Table of Contents
Requirements For Attaining Your Pennsylvania Teacher License
Below are all the requirements necessary for one to become a Pennsylvania teacher.
- Bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or greater GPA
- Completion of a teacher certification program within the commonwealth; an out-of-state program may also work if you meet the necessary course hours
- Background check and application data
- Confirmation of your tests
Exams to Complete
- Praxis I or PAPA exam for basic skills
- Praxis II test for your content area
Requirements For Upgrading To a Level II Pennsylvania Teacher Certificate
- Twenty-four semester hours of the graduate student in the six service years you hold your Level I license
Requirements For Renewing Your License
- 180 professional development hours or six college study credits from an accredited school (pending pre-approval from your employer)
Who Runs Certification Efforts In Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Department of Education supports certification efforts in the commonwealth. The Division of Certification Services provides help for people aiming to become teachers in the commonwealth.
You will apply at the start to attain your Level I license. You can use this as an introductory license, although you will be encouraged to move forward to a Level II license within six service years.
Completing a Certification Program
While you will need a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or greater, you must also complete a certification program within the commonwealth. The PDE offers certification programs from more than a hundred schools throughout the region.
The certification work includes a student teaching program to serve as an educator at a public school in the commonwealth. You will prepare lesson plans and evaluations and operate a classroom setting while a teacher reviews your work. You will spend at least twelve weeks in your education program. You must pass a teacher assessment review after the program ends.
For Out-Of-State Applications
You could apply to teach in Pennsylvania if you completed a teacher education program outside of the commonwealth. You must ensure the program you completed includes these course points:
- Six semester hours of math
- Three hours of English composition
- Three hours of English or American literature
Other Parts of the Pennsylvania Teacher Application Process
The effort to apply for a Pennsylvania license also requires transcripts from your college, the completion of the state-required exams, and a criminal background check with the state police and the FBI. You will require a background check if you last completed such a review at least a year ago.
All data in your application will go to the state Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality in Harrisburg. The Department of Education website will provide updates on your application status. It can take a few weeks to respond due to the extensive reviews necessary for the work and the commonwealth’s backlog.
Tests To Complete
All applicants in Pennsylvania must complete these tests:
- Praxis I or PAPA
The Praxis I test is a core academic skills exam. It entails sections for reading, writing, and math. The state requires 156 on the reading portion, 162 for writing, and 142 for math.
PAPA is a pre-service test you may also complete. The exam is an alternative to the Praxis I exam that may also work. The test is a review of your general skills for education.
- Praxis II
The Praxis II test is a subject area-specific exam you must complete surrounding what you wish to teach. The secondary education tests focus on specific subjects, while middle school tests entail basics in work. Other Praxis II tests include K-12 tests surrounding various basic subjects and special education tests for language pathology and educating those with visual or hearing impairments.
The score you require for your Praxis II test will require surrounding whatever content area you will cover. The Praxis website provides details on what scores are necessary and what bits of content you might expect when completing your tests.
Moving To a Level II License
The first license you will acquire as a Pennsylvania teacher is a Level I license. You can acquire your Level II license after you complete the necessary rules for moving forward.
Your Level I license works for six years of service. You must complete twenty-four semester hours of graduate study from a university to attain Level II certification. You can apply for your Level II credential after this to become eligible for further teaching opportunities.
Renewing Your License
Your Level II license will last for five years. You must renew your license before that five-year period expires.
You can renew your Level II license by completing at least 180 hours of professional development courses during those five years. You can also complete six semester hours of college studies if you prefer.
All teachers must attain pre-approval for their teaching needs before they can start. The pre-approval is necessary to ensure the teacher can complete the necessary courses one wishes to manage for study purposes.
The state Teacher Information Management System will provide details on how you can complete your work.
What Certifications Are Available?
You can qualify for various certifications in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. You can specify which certifications you wish to complete through the Teacher Information Management System.
The specific certifications available for teachers to follow in Pennsylvania include the following:
- Communications
- Technical instructions
- Health and physical education
- English
- Physical sciences, including specific certifications for chemistry, biology, and physics
- Mathematics
- Foreign languages, including K-12 certification for multiple languages like American Sign Language, Spanish, French, and German
The commonwealth has the right to discontinue some certifications if the state does not have any further need for them. Examples of certifications that have been discontinued in the state include home economics, business education, and accounting. Check with the Department of Education to review the most recent standards available and what is no longer open for use in the commonwealth.
Resources
https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Certification/Pages/default.aspx – TIMS system
https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Certification/BecomeAnEducator/Pages/Approved-Certification-Programs.aspx – Certification programs in the state
https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Certification/CertTestingRequirements/Pages/default.aspx – Tests to complete for a license in Pennsylvania
https://www.ets.org/praxis/pa – Praxis testing data for Pennsylvania educators
https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Certification/PAEducators/Pages/PACerts.aspx – Certifications for teachers in Pennsylvania to utilize