Penn State Harrisburg’s certification programs are designed for an individual who holds a baccalaureate degree and seeks to become certified to teach in Pennsylvania elementary or secondary schools. Students who successfully complete the requirements will be recommended for the a PA Instructional I teaching certificate in their selected certification program area. These programs are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Learn More and/or Apply
Here are the recommended steps for learning more and/or enrolling in a certification preparatory program:
1. Complete this short online form.
Find out More / Schedule an Appointment
2. The Program Coordinator will reach out to you via email to schedule a Zoom meeting.
3. During the Zoom meeting, we can talk about your interest in becoming an educator, your knowledge and experiences with the subject matter, and your professional and life experiences.
You will also be asked to share your unofficial transcripts to determine any prior coursework relevant to your intended certification area. (Please do not email your unofficial transcripts in advance.) All of this information will be taken into consideration when determining your program of study. The conversation and information shared will help to determine whether our program would be a good fit for you.
3. After the Zoom meeting, if you wish to apply, visit the Graduate Admissions webpage.
Note: You have one full year from the time of your initial meeting with the program coordinator to apply and be admitted into the certification program. Should you choose to apply after one year has passed, you will need to re-initiate the above process.
4. Review the information on the Graduate Admissions page and follow the steps to "Apply to the Graduate School."
Applicants are required to submit the following:
- a completed online application
- transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- completed clearance forms
- an application fee
After starting a new application, you will need to select the following:
- Enrollment Type: Degree Admission
- Campus: Harrisburg
- Major: Teaching and Curriculum
- Degree: Master of Education
- Options: (leave blank)
- Semester: (select the semester you wish to begin the program)
- Specialty Area: Indicate the type of certification you wish to pursue, e.g. secondary English
4. Upon receipt and review of your completed application, if accepted into the program you will receive a letter of acceptance via email, outlining your next steps in the process.
5. If you’re accepted into the program, you must acknowledge your acceptance per University instructions and then schedule another Zoom meeting with the program coordinator to schedule your classes for your first semester.
Other Questions
If you have additional questions about the application process, please contact Graduate Admissions, 717-948-6250, or the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education, 717-948-6213.