TEACHER CERTIFICATION (INSTRUCTIONAL I)
The Pennsylvania State University's programs (see list below) leading to teacher certification by the Pennsylvania Department of Education are approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Pennsylvania Instructional I teacher certificates are issued to all undergraduate students who fulfill the entrance and exit criteria: (Special instructions for post-baccalaureate certification candidates)
- Are admitted to a specific major and/or teacher certification program through the Entrance To Major process (ETM).
- Meet all grade and course requirements for a given area of teacher certification.
- Pass a Precertification Competency Examination for Educating Students with Disabilities. This exam is waived for School Psychology and Special Education majors, holders of School Psychology or Special Education degrees, and students who completed the course Special Education 400 or 444 with a grade of at least C.
- Meet the Pennsylvania Qualifying scores for the PRAXIS Series in effect at the time of recommendation by the University for certification. Students must request that ETS should send their scores to PENN STATE (R2660). Scores for tests administered in Pennsylvania are automatically reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. (See the Teacher Testing information sheet and the PRAXIS Series Registration Bulletin or http://www.ets.org).
- FILE AN APPLICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL CERTIFICATE with the College of Education, 228 Chambers Building (814/865-0488), before the end of the third week of the semester in which they are to graduate or complete the program. A $40.00 Postal Money Order, payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, must accompany the application.
- Are known as persons of good moral character, possessing personal qualities, professional knowledge, and skill which warrant issuance of a teacher's certificate (School Laws of Pennsylvania, Article XII). Certification candidates also must be United States citizens not in the habit of using narcotic drugs in any form or excessive amounts of intoxicating beverages (School Code 1209), and not currently under indictment nor convicted of a criminal offense (Act 34 and Act 151). Alleged cases of misconduct should be referred to the Office of Certification and Education Services (228 Chambers).
NOTE: Students wishing to pursue a certification program in conjunction with a degree in another college at Penn State must complete all of the requirements for each program. Education representatives at each campus can discuss options such as concurrent majors, or post-baccalaureate certification opportunities. (See "Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification").
TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS (University-wide*)
Teaching Areas Majors Check sheets
Locations
Academic Units
Agriculture (K-12) AEE UP
AG
Art (K-12) A ED UP
A&A
Bilingual Education (K-12) WL ED UP
ED
Biology (7-12) SECED UP
ED
Biology (7-12) SECAB PSU Abington
AB
Chemistry (7-12) SECED UP
ED
Citizenship Education (7-12) SECED UP
ED
Communication (7-12) SECED UP
ED
Early Childhood (N-3) EK ED UP
ED
Earth and Space Science (7-12) SECED UP
ED
Elementary (K-6) EK ED UP
ED
Elementary Education (K-6) EEDAL PSU-Altoona
AA
Elementary Education in Multicultural Settings (K-6) ELEDM PSU-Delaware
CC
Elementary Education (K-6) EEDBL PSU-Berks
BK
Elementary Education (K-6) ELEM PSU-Harrisburg
CL
Elementary Education (K-6) EEDCC PSU-Lehigh Valley
CC
English (7-12) SECED UP
ED
English (7-12) EDENG PSU-Harrisburg
CL
Environmental Education
(K-12)SECED UP
ED
French (K-12) WL ED UP
ED
General Science (7-12) SECED UP
ED
German (K-12) WL ED UP
ED
German (K-12) GERBA UP
LA
Health and Physical Education (K-12) KINES UP
HHD
Latin (K-12) WL ED UP
ED
Mathematics (7-12) SECED UP
ED
Mathematics (7-12) MA SC PSU-Harrisburg
CL
Mathematics (7-12) MTHBS UP
SC
Mathematics (7-12) MTHBD PSU-Behrend
BD
Music (K-12) MU ED UP
A&A
Physics (7-12) SECED UP
ED
Physics (7-12) PHYS UP
SC
Russian (K-12) WL ED UP
ED
Social Studies (7-12) SECED UP
ED
Social Studies (7-12) SESST PSU-Harrisburg
CL
Spanish (K-12) WL ED UP
ED
Special Education (N-12) SPLED UP
ED
Special Education (N-12) SPLED PSU-Great Valley
KP
Speech & Language Impaired (K-12)