Master's Degree Equivalency Letter
Master's Degree Equivalency Letter
A Master's Degree Equivalency Letter shall be issued for public school salary purposes only, subject to the following terms and conditions:
- The Letter of Equivalency is issued to persons holding a valid Instructional I, Instructional II, Educational Specialist I, and Educational Specialist II certificate or their equivalents, upon accumulation of 36 hours of graduate level credit. A minimum of 18 academic graduate credits must be earned in the content area of the applicant's primary teaching assignment at a college or university approved to offer graduate work. A maximum of 18 of the credit requirements may be satisfied through in-service programs approved by the Secretary of Education for meeting master's equivalency requirements.
- A grade of "C" or better is required in college or university courses in which grades are given and a letter of satisfactory completion is required for all in-service courses used toward the attainment of the Letter of Equivalency.
- Applicant must be currently employed by a school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
To apply for a Letter of Equivalency for a Master's degree, the PDE-4511 form must be used. It is usually available in public school administrative offices, or it may be obtained from the agency below, which will also entertain additional questions:
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Bureau of Teacher Preparation and Certification
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
(717) 787-2967

