Interstate Certification Agreements and Reciprocity

Individuals who have completed one or more of Penn State's certification programs frequently ask whether their professional credentials will be valid outside of Pennsylvania. The typical question is: Do we have reciprocity with the State of . . .?

Some states have signed interstate "agreements" for certain areas of certification, but most states evaluate the records of individual candidates to determine eligibility for certification.

Although the standards for the preparation of professionals in education are not exactly the same everywhere in the United States, our graduates typically file copies of their credentials with the appropriate out-of-state certification office which then issues the initial or provisional credentials valid in that state.

To initiate the application process, candidates should:

1. Contact the appropriate State Department of Education:
   (http://www.ed.gov) or (http://www.doe.state.in.us/)
2. Request an application form necessary to secure a professional certificate in that state.

Many states require that upon completion of the application form, the applicant must forward it to the institution where the certification program was completed to request an endorsement from the Dean of the College of Education. Some states may also require an official transcript.

Therefore, out-of-state applications for professional credentials which require an official Penn State transcript (currently $8.00 each) should be addressed to: Transcript Office, 112 Shields Building, University Park, PA 16802. If an endorsement by the Dean of the College of Education is also required, then the Registrar's Office will forward the form and transcript to the Dean.

Out-of-state applications for professional credentials which require only the endorsement of the Dean of Penn State's College of Education should be addressed to: Office of Certification and Education Services, 228 Chambers Building, University Park, PA 16802.