Clarion University Act 48 Guidelines
In January 2001, Clarion University of Pennsylvania was approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) as an Act 48 provider for both collegiate and continuing education credits. The College of Education & Human Services is responsible for submitting all Clarion University Act 48 data to the PDE Record Management System.
Approval Process
Elimination of Social Security Numbers for Act 48 continuing education credits
In June of 2006, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) instituted the use of a 7-digit individual Professional Personnel Identification Number (PPID) to be used as a secure unique identifier for all certified educators. The intended purpose of the PPID was to create a secure alternative to the use of Social Security Numbers for reporting and retrieving Act 48 continuing professional education credits and hours.
Effective July 1, 2013, the PPID will become the sole identifying data element used to identify individual educators when reporting Act 48 professional development credits and hours into PDE’s Professional Education Record Management System. The Social Security Number will no longer be able to be used as a key identifier to reference individual educators when uploading Act 48 hours into the Professional Education Record Management System.
Effective July 1, 2013, providers should no longer collect Social Security Numbers from educators on continuing professional education activity registration forms, sign-in/sign-out sheets at Act 48 professional development activities, or on forms used to collect information from educators in order to upload credits for completed course work. Educators should be aware of the necessity to know and be able to provide their PPID as an individual identifier when participating in Act 48 activities.
Educators can find their PPID by going to PDE’s website at www.education.state.pa.us (scroll to the bottom of the homepage and click “Act 48 Reporting System” under PDE Online Services). School districts and LEAs are also advised that PPIDs must be used when generating an Educator’s Report in order to ascertain the Act 48 status of their employed educators.
Credit Courses:
All Clarion University undergraduate and graduate credits are eligible for Act 48 credit. Credits submitted for Act 48 must be reviewed by the Dean of the College of Education and Human Services to verify that the credits adhere to the guidelines for an individual’s certification area(s). Guidelines can be found at www.pde.state.pa.us.
Non-Credit Workshops/Conferences:
Only Clarion University sponsored non-credit workshops/conferences are eligible for submission for Act 48 through the University. (Credits and/or hours awarded through another provider must be processed with PDE through that provider.)
Non-credit Act 48 activities must be approved by the Dean of the College of Education and Human Services prior to the start date of the workshop/conference. Departments must submit an ACT 48 approval form to the College at least 30 days prior to date of the workshop/conference.
Departments will be notified five to seven business days after submission whether or not their workshop/conference was approved for Act 48 credit. Departments should not advertise workshops/conferences for Act 48 credit before receiving approval. The College will post all Act 48 activities on its website, as well as include in its print materials when appropriate.
Clarion University faculty and staff are eligible to present at workshops/conferences. Non-CU faculty and staff members wishing to present at CU sponsored Act 48 activities must be recommended by a CU faculty or staff member. Additionally, non-CU faculty and staff members wishing to present at CU sponsored Act 48 activities must submit their credentials for review to and approval by the Dean of the College of Education and Human Services.
Faculty Guidelines for Receiving Act 48 Credit:
Faculty members holding a Pennsylvania certification(s) may take Clarion University courses or participate in CU workshops/conferences and receive Act 48 credit. Faculty members may not receive Act 48 credit for teaching courses or presenting at Clarion University sponsored workshops/conferences.
Faculty may wish to place their PA certification(s) in voluntary inactive status. A certified educator may apply for inactive status any time during their five-year period by submitting the PDE-338R form from the PDE homepage at www.pde.state.pa.us or contacting the Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation at (717) 787-3356.
The College also serves as the central clearinghouse for all ACT 48 activities that are associated with the University. All requests for Act 48 approvals must be presented to the College.
Contact Information:
College of Education & Human Services
Trish Karg
201Stevens Hall
ph 814-393-2146
fx 814-393-2446
