Certification Program
Certification Program
Entrance into certification programs for administrative positions requires admission to the Graduate School and to the Educational Leadership Program. The following requirements pertain to admission to and completion of certification programs:
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Admission as either a degree student or as a certification student
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All certification students should maintain at least a 3.25 grade point average during their work.
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The completion of an approved program or programs for various educational administrator positions (Principal, Superintendent, Intermediate Unit Executive Director)
Principal Certification
The program for the principal's certificate consists of (30) graduate credits, including an internship. The following requirements are included in the program.
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Educational Leadership - Thirty (30) credits in Educational Leadership, including a 360 hour internship, are required.
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Internship - An internship is required of all principal certification candidates who have not had appropriate administrative experience. Internships can be full-time or part-time stretched throughout fall and spring semesters and should be the result of planning with the faculty internship supervisor and administrative mentor.
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Principals must provide documentation of 5 years experience in the public school.
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Certification candidates must meet Qualifying Scores in effect at the time their application is received by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Effective April 2, 2012 a Qualifying Score of 163 has been established for School Leadership Licensure Assessment -SLLA (1011) or (6011) This test will replace the current Ed Leadership (0411). For additional information please visit http://www.ets.org/praxis/index.html The fee for this test is $255.00. It will be a 4 hour exam.
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As of July 1, 2010 the Pennsylvania Department of Education has raised the certification application fee. The new fee in effect will be $100.00, replacing the old fee of $40.00 for all new certificates.
- The Principal Certification Co-hort Program is aligned with the Pennsylvania Inspired Leadership standards (PIL) as well as the standards of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The 30 credit program is designed to meet the needs of current educators looking to become building administrators.
Letter of Eligibility for Superintendent
The program preparing a person for the letter of eligibility for the Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent/Intermediate Unit Director consists of 66 credits, including the work completed for the principal certification exclusive of the internship. Certification as a Superintendent or an Intermediate Unit Director requires previous certification as a principal and professional service in an administrative capacity. The following requirements are included in the program:
Educational Leadership -Thirty (30) credits in Educational Leadership including the 15 required for the principal program. At least 15 credits beyond the principal certification must be taken in Educational Leadership at University Park.
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Three (3) credits in Curriculum are required, including the three credits required as part of the principal program..
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Superintendents must provide documentation of 3 years' administrative experience in the public school.
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Internship consists of 360 hours and can be done through the fall and spring semesters.
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As of April 2, 2012, School Superintendent Assessment (SSA) currently 1020, code will change when regenerated) will be required
NOTE:
All certification students must successfully pass the Precertification Competency Examination on Educating the Handicapped. This exam is waived for School Psychology and Special Education majors, or recipients of such degrees, and students who have completed the PSU course EDLDR 530 (Leadership in Inclusive Education), SPLED 400 or 444 with a grade of C or better. Additional information is available here.
As of July 1, 2010 a new fee of $100.00 for all new certificate applications will be required.
