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10. Notifying the State Education Department of Changes in Business Entities

The public may search and obtain information regarding professional business entities by name using our Verification Search. Therefore, all professional business entities must notify the Professional Corporations Unit of the State Education Department of all changes in professional business entities to ensure the most accurate information is available to the Department and the public.

Assumed Names

Domestic and foreign corporations are required by Section 202(b) of the Business Corporation Law to conduct their activities under their true legal name in New York State unless it does not comply with the requirements of Section 130 of the General Business Law.  In cases where the true legal name does not comply with the General Business Law, you may need to establish an assumed name in New York.  If you file an assumed name with either the Department of State or with a County Clerk(s) Office, that name must also satisfy Part 29 of the Rules of the Board of Regents and Part 59 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education as follows:

  • The proposed name of the corporation appropriately describes the profession or professions practiced and the services to be provided and is not false, fraudulent, deceptive or misleading. 
  • If the proposed name of the corporation includes a reference to a specialized area of professional practice, satisfactory evidence must be submitted substantiating the authority to use such specialty designation. 
  • The name of the company may not contain the name of a deceased person unless:
    1. such person's name was part of the company name at the time of such person's death; or
    2. such person's name was part of an existing partnership and at least two-thirds of such partnership's partners become members of the company.

If you use an assumed name which does not satisfy these conditions you may be subject to professional discipline.

Additional information regarding the Certificate of Assumed name is available from the Department of State.

Instructions for How to File a Certificate of Assumed Name

All documents relative to corporate filings will be mailed directly to the name and address listed under “Filer’s Name and Mailing Address” on your Certificate of Assumed Name.

  1. To obtain a Certificate of Authority from the Office of Professions. This can only be applied for through the mail.
    THE APPLICATION CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS AND A FILING FEE OF $20.00
    1. Certificate of Assumed Name 
    2. Professional Corporations Contact Information Form (nysed.gov);
  2. You must submit both the Certificate of Authority and Certificate of Assumed Name to the Department of State along with all applicable fees. When submitting, you must specifically request that the Department of State return a Certified Copy of the Certificate of Assumed name to you. Please contact the Department of State for any questions regarding Step 2. (518) 473-2492; and
  3. To complete registration, you must mail the following items to The Office of the Professions.
    • Certified Copy of the Certificate of Assumed Name
    • Check or Money Order for $20.00 payable to New York State Education Department
      Mailing Address:
      New York State Education Department
      Division of Professional Licensing Services
      Professional Corporations Unit
      89 Washington Avenue
      Albany, NY 12234-1000

Corporate Dissolution

If at any time you choose to dissolve your professional corporation, you must file a Certificate of Dissolution with the Department of State and provide the New York State Education Department, Professional Corporations Unit with a certified copy of that filing along with a $20.00 filing fee, if required. (Additional information regarding the Certificate of Dissolution is available on the NYS Department of State website at https://dos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2023/08/1337-f.pdf.)