35

  • Courses titles: Coaching Mental Wellness, Concussion in Sports, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Fundamentals of Coaching ($)

• Level 2: https://nfhslearn.com/home/level2_certification

  • Five Courses - ($35 + dependent on specific sport)

  • Course titles/links:

    • Fundamentals of Coaching ($35)

    • First Aid, Health, and Safety

    • Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

    • Heat Illness Prevention

    • Protecting Students from Abuse

    • Sudden Cardiac Arrest

    • Concussion in Sports

    • Sport Specific Course ($)

• Level 3: https://nfhslearn.com/home/level3_certification

  • Seven Courses - $70

  • Course titles:

    • Teaching and Modeling Behavior ($20)

    • Strength and Conditioning ($50)

    • Sportsmanship

    • Engaging Effectively with Parents

    • Bullying Hazing and Inappropriate Behaviors

• 30-hour internship

  • Must submit Internship Evaluation Information Form

  • Must submit Verification of Completion of a Sport Specific Internship Form

  • Verification of three years coaching

Please Note: The levels build upon one another, the total is 16 separate courses all online with a total cost of $105 + your sport specific course total)

PATHWAY TWO: NYS Coaching Certification Classes - You have 5 years from 1st appointment to complete courses as outlined below:

• Philosophy, Principles, and Organization of Athletics in Education course prior to 1st renewal of Coaching License. 

• Health Science Applied to Coaching course within five (5) years of initial appointment.

• Theory and Techniques of Coaching (sport specific) course within five (5) years of initial appointment.

***NYS Coaching Courses are available through  Cortland (on-line courses)($185/per course)

Certified Teacher Coaches, School Leaders or Pupil Personnel Service providers must complete the following to coach in New York State:

• Fingerprinting processed through MorphTrust with clearance through NYS Education Department.  

• Current first aid certification (valid for 2 or 3 years) and Current CPR/AED (valid for 1 or 2 years)  NYSED Approved Courses

• Concussion Awareness & Management CDC certification or NFHS certification. (good for 2 years - no cost)
  
  In addition, Non-Physical Education Teachers must complete one of the following pathways: 
  There are 2 pathways to certification in NYS.

  1. NFHSlearn.com (Level 2, 3 and a 30 hour internship)

  2. NYS Coach Certification (Course 1, 2 3 listed below and internship)

  PATHWAY ONE: NFHSLEARN.COM - You have 5 years from 1st appointment to complete courses as outlined below:

  • Level 2: https://nfhslearn.com/home/level2_certification

    • Five Courses - ($35 + dependent on specific sport)

    • Course titles/links:

      • Fundamentals of Coaching ($35)

      • First Aid, Health, and Safety

      • Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

      • Heat Illness Prevention

      • Protecting Students from Abuse

      • Sudden Cardiac Arrest

      • Concussion in Sports

      • Sport Specific Course ($)

  • Level 3: https://nfhslearn.com/home/level3_certification

    • Seven Courses - $70

    • Course titles:

      • Teaching and Modeling Behavior ($20)

      • Strength and Conditioning ($50)

      • Sportsmanship

      • Engaging Effectively with Parents

      • Bullying Hazing and Inappropriate Behaviors

  • 30-hour internship

    • Must submit Internship Evaluation Information Form

    • Must submit Verification of Completion of a Sport Specific Internship Form

    • Verification of three years coaching

  Please Note: The levels build upon one another, the total is 16 separate courses all online with a total cost of $105 + your sport specific course total)

PATHWAY TWO: NYS Coaching Certification Classes - You have 5 years from 1st appointment to complete courses as outlined below:

• Philosophy, Principles, and Organization of Athletics in Education course prior to 1st renewal of Coaching License. 

• Health Science Applied to Coaching course within five (5) years of initial appointment.

• Theory and Techniques of Coaching (sport specific) course within five (5) years of initial appointment.

***NYS Coaching Courses are available through  Cortland (on-line courses).