Certification

Pennsylvania Certification

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has two levels of teaching certificates. The first level is Instructional I (provisional) and the second level is Instructional II (permanent). Teaching certification may be obtained in several areas of special education (speech and language, visually impaired and blind, hard of hearing and deaf, etc.). The most common certification among special educators is an Instructional I certificate for students with Mental and/or Physical Disabilities -- sometimes called the MPH Certificate. This certificate enables the holder to teach students with physical disabilities, mental retardation, learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, chronic health impairments, and autism in any grade from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Pennsylvania certifies teachers in one of two ways: transcript evaluation and program approval. For certification by program approval, teachers (as well as other education professionals) are certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) when (a) they graduate from a college or university program approved by PDE, and (b) when they are recommended by the college or university certification officer (for example, the Dean of the College of Education at Penn State). Penn State has program approval to recommend Instructional I MPH certificates. Thus, Penn State confers academic degrees and can recommend students who complete prescribed sequences of courses and experiences for MPH certificates. It is possible, however, to earn a baccalaureate or master's degree in special education with being recommended to teach students with disabilities.

Students who complete the B.S. program (or the M.Ed. program and deficiencies) in Special Education, who satisfy other (moral) criteria, and who have passed prescribed portions of the National Teacher Examination (PRAXIS) are recommended for certification. Passing scores are established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education--students must attain or exceed the score in effect at the time the examination is taken.

More information is available from the College of Education Certification and Education Services Office, 228 Chambers Building, University Park, PA 16802; telephone: (814) 865-0488.

Written documentation of clearances are necessary for SPLED 395W, 495E, 495F, and 495G.