Admission for K-12 educators is on a rolling basis and follows the Penn State non-degree graduate student admission guidelines.

To be certified to PDE for the ESL Program Specialist Certificate, candidates must meet the following requirements:

  • Successfully complete the 5 ESL courses (EDUC 466, 467, 468, 469, and 475) with a grade of C or above.
  • Possess a valid Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate.

For students interested in receiving ACT 48 credit, please consult the Registrar’s Office at Penn State University, University Park.

How to Enroll

  • To enroll, complete the Graduate School online application.
  • Follow the instructions to log in.
  • For Enrollment Type, select "Nondegree Admission." (Certification or Endorsement programs do not award a degree)
  • For Campus, choose "Harrisburg."
  • Select the appropriate semester of enrollment.
  • Save and continue to add your information and submit the application.

Note: Existing Teaching and Curriculum master’s program students and undergraduate students are not required to complete a separate Penn State application for the ESL Program Specialist certification program.

If you experience difficulty using our online application, please contact: 
Deborah Klugh at [email protected] or +1 717 948 6059