Educational Requirements
The state of Pennsylvania offers the following endorsements.
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Pennsylvania offers Elementary Education (K-6).
Additional Requirements (After Degree Conferral)
- Please submit all licensure documents (located on the Gate 4 Checklist) to gate4@liberty.edu.
- Students must take the Pennsylvania required tests and meet the Pennsylvania qualifying scores. No other tests can be substituted or exceptions made.
- Students will need to obtain their Virginia license first to qualify for reciprocity.
- Gate 4 will complete a College Verification Form which will be used to apply for Virginia licensure.
- After obtaining a Virginia license students can then apply for an Pennsylvania license through reciprocity.
Reciprocity
- For candidates who completed an approved program outside of PA who currently hold a professional level out-of-state certificate but do not have two (2) years of experience in the area for which they are applying.
- Certification Requirements
- Verify that your state is part of the National Association Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement. If your state is not a party to the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, your certification program will be evaluated against PA certification program guidelines.
- Identify the comparable Pennsylvania certificate for which you will be applying (see Types of Certificates). Special note: PDE no longer issues the Special Education PK-8 or 7-12 certification areas. PDE began issuing the Special Education PK-12 certificate 1/1/22. Refer to CSPG 61 (Grade-Level Scope of Certificates section) for more information.
- Obtain all official transcripts (both bachelors and beyond). If submitting transcripts electronically, do not submit your transcript request until you have submitted your application in TIMS. A bachelor’s degree from a nationally accredited college/university is a base requirement for certification. These will be used to verify:
- Bachelor’s degree conferral
- 3.0 cumulative degree GPA
- Program completion and/or required coursework for certification
- Student teaching/internship/practicum or field experience
- Obtain a photocopy of your current and valid state certificate comparable to the PA certificate you are seeking if available.
- For School Speech and Language Pathologist certification or School Social Worker certification, also submit a photocopy of your ASHA and/or PA Department of State license if applicable.
- Obtain a completed Education Preparation Program Verification Form, PDE338A (PDF) as proof of completion of an educator preparation program approved for certification in the state in which the program was completed.
- Confirm that the required tests have been completed and reported to PDE directly from the test administrator. Fundamental Subjects (for all subject areas PK-12) and the content area test(s)]. For current test information, refer to Test Requirements. You must take the PA required tests and meet the PA qualifying score. No other tests can be substituted or exceptions made.
- Complete and submit the application in TIMS.
- All applicants for initial certification in PA must apply for a Level I credential type.
- After completing the payment selection and successfully SUBMITTING your application in TIMS, you will be provided a link to the application cover sheet. First upload all applicable documents possible. Follow directions for submitting transcripts. If documents cannot be uploaded or sent electronically, include the cover sheet with the documents and mail to the address indicated on the cover sheet.
- All certification requirements including testing should be met for all subject areas applied for before submitting the required documentation for review.
- Electronic payment (see Application Fees) accepted in TIMS.