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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Applicant must be currently employed by a school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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   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