PROCESSING YOUR APPLICATION FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL CERTIFICATE

Instructional I and II CERTIFICATION INSTRUCTIONS This includes First Certification in Pennsylvania and adding additional certifications at the Instructional I and II level

The following items must accompany your application: $100 Money Order –payable to the Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania (no checks or credit cards) Photocopy of Certification Analysis Sheet (program plan) The plan reviewed by your adviser outlining course work required for certification. Grad students PRAXIS SCORES – even if scores were reported to Arcadia they are in label form. Submitting a copy of Praxis helps to quickly expedite the process. Certification Cover Sheet Certification Application Instructions

Certification Cover Sheet Item #1 Type of Certificate Check appropriate box Intern Instructional I or Instruction II Certification concentration Certification Application Instructions

Item #2 Previously certified: If you check yes - –Provide photocopy of Instructional, Emergency, or Intern Certificate Available for printing on PDE website Certification Cover Sheet

Item #3 –For reporting purposes we need to know if you are: An Undergraduate student A Graduate Student enrolled for a Certification Program or Certification and masters’ degree. Item #4 –Practicum/student teaching - grade level, subject(s) and school. If you contact us in the future for information regarding where you student taught we will be able to provide this information easily. Certification Cover sheet

Item #5 Current Occupation –Undergraduates: if you had a full-time job prior to becoming a student –Graduate students: if you are changing careers, what was your previous profession/job –We need this information for reports required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education Item #6 –The State wants to know if your are looking for employment as a teacher or outside of education Certification Cover Sheet

General Application Form PDE 338G –Section II Bachelor’s Degree Subject Area and code – Section III Health Certificate Licensed physician ONLY - NO Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant SHS – Dr’s hours – Mon & Thurs, 2:30-4:30pm (x2966 after noon for appointment) –Section IV Background 1 through 7 –Section V Code of Conduct –Section VI AFFIDAVIT YOUR SIGNATURE AND DATE

College Verification Form PDE 338C SECTION I : Applicant Information Last Name, First Name, Middle initial Social Security Number SECTION II: University Recommendation – do not write in this section NOTE: new Praxis score requirements based on gpa at completion of program

Praxis Test Standard Deviation Qualifying score for Elementary Education: C, I A standard deviation SD SD SD SD -1 SD The chart is posted on the graduate forms page at

PDE Form 338G cont SECTION III: filled out by certification officer SECTION IV: PRAXIS LABEL

CONVERT AN INSTRUCTIONAL I TO INSTRUCTIONAL II This is done through the school district where you are teaching REQUIREMENTS: 3 years of teaching in PA public school 24 Post-baccalaureate credits: –Undergraduate/graduate courses from an accredited four year school (Religion, Law, and Medicine are excluded) Community College credits excluded –PDE approved in-service credits Induction Program

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION (Act 48) To maintain their certification, all school personnel are required to participate in continuing professional development. Every 5 years teachers must complete: 6 undergraduate/graduate credits or 180 hours of PDE approved in-service OR a combination of credits and hours

Adding An Instructional Area To A PA Certificate REQUIREMENTS: Must hold an Instructional (type 60, 61, 62 or 80) certificate and be adding an Instructional area. Applies only to middle school or secondary ed content (math, general science, chemistry, social studies, etc.) Pass required Praxis exam and apply directly to the state Excludes: all K-6 or K-12 Content Areas and any Instructional subject with "no qualifying score".

RECIPROSITY INTERSTATE AGREEMENTS PA has interstate agreements with 42 states Agreements simplify issuance of a comparable certificate by another state Teacher must obtain forms from the department of education for the state in which they seek reciprocal certification Additional certification requirements may apply

RESOURCES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL 50 STATES (maintained by the University of Kentucky)

GETTING A TEACHING POSITION PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (PDE) –  Standard Application  Check Status of Certification Application  Check Status of Professional Educator’s Certificate  Profiles of School Districts in Pennsylvania

 Standard Application On-Line to be reviewed by School District Personnel who are Hiring Teachers  Job Listings for Educators  Other Participating REAP States PA R.E.A.P. (Regional Education Applicant & Placement Program)

Web sites TeacherLinkUSA PA REAP

Teacher Blogs trying to define 21 st century teachers So what is a 21st Century Teacher? – flexible, –collaborative, –research based, – knows the learning styles of their students, –teaches to different learning styles and ability levels. All of these go into creating ethical, life-long learners — My goal for a 21st Century Citizen. Reference: /