Teacher Intern Certification

Teacher Intern Certification

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) currently offers Teacher Intern certificates through more than 35 colleges and Universities in Pennsylvania.
Additional information including a list of all institutions offering specific Intern certification programs in Pennsylvania is available at the following PDE site:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/other_routes_to_certification/8818/intern_certification/506789

Penn State offers Teacher Intern certification programs in the following three areas:
Agriculture Education ( http://agexted.cas.psu.edu/Ugrad/uaged.html)
Cooperative Education (http://www.ed.psu.edu/educ/workforce-ed/current-students)
Vocational Education (http://www.ed.psu.edu/educ/workforce-ed/current-students)

1. To enroll in a Teacher Intern Program, a candidate must possess a minimum of a baccalaureate degree related to the area of certification requested. For example, an individual with a B.S. degree in Agriculture may seek Agriculture certification.

2. Candidates must have achieved a minimum 3.00 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) in their baccalaureate degree program. They must also have completed at least six credits of college level Mathematics and six credits of college level English Literature and Composition. Candidates meeting the established Qualifying Scores for the PRAXIS PPST -- Reading, Writing, and Math may be eligible to enter with a 2.80 or higher GPA.

3. Candidates must apply to and complete an approved institution of higher education's (IHE) preadmission screening and be accepted into the program.(An offer of a teaching position is not a requirement for admission into a Teacher Intern Program nor does it guarantee admission into a specific Teacher Intern Program.)

4. Candidates must achieve satisfactory scores on the PRAXIS PPST -- Reading, Writing, and Math tests, and the appropriate PRAXIS Specialty Area test before applying for a Teacher Intern certificate. Candidates for PK - 6 and PK - 12 certification areas in Pennsylvania also must complete the PRAXIS Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge test.

5. When a candidate obtains a teaching position or a firm offer, the institution in which the Intern candidate is enrolled applies to the PDE for an Intern Certificate. After the Bureau verifies the candidate has received passing scores on the required Praxis Series tests, an Intern certificate is issued. The Intern candidate cannot teach without the Intern certificate.

6. Upon completion of the approved Intern Program, the institution of higher education can recommend the candidate for an Instructional I certificate.

The Teacher Intern certificate is issued for a period not to exceed three calendar years and qualifies the holder to perform all the duties, functions and responsibilities of the certification area(s) for which it is endorsed. Its validity begins the month of issuance and lapses 36 months later whether or not the holder has been continuously employed on the Intern certificate by a public school. This certificate can only be issued once, and under no circumstances can this certificate be renewed. The validity of the Teacher Intern certificate, whether issued for general education areas regularly endorsed on instructional certificates or for vocational education areas, is contingent upon (a) the holder rendering satisfactory service to the employing school entity, and (b) maintaining continuous enrollment and making satisfactory progress within an approved teacher intern program leading to issuance of the Instructional I certificate.

Intern certificates are issued only for instructional areas; it is not applicable for professionals seeking certification as educational specialists, supervisors or administrators.

Foreign national candidates can be eligible for an Intern certificate if they:
• meet all of the criteria listed above,
• formally demonstrate their intent to become a United States citizen,
• hold a current Immigrant Visa (Green Card), and
• hold the equivalent of a Baccalaureate degree.

Additional information including a list of all institutions offering Intern certification programs in Pennsylvania is available at the following PDE site:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/other_routes_to_certification/8818/intern_certification/506789

For additional information directly from PDE, please contact:

Katherine Heeren | Higher Education Associate
Pennsylvania Department of Education - School Leadership and Teacher Quality
333 Market Street, 3rd Floor | Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Phone: (717) 787-3470
ra-teachercert@state.pa.us