You will be assigned a membership number once we have completed processing your enrollment. This number will appear on your paystubs, EFT statements, and TRS correspondence.

You may be eligible for TRS membership if your employer is indicated below. If your position automatically makes you a TRS member, you do not need to enroll. If you have the option to join TRS, you may enroll online.
 

New York City Department of Education (DOE)

Appointed teachers and pedagogues in New York City’s public schools automatically become TRS members as of their appointment date. They do not need to submit an enrollment request.

Paraprofessionals in New York City public schools automatically become members of TRS if they are in one of the following titles: Auxiliary Trainer; Bilingual Professional Assistant; Educational Assistant; Educational Associate; or Teacher Aide. Newly hired paraprofessionals become TRS members as of their appointment date and do not need to submit an enrollment request. (Before October 29, 2021, TRS membership was optional for paraprofessionals.)

Other job titles in New York City’s public schools may have the option of joining TRS if they are represented by the United Federation of Teachers (UFT). They may enroll at any time, and their membership date would begin on the day that TRS receives their enrollment or transfer request. This is effective as of December 11, 2024 with Chapter 551 of the Laws of 2024.
 

City University of New York (CUNY)

Full-time teachers must join either TRS or the Optional Retirement Program (ORP), which is currently offered by the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA). If they do not join the ORP within 30 days of their CUNY appointment, they would automatically become TRS members. Their membership would be effective as of their appointment date. They do not need to submit an enrollment request.

Adjunct instructors have the option of joining TRS. They may enroll at any time, and their membership would begin on the day that TRS receives their enrollment request.
 

Participating New York City Charter Schools

Appointed teachers and pedagogues in participating Charter Schools automatically become TRS members as of their appointment date. They do not need to submit an enrollment request.

Paraprofessionals automatically become members of TRS if they are in one of the following titles: Auxiliary Trainer; Bilingual Professional Assistant; Educational Assistant; Educational Associate; or Teacher Aide. Newly hired paraprofessionals become TRS members as of their appointment date and do not need to submit an enrollment request. (Before October 29, 2021, TRS membership was optional for paraprofessionals.)

Yes. All employees in a job title covered by the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), including substitute teachers and per diem teachers, are eligible to join TRS.  Enrollment in TRS is not automatic for these titles; an online enrollment application must be filed at www.trsnyc.org to request membership.

Note: Before Chapter 551 of the Laws of 2024, enacted on December 11, 2024, substitute teachers and per diem teachers were not eligible for membership in TRS.

Before October 29, 2021, TRS membership was optional for paraprofessionals. However, as of October 29, 2021, paraprofessionals in the following titles are automatically members of TRS: Auxiliary Trainer, Bilingual Professional Assistant, Educational Assistant, Educational Associate, and Teacher Aide.

Paraprofessionals should not submit an enrollment request on the TRS website; instead, TRS will automatically enroll them as members based on information from their employer.

If your TRS membership is mandatory, you will be automatically enrolled in TRS, and will not need to submit an enrollment request. (However, you must provide other documentation; see What documentation must I provide to TRS as a new member?)

If your TRS membership is optional, you may enroll by accessing the "Enroll Now" link on our homepage.

For more information about enrolling in TRS, please refer to the Enrolling in TRS brochure.

Yes. TRS membership is optional. You may enroll at any time by accessing the "Enroll Now" link on our homepage. Your membership would begin on the day that TRS receives your enrollment request. Once you enroll, you must maintain your membership for as long as you are in a TRS-eligible position.

Before October 29, 2021, TRS membership was optional for paraprofessionals. However, as of October 29, 2021, paraprofessionals in the following titles are automatically members of TRS: Auxiliary Trainer, Bilingual Professional Assistant, Educational Assistant, Educational Associate, and Teacher Aide.

Paraprofessionals should not submit an enrollment request on the TRS website; instead, TRS will automatically enroll them as members based on information from their employer.

If your TRS membership is mandatory, you will be automatically enrolled in TRS, and will not need to submit an enrollment request. (However, you must provide other documentation; see What documentation must I provide to TRS as a new member?)

If your TRS membership is optional, you may enroll by accessing the "Enroll Now" link on our homepage.

For more information about enrolling in TRS, please refer to the Enrolling in TRS brochure.