This document attempts to deal with certain legal issues which the author feels are basic to understanding the function of government in the professional licensing or certification of educators. It is the basic argument of this paper that the right and responsibility of the state to certify teachers is a legitimate, moral, and rational use of the political power of the state only to the extent that teacher certification protects and promotes some demonstrably legitimate public interest of the people for whose welfare and benefit State-accreditated schools are established. The author limits his remarks to legal issues on teacher certification as found in New York State and in New York City. The author notes that in these areas and correspondingly in most of the United States constitutional and statutory law leaves broad discretionary authority to public agencies charged with the responsibility of certifying teachers and administrators. The paper proceeds to cover topics such as certification to protect students, parent role in teacher certification, protection of the rights of teachers and administrators, certification of school administrators as management or labor, job-relatedness of certification procedures, racial discrimination and certification procedures, and proposals to reform teacher preparation and certification policies in New York State. (JA)