Requirements for ECE Teacher Certification in Pennsylvania
Early childhood education in Pennsylvania ranks well among the states; it is in the top one-third in early childhood education rankings. The State of Pennsylvania has increased its emphasis and resources for Early Childhood Education in recent years. Modeling off the successes in neighboring states like New York and Connecticut, the Governor announced initiatives starting in 2017 that significantly increased resources and elevated the government’s commitment to early learners and teachers.
The laws of the state require teachers to complete a state-approved teacher preparation course. The anticipated growth rate is strong due to the emphasis on educational qualifications for teachers in public and private schools. Pennsylvania’s Department of Education oversees the standards for teacher education, testing, and licensure.
Teachers holding an initial teaching license must renew their certifications by completing continuing education and filing for renewal within five years. The state offers a Professional Educator Records Management System that teachers can access online. Teachers can track their status and progress towards completing required continuing education requirements. They can also use the PERM system to locate and identify available courses needed to maintain licensure and renewal. To renew their certification, teachers must complete one of the below-listed continuing education requirements during the active period of the license.
Six credits from an accredited university
180 approved continuing education credits
Six in-service credits approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Pennsylvania Steps to Follow for Teachers
The most direct way to become an ECE teacher in Pennsylvania is to complete a state-approved teacher preparation program and an accredited college or university in Pennsylvania. The state department Education maintains a listing of approved colleges and schools, specializations, and whether they have teacher preparation authority. Students must qualify for the examinations needed for licensure in their area or areas of focus.
Step 1. Earn Your Degree
Students must complete coursework in good academic standing and earn a recommendation from the degree-issuing institution for licensure in one or more fields of teaching. Typically, schools require a minimum grade point average in core courses to grant a recommendation for licensure.
Though you could earn a degree in a related field, if you want to work with children it’s probably best to earn your degree in early childhood education, or at least make sure that you take a significant number of courses covering development, literacy, learning through play, etc. You will be eligible for licensure as a preschool teacher if you have completed at least 24 semester credits covering these subjects.
Additionally, make certain that your program is an approved teacher preparation program that culminates in the degree. If you earn the degree, but haven’t been through a preparation program, you will not be ready to take your exams and earn licensure.
Step 2. Pass Your Exam
The initial educator certification in the State of Pennsylvania requires a completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited, state-approved, successful completion of a required practice teaching term.
The requirements include the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA).. The second battery of tests is part of the PRAXIS series. Teacher candidates must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators modules including reading, mathematics, and writing. The next series of Praxis tests are the Praxis Subject Assessments. Teacher candidates must take and pass tests in each area that they intend to teach. The final part of the testing series is the pedagogy examinations which must be matched to the grade-levels that the candidate wants to teach.
Step 3. Apply for Your License
Once teacher candidates have completed their teacher preparation program, required tests, and background investigation, they can submit an application through the Pennsylvania Teacher Information Management System. The candidates must provide the below-listed documentation.
Verification of a bachelor’s degree with strong academic achievement
Proof of completion of an approved teacher education program
Proof of passing test scores on all required competence and assessment exams
Payment for application processing fees
Popular Career Choices
Preschool Teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
Elementary School Teacher
Special Education Teacher
A Rewarding Career
Pennsylvania seeks to offer every child the advantages of an excellent start in learning. The critical years between birth and age eight form the foundation for a lifetime of learning, positive contributions, and achievement. The prospects for early childhood educators in Pennsylvania are strong. Increased demand for participation drives the growth of Early Childhood Education in Pennsylvania as parents and advocates work to improve access to these vital educational advantages.
Accredited Pennsylvania Programs
Teachers can be certified in multiple subjects, age, grade level, and subjects. Special education is an area of frequent combination with Early Childhood Education. Teachers may also combine Talented and Gifted instruction with Early Childhood certifications.
Alternative Licensures
Alternative certification supports several methods for teacher certification and four types of licenses.
The Pennsylvania Temporary Teaching Permit/ABCTE Passport to Teaching - This permit can authorize teacher candidates with an education degree to teach. However, they must then earn the Passport to Teaching credential from ABCTE.
The Pennsylvania Teacher Intern Certification Program - This certification also works for those who already have a degree. They must complete an intern education program but this certification allows them to teach full-time as they do.
Pennsylvania Teacher Emergency Permit - If there is an open teaching position, but a qualified candidate cannot be found to fill the role, a college graduate from an approved school can receive this permit, allowing them to fill the position for no more than one year or until the position can be filled with a full-time educator. If they complete their licensure requirements in this time, they can be hired full-time themselves.
Licenses for Teachers from Other States - Reciprocity agreements can provide temporary licensure for applicants from out-of-state who qualify. The applicant must have either an active teaching certification and 2 years of experience or a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Credential.
Pennsylvania Alternative Teacher Certification
In some cases, Pennsylvania accepts teachers that have not completed an approved teacher preparation program. This allows teachers that did not come through the traditional system of teacher preparation programs to gain certification and licensure. The alternative licensure accepts teachers with various alternative types of qualifications but is intended for those who have a degree without the accompanying preparation program completed.
Candidates for certification still need a degree and they must complete a teacher prep program and the same exams as traditional-path educators. They can do this by completing the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) prior to entering a preparation program, earning a master’s instead of a bachelor’s degree while taking their preparation courses, and then taking the necessary tests after they complete their degree.
Accredited Early Childhood Educator Teacher Preparation Programs
The state of Pennsylvania is part of the Department of Education’s Middle States region; the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is the regional accreditation agency that provides the most widely accepted form of educational institution accreditation. Specialized accreditation agencies provide an additional layer of program certification for education programs. The CAEP and the National NCATE provide specialized accreditation for childhood education and elementary education.
Lehigh University
Degrees Offered:
School Counseling and Guidance Services; Master’s
Curriculum and Instruction; Master’s & Dr.
Elementary Education and Teaching; Master’s
Special Education and Teaching; Master’s & Dr.
Accreditation By:
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Commission on English Language Program Accreditation- English Language
Drexel University
Degrees Offered:
Bilingual and Multilingual Education; Post-grad Certificate
Education/Teaching Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs; Post-grad Certificate
Education/Teaching Individuals with Autism; Post-grad Certificate
Elementary Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s, Undergrad, & Post-grad Certificate
ESL Teaching; Post-grad Certificate
Accreditation By:
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Commission on English Language Program Accreditation- English Language
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Degrees Offered:
School Counseling and Guidance Services; Master’s, Dr., & Post-grad Certificate
Curriculum and Instruction; Master’s & Dr.
Early Childhood Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s
Elementary Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s
Special Education and Teaching; Bachelor’s, Master’s, Dr., & Post-grad Certificate
ESL Teaching; Master’s
Accreditation By:
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Commission on English Language Program Accreditation - English Language
NCATE- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
University of Pennsylvania
Degrees Offered:
School Counseling and Guidance Services; Master’s
Elementary Education and Teaching; Master’s
Reading Teacher Education; Master’s & Dr.
ESL Teaching; Master’s
Accreditation By:
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Commission on English Language Program Accreditation - English Language Instruction
La Salle University
Degrees Offered:
Early Childhood Education and teaching; Bachelor’s
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Elementary Special Education Programs; Bachelor’s & Master’
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism; Master’s
Reading Teacher Education; Master’s
Special Education and Teaching; Master’s
Accreditation By:
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Specialization Additional Certifications
PK–12 :
Teacher candidates applying for an initial Instructional PK–12 certification must pass a basic skills test called the Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge test, and they must complete the appropriate Praxis test(s) for each area of authorized instruction. The certification areas include American Sign Language Proficiency Interview, Reading Specialist, and Technology Education.
Special Education :
The state offers specialization in special education with specific testing for each level, as follows in the list below.
Special Education: Hearing Impaired PK–12
Special Education, Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Student
Special Education, Teaching Speech & Language Impaired PK–12
Speech-Language Pathology
Special Education: Visually Impaired PK–12
The state requires an extensive safety check for teaching license applicants. This requirement applies to teachers in public and private schools. Teacher candidates must initiate the process by applying to the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system in order to comply with Pennsylvania law requiring background checks for all applicants for employment in public and private schools. Applicants for teaching positions must complete a fingerprint-based state and federal background check and present the completed background investigation to qualify for Pennsylvania educator certification.
There are a number of courses to make Pennsylvania teacher certification based upon previous experience as well as also education and learning. The Pennsylvania State Division of Education And Learning Bureau of Institution Leadership and likewise Teacher High quality supervises the accreditation process, which is detailed listed below to help you learn precisely how to come to be a teacher in Pennsylvania. In order to make Pennsylvania teacher qualification, prospects need to meet certain education and learning as well as understanding as well as evaluating demands.
You can check out a list of accepted teacher prep work programs in Pennsylvania on the state Division of Education and discovering site. Those that have in fact formerly earned a bachelor's level but have in fact not ended up in an accepted teacher preparation program might wish to review our summary to alternate teacher certification in Pennsylvania. Potential customers for trainer qualification in Pennsylvania complying with the standard path to licensure need to select the type of training certificate in addition to technique they prepare to reveal before making an application for accreditation.
These exams are spoken about in even more information below. 5.5% One of among the most important actions in the direction of Pennsylvania teacher accreditation is ending up a teacher education and learning as well as finding out programs accepted by the Department of Education and learning that also holds local accreditation. There are 6 local qualification firms cared for by the US Division of Education And Learning And Also Understanding. The Facility States Commission on Greater Education And Learning As Well As Understanding (MSCHE) is accountable for acknowledging Pennsylvania establishments.
Or else, they could not have gotten Pennsylvania credentials. In addition, candidates that are thinking about online teaching preparation work or training preparation with an out-of-state institution must validate that the institution using the program is accredited by the matching local accreditation body. You can contrast necessary metrics for state-approved instructor preparation work programs in Pennsylvania by utilizing the sortable table on our Pennsylvania universities web page.
Potential customers will normally take the extremely initial collection of examinations prior to admittance to a program. The first collection of required examinations include the Pre-service Academic Effectiveness Evaluation (PAPA) components as well as the Practice Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) components, which step understanding in analysis, producing, and additionally math. Next, prospects have to take and pass the proper Practice topic assessments for the topic( s) to be informed, in addition to the pedagogy (training skills) exam modules that line up with the quality levels to be revealed.
Those that are looking for certification as vocational or task along with technical teachers should take the Occupational Proficiency Analysis (OCA) and also the employment Fundamental Skills Evaluations. Pennsylvania guidelines need all applicants for operate in public in addition to special establishments to go through background checks. All teaching applicants ought to send a fingerprint-based state along with a government history check prior to making use of Pennsylvania teacher certification.
The following documentation needs to be supplied: Verification of bachelor's degree. Confirmation of conclusion of an accepted teacher education and learning and discovering program. Entry of passing evaluation ratings on all required tests. Payment of non-refundable handling charges. Go to the Pennsylvania Division of Education and also learning website for additional info on educator accreditation in Pennsylvania. There were an approximated 3,004 K-12 public institutions in Pennsylvania throughout the 2016-2017 university year, which used over 1.7 million students.
clear up principles in terms young students can identify. Day care center and primary school educators generally need to have a bachelor's degree. In addition to that, public school educators should have a state-issued accreditation or certificate. Public kindergarten and also grade school instructors normally need at least a bachelor's level in main education as well as knowing. Some states also need public preschool along with main institution instructors to major in a material location, such as mathematics or science.
Those with a bachelor's degree in an additional subject can still end up being key education educators. They need to finish an instructor education and learning program to obtain certification to teach. Requirements differ by state. Programs usually include a student-teaching program, in which they work with an advisor teacher in addition to acquiring experience coach trainees in a class setting. For details worrying trainer prep work programs in your state.
If you're considering the field of education, you might want to consider getting qualified as a preschool teacher in Pennsylvania. It's an excellent career choice, as it will give you a chance to help young children with their learning process and have a satisfying job that is full of fun and adventure.
The educational system is one that can really benefit from more qualified professionals working in the field. These are people who are willing to make an investment in their education to ensure that they have all the tools necessary for them to succeed in their school.
By helping to shape the future of a child's educational system, these people are going to be able to make a real difference. Not only will they help kids learn and grow, but they will also help improve the skills of people within their families.
You can help mold this educational system by getting qualified as a preschool teacher in Pennsylvania. The state does require candidates to have at least an Associate's degree before they are considered. There is some testing involved though which isn't difficult.
You may be asked to specialize in a specific area or even take a national exam to prove your skills. You'll get a lot of experience by participating in these tests. There are several levels that you can work your way up to so you can prove your skills.
You must have a good education to qualify. You'll get the same type of job opportunities as those who have a Bachelor's degree in Education.
In order to be considered for the position, you'll also need to have a high school diploma. Most schools have a minimum GPA requirement for the position, but if you can get by without it, go for it.
Once you earn your degree, there are plenty of great opportunities out there that you can take on with your education so you can get on the right path towards your goal of a fulfilling career. This is an opportunity that many people overlook when looking for employment.
Without a solid education, your career path will be quite limited and you won't be able to do the things that you want to in your life unless you have the right educational foundation. It's essential for everyone to have the skills they need so that they can succeed in their careers.
With a high school degree, you'll have a very bright future ahead of you. You'll be able to find employment in preschools and other programs that offer instruction in preschool and kindergarten. as well as private and public school settings.
If you have some special training that you're proud of, you may find that you can take a teaching certification test for a higher paying position. which will be very beneficial for you.
This gives you the chance to work your way up the ladder. and get the best jobs you qualify for.
You'll also find that the jobs are plentiful so you should be able to take advantage of the job opportunities that come your way. This is a great way for you to be successful and fulfill your dreams in your chosen career.
You can do everything from working in the office with children, to helping kids with homework, or helping them develop their own interests. These are all jobs you can enjoy doing in your spare time when you're planning to start your own career as a teacher.
If you're planning on a career as a preschool teacher in Pennsylvania, then the state will help you through the licensing process. to make sure that you don't have any problems in your future.
Finding the right job for you in this field can be quite difficult, but if you are dedicated and focused, then you'll be able to accomplish your dream of becoming a preschool teacher in Pennsylvania. in no time.
Career Options and Salary Info for Teachers
Public Schools – in Pennsylvania employ early childhood teachers that have completed a teacher preparation program and obtained a teaching license. The licensure requirements include a detailed background check pursuant to Pennsylvania Statute 153.
Private Childcare – employers provide a substantial amount of employment for early childhood education. Private childcare often competes with other private providers and some public programs. The trend in private childcare is to require candidates to have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or higher levels of achievement.
Private Schools – provide early childhood education, many schools serve families with children at toddler ages through the early elementary school years. The schools must compete with public schools that require teachers with state licenses, thorough background checks, and continuing education. Private schools often seek the same or higher levels of qualifications and experience.
Head Start Programs – are major employers of early childhood educators, preschool teachers, and teacher assistants. Head Start programs are federal and state government-sponsored education programs that focus on families that demonstrate financial limitations that could prevent participation in early childhood education. Head Start plays an essential role in providing opportunities for vulnerable population groups.
Community-Based Programs – offer childcare and early childhood education services. These community-based institutions often offer no-cost or low-cost services to families in need. The community basis offers opportunities to form strong relationships between the organization, the students, and the student’s families.
Faith-Based Programs - can use their own standards for hiring teachers. If they wish to become licensed, then they have to meet state requirements for private licensed schools. These requirements usually include bachelor’s degrees and licensure for teachers.
Military Programs – seek to provide the best early childhood education services for children of military families. Military child education and childcare programs follow the national trend towards requiring bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education or higher levels of certification, study, and academic achievement.