If you are a Tier II, III, IV, or VI member, there is no limit on the number of years of eligible prior service credit that you may claim or purchase. However, you would receive credit for your prior service only after you have attained at least two full years of service credit since becoming a TRS member. Tier III, IV, and VI members must purchase this credit. (Tier II members are not required to purchase prior service credit; credit is granted upon request and after verification.)

For all tiers, you may receive a maximum of one year's service credit for a given school year (360 calendar days), regardless of the number of positions you held during that year. In addition, you must request your service credit before your effective retirement date.

Note for Tier I members: You may purchase credit for a maximum of 15 years of outside teaching service (i.e., prior service that you performed with a public employer outside New York City). You must apply for the credit within 4 years of the date you join TRS or attain Tier I status. (For prior service that you performed with a New York City public employer, purchase is not required; credit is granted upon request and after verification by TRS.)