Bonnie Burke - Teacher Certification Coordinator
Office: 3105 McCormick Center for Human Services
Phone: 570.389.5128

After graduation from (for undergraduate students) and/or completion of a Bloomsburg University teacher education program (for master's students), candidates may apply to become certified to teach in Pennsylvania or other states. The Teacher Certification Coordinator within the Dean's Office, College of Professional Studies, coordinates the Pennsylvania application process and assists, as needed, with out-of-state forms that require signatures.

Programs offered for Instructional Level I certification are:

Beginning fall 2007, in accordance with BU policy PRP3810, all students enrolled in an initial teacher education certification program must obtain a passing score on the Pennsylvania-required Praxis II Subject Assessment(s) before they can successfully complete the certificate program.

Pennsylvania Certification - In addition to the bachelor's degree and academic program completion, a total of four to five Praxis tests are required for initial, Instructional Level I, teacher certification in Pennsylvania. After the three Praxis I PPSTs described above, candidates must pass the Praxis II: Subject Assessment, sometimes called the subject specialty. In addition, for all certification areas that cover grades K-6 or K-12, candidates must pass Praxis II test 0511 Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge. Teachers who already possess a valid Pennsylvania Instructional Level I or II certificate are exempt from the Praxis I and Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge tests; however, they must pass the Praxis II subject assessment. It is the student's responsibility to register for the proper Praxis tests and to identify 2646 on the Praxis test registration form for "Attending Institution" and under "Designated Score Recipients." Any changes that Pennsylvania makes during the year in Pennsylvania-required PRAXIS tests or qualifying scores will be noted at the PDE website, http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/ "Testing Requirements," "Tests for PA." The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) recognizes the qualifying scores of any Praxis test identified as "replaced" for a period of ten years from the date of test administration, if the test administration was prior to the date it was replaced. If a qualifying score changes on an existing Praxis test, the qualifying score in effect for Pennsylvania on the date the certification application reaches PDE is the score that applies. Qualifying scores may be subject to change. Faculty advisors can guide about required Praxis tests.

After all academic and Praxis requirements are completed, candidates may submit a Pennsylvania certification application to the Teacher Certification Coordinator in the Dean's Office, College of Professional Studies, MCHS 3105. Application usually consists of PDE form 338G, PDE form 338C, and a money order for $40 made payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Instructions and forms, as updated for BU in 2009, can be printed from http://www.departments.bloomu.edu/cps/TeacherCertification/Documents/PACertificationApplication.pdf. Principal and supervisory certificate candidates complete the same certification application forms, plus a verification of five years of work experience - form PDE338V - which can be printed from http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/lib/teaching/pde338v.pdf. Any old certification application forms can be used through May 2009, after which ONLY the new forms will be accepted.

Those seeking dual certificates need both subject specialty Praxis tests. In Pennsylvania the first teaching certificate and exceptions to Pennsylvania's "add on" options, as well as all educational specialist, supervisory, and administrative certificates must be recommended by and the application routed through the preparing university. After the first instructional certificate, Pennsylvania requires proof of continuing education every five years as part of Act 48. The instructional level I certificate is valid for six service years; however, between the third and sixth year of teaching in Pennsylvania, the teacher must apply for an Instructional Level II certificate through PDE. Act 48, adding certificates, and Level II (Applicants Prepared in PA) are described at http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/.

Out-of-State Certification and Interstate Certification Agreements-It is highly recommended, but not required, that program completers apply for Pennsylvania certification soon after graduation. However, if a different state is pursued first, graduates of Pennsylvania-approved programs are advised to contact the teacher certification/licensure office in the appropriate state for forms and instructions. See: http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/, "Certification Requirements in Other States." Candidates complete out-of-state applications themselves; however, if a signature of the certifying officer is required, the form may be sent to the teacher certification coordinator at Bloomsburg University.

Since April 2001, Pennsylvania has signed an Interstate Agreement with the following 45 other states/jurisdictions. Holders of Pennsylvania Instructional Level I or Level II Certificates are eligible, subject to special provisions, for consideration in other states. Participating states currently include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. This list is updated as additional states complete the contract process and the current list is maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Title II Report - In October 1998, Congress enacted Title II of the Higher Education Act. Title II includes accountability measures in the form of reporting requirements for institutions and states on teacher preparation and licensing. Section 207 of Title II requires the annual preparation and submission of three reports: one from institutions to states, a second from states to the U.S. Secretary of Education, and a third from the Secretary to Congress and the public. Bloomsburg University Title II reports can be viewed at http://www.bloomu.edu/admin/reports/title2.htm.

Effective Spring 2009