Teacher Certification
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Teacher Certification

Information about qualifying for Vocational Intern, Vocational Instructional I, and Vocational Instructional II Certificates.

Teacher Certification

 

Vocational Intern Certificate Requirements

The Pennsylvania Department of Education will issue Vocational Intern Certificates for teaching in programs of vocational education in the public schools of this Commonwealth to applicants who have:

  • Been accepted for enrollment in a State approved vocational teacher preparation program at one of the universities listed below;

  • Passed the appropriate occupational competency examination or credentials review for those competency areas where occupational competency examinations do not exist;

  • Been recommended for the Vocational Intern Certificate by the university at which they are enrolled or accepted; and,

  • Met all other requirements provided by law (School Code 1209 and Title 22, Pa. Code, Section 49.12).

 
The Vocational Intern Certificate shall be issued for the period of time needed by the applicant to complete 18 semester hours within the approved vocational teacher preparation program, but in no case shall the validity period exceed three calendar years from the date of issuance.
 
A person holding a valid Vocational Intern Certificate shall be eligible for a Vocational Instructional I Certificate upon:

  • Presenting acceptable evidence of 2 years wage-earning experience in addition to the learning period required to establish competency in the occupation to be taught;
  • Completion of the approved intern program;
  • Presented evidence of having passed the Praxis I tests in reading and writing; and,
  • Recommendation of the preparing university.
     

Vocational Instructional I Certificate Requirements

 
Applicants must have:

  • A minimum of 2 years wage-earning experience in addition to the learning period required to establish competency in the occupation to be taught;

  • Completed 18 credit hours in an approved program of vocational teacher education;
  • Met all requirements provided by law (School Code 1209 and Title 22, Pa. Code, Section 49.12).

  • Received the recommendation of the preparing Pennsylvania university.


IMPORTANT: Regulations published by the State Board of Education on September 25, 1999 provide that Vocational Instructional I certificates issued with an effective date of October 1999 or thereafter will be valid for six (6) years of service during which time the applicant must complete the approved preparation program leading to the Vocational Instructional II Certificate. Vocational Instructional I certificates issued prior to October 1999 remain valid for seven (7) teaching years.  


Vocational Instructional II Certificate Requirements

 
The Vocational Instructional II Certificate shall be a permanent certificate issued to an applicants who have: 

  • Completed 3 years of satisfactory teaching on a Vocational Instructional I Certificate attested to by the chief school administrator of the approved public or nonpublic school entity in which the most recent service of the applicant was performed.

  • Completed 60 credit hours in an approved program in the appropriate field of vocational education.

  • Presented evidence of satisfactory achievement in assessments prescribed by the Department under Section 49.18(a) (relating to assessment). In addition, presented evidence of having passed the Praxis I test in Mathematics (0730 or 5730) (effective September 1, 2008).

NOTE:  The Vocational General Knowledge test (0890) was the required exam prior to September 1, 2008.  If the Vocational General Knowledge Test was taken prior to September 1, 2008 with a minimum score of 560, it can be accepted in place of the Praxis I Mathematics exam. Vocational General Knowledge Test (0890) scores will remain valid for 10 years from the date the test was taken.

  • Completed a Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved induction program.

  • Received the recommendation of the preparing Pennsylvania university.

    How to Apply
    Candidates for Vocational Intern or Vocational Instructional certification must apply through one of the following vocational teacher preparing institutions:
     
    Coordinator, Vocational Education
    Temple University - Main Campus
    1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Ritter Hall 372
    Philadelphia, PA 19122
    (215) 204-6025

     

    Coordinator, Vocational Education
    The Pennsylvania State University
    301 Keller Building
    University Park, PA 16802
    (814) 863-0804

     

    Coordinator, Vocational Education
    Indiana University of Pennsylvania
    Reschini House
    1110 Maple Street
    Indiana, PA 15705
    (724) 357-4436

     Letter of Equivalency for Bachelor's Degree  (PDF)

    For additional information contact:
    Pennsylvania Department of Education
    Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality
    333 Market Street, 3rd Floor
    Harrisburg, PA  17126-0333
    Telephone: 717-787-3356

 

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