Cumulative Grade Point Average

Information about the minimum GPA required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for teacher preparation candidates.

The 3.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average for Teacher Education

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has phased in a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 requirement for entrance, retention and exit from teacher preparation programs.

Although the new, integrated Penn State/PDE criteria permitted some flexibility with the GPA during the transition period, all Pennsylvania teacher preparation programs now require the 3.00 cum GPA.

Penn State/PDE regulations also require that teacher certification candidates maintain, during their program of studies, a cumulative grade point average no lower than that required for their formal entrance to the program.

Likewise, for exit from the program and certification eligibility, the candidate’s cumulative grade point average cannot be lower than that required for entrance to the program.

^¬For details on the pertinent Pennsylvania regulations, i.e., Chapter 354, please refer to the PDE web site at: http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/Institutional_Program_Approval/8817/

For details on the Penn State Entrance Criteria applicable to Penn State teacher preparation programs, please refer to: http://www.ed.psu.edu/edservices/certification/ent_criteria.asp