Certification Information

Pennsylvania Teacher Certification Information

Additional information with related forms can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website at: http://www.pde.state.pa.us/pde_internet/site/default.asp

Revision to Fee Structure for All PA Certifications

Effective July 1, 2006, the Pennsylvania Department of Education will implement a revised fee structure for all Pennsylvania certification applications raising the present rate of $15.00 for any and all applications as follows:

• $40.00 nonrefundable fee for all in-state certification applications.

• $80.00 nonrefundable fee for all out-of-state certification applications.

Teacher Certification Upon Graduation

     Once the student has completed all requirements for teacher certification, a completed application for certification is given to the Office of Field Services (OFS) along with the required fee.  The application may be accessed via the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Bureau of Teacher Certification web:   http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?A=15&Q=34317.  All student teachers receive this application during the Student Teacher Orientation meeting at the beginning of each semester.  They are asked to complete this form and return it to the OFS with the fee before leaving campus that day.

     Certification applications are approved by the University at the end of the semester based upon the successful completion of the student teaching courses.  Students may not receive the actual certification from PDE until 6 to 8 weeks after the end of the semester.  However, during this waiting period, many school districts may be interviewing graduates and will request proof of teacher certification.  Each graduate may receive ONE certification letter from the Associate Dean's Office stating that all requirements for certification have been met and that certification is pending from PDE.    Student teachers are encouraged to wait until late in the semester or at the end of the semester to request this letter, since only one letter per student will be issued.  To request a certification letter, please contact the Associate Dean's Office by emailing Ms. Kim Stewart at kstewart@clarion.edu or by calling 814-393-2144.  In order to expedite the letter, please provide the following information:

• Full name with middle initial

• Student number

• Major(s)

• Home address

• Phone number(s), including cell number

• Date of graduation

PRAXIS REQUIREMENTS for Teacher Certification

PDE teacher certification with Praxis requirements and school district staffing policy guidelines (CSPGs) are available for review at this website, http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?a=131&Q=106214&teachingNav=|90|111|&teachingNav=|1906| . 

      Note: The Department recently released Certification and Staffing Policies and Guidelines (CSPG) No. 21 Testing, effective May 1, 2008. CSPG No. 21 has been revised to extend test score validity from 5 years to 10 years for candidates educated in Pennsylvania. Currently, regulatory language does not permit this extension for test scores to be applied to out-of-state candidates. All required tests must have been taken within ten years prior to application, and the score/s must meet the qualifying score/s in effect on the date the application was received.

Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification

     For those who hold a bachelor's degree or graduate degree and want to add a teacher certification, the following steps should be taken:

• Contact the department chairperson in the selected major.  For example, to add math teacher certification, contact the Mathematics Department Chairperson.  Department phone contacts:

                                     Biology Certification: 814-393-2273

                                     Chemistry Certification: 814-393-2281

                                     Earth & Space Science Certification: 814-393-2317

                                     Elementary, Early Childhood Certification: 814-393-2404

                                     English, Communication Arts Certification: 814-393-2111

                                     General Science Certification: 814-393-2106

                                     Library Science: 814-393-2271

                                     Mathematics Certification: 814-393-2592

                                     Music Certification: 814-393-2287

                                     Modern Languages (French, Spanish): 814-393-2296

                                     Physics Certification: 814-393-2571

                                     Social Studies Certification: 814-393-2546

                                     Special Education: 814-393-2325

• Explain what you want to do.  Ask for an appointment with the chairperson to evaluate your transcript. 

• During this meeting, the chairperson or designee will determine which courses are required to complete your certification.  This will be marked on a curriculum sheet for your selected major.

• If you decide to attend the University to complete this program, you should then follow the regular admission procedures.

• Please remember to meet often with your designated faculty advisor to determine which courses specifically meet your certification requirements.

     The College of Education and Human Services will work with you to help you complete your certification in the most efficient manner possible.

Add a Certification

     If you already hold an Instructional (type 60, 61, 62 or 80) certificate and will be wanting to add an instructional area, you may add other certifications by passing the appropriate Praxis II test WITHOUT completing any course work.  The certifications that may be added by taking the appropriate Praxis II tests are:

     IMPORTANT: Although Clarion does not offer programs in some of these areas, a certified teacher may wish to add them by taking the appropriate Praxis II test.

**The following certifications are NOT PERMITTED to be added without additional coursework, passing Praxis II, and student teaching:

                                      >Elementary Education

                                      >Early Childhood Education

                                      >Special Education

                                      >Reading Specialist

                                      >Cooperative Education

                                      >Health and Physical Education

                                      > Any Instructional subject with "no qualifying score".
Note: Foreign language areas, other than French, Spanish, German or Latin, MUST take the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) test for the language and achieve a minimum of Intermediate High on both the oral and written ACTFL assessments.

  To add certifications, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education "Adding a Certification" website at

            http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?Q=89995&A=7.      To print out the form with detailed instructions, click on 338G Add On Form.

Emergency Permit (Certification)

      An emergency permit is issued by the Department upon the request of the employing public school entity when a position has been advertised and no fully qualified and properly certificated applicant is available. The candidate for an emergency permit must have earned a bachelor's degree from a state-approved college or university and must meet all other eligibility requirements related to age, citizenship, mental and physical health and good moral character.  For more information on this, go to the PDE website section at http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=34618 .