Secondary certification

In addition to engaging in the education and psychology coursework listed under Program Requirements, undergraduate teacher certification candidates must also meet the following State course and GPA requirements and pass several tests offered by the Educational Testing Service. They must also align their major coursework to the State's requirements for teachers in their specific subject area. For information about courses required in the various certification areas, select the appropriate certification area to the left (English, Mathematics, etc.).

State requirements

The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires that certification candidates meet the following course and GPA requirements:

• One course in English composition (freshman writing and ESEM both fulfill this requirement, as does a score of 600 or above on the SAT II Writing test) [not required for post-baccs]
• One course in American or English literature (AP English credit counts) [not required for post-baccs]
• Two mathematics courses (a score of 560 or above on the SAT II Math Level IC test counts, as does AP credit for calculus or statistics) [not required for post-baccs]
• A GPA of at least a 3.0

Test requirements

Students applying for certification must pass the following tests:

• Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA)in reading, math, and writing (by the fall prior to the student teaching semester). For information, go to http://www.pa.nesinc.com/. [not required for post-baccs]
• A Praxis II Subject Assessment test for the subject area(s) in which they are pursuing certification (by the January test date immediately prior to the practice teaching semester). For information, go to http://www.ets.org/praxis. To find out which Praxis II exam to take, go to the above Praxis link, then under "State Testing Requirements," select "Pennsylvania," then "go."Click "tests for their certification area," then scroll down to "Secondary Education (Grades 7-12)" OR, for languages, "K-12 Areas."
• If pursuing a foreign language certification (which is a K-12 certification), students also need to take the Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge test (Test Code 30511) (by the January test date of their senior year).For information, go to http://www.ets.org/praxis.

Certification application

Once they have satisfactorily completed the certification program, certification candidates complete a "new credential application" for an Instructional I certificate in their subject area in TIMS, the Pennsylvania Department of Education's on-line teacher information management system. Certification candidates are responsible for paying the $100 certification application fee.

Interstate Agreement for Educator Licensure

Pennsylvania is among the states that have signed the NASDTEC (National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification) Interstate Agreement, which "facilitates the movement of educators among the states and other jurisdictions that are members of NASDTEC." Although there may be conditions applicable to individual jurisdictions, the Agreement makes it possible for an educator who completed an approved program in one jurisdiction to earn a certificate or license in another state or jurisdiction. Receiving states may impose certain special requirements which must be met in a reasonable period of time. For more information, including the names of states who signed the agreement, go to the NASDTEC site.