Table of Contents

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Emily Lentz.    

Your Pathway to Teacher Certification

Suggested Certification Timeline
 

  • During the 6th or 7th Semester
  • Before Student Teaching Semester
    • Take Content Area Certification Exams
      • At the completion of all content courses, it is recommended that candidates take their content exam(s).
      • Example: If candidates are teaching in the spring, Elementary Education candidates are recommended to take their exams during winter break. Secondary Education candidates are recommended to take their content exam during the summer prior to their final year.
  • At the end of Student Teaching Semester
    • Take the Teacher Education Completer Survey.
    • The survey will be sent to each program completer via email.
      Note: Completion of the survey is required for certification recommendation.
    • Attend the Teacher Certification Application Seminar.
    • Notifications regarding Teacher Certification Application seminars will go out to every candidate.
    • Submit TIMS Certification or Endorsement application. 
      PDE First Time User Certification User Guide

       

Suggested Certification Timeline
 

  • Before Internship Semester
  • At the end of Internship Semester
    • Take the Teacher Education Completer Survey.
    • The survey will be sent to each program completer via email.
      Note: Completion of the survey is required for certification recommendation.
    • Attend the Teacher Certification Application Seminar.
    • Notifications regarding Teacher Certification Application seminars will go out to every candidate.
    • Submit TIMS Certification or Endorsement application.
       PDE First Time User Certification User Guide  

 

Teacher Certification Testing

All Teacher Education candidates must pass the required content area exams before certification.

Refer to PDE’s Testing Requirements Page.

  • At the right of the screen, click “Certification Test and Score Requirements”.
  • PDE uses a GPA sliding scale for passing test scores. The higher the GPA, the lower the passing test score.
  • The final GPA is used for the sliding scale. No prior GPA can be used.
  • The GPA sliding scale only applies to initial certifications.
  • The GPA sliding scale cannot be used for intern certification or add-ons.
     

  • We recommend Elementary Education candidates take their tests during the break just before their student teaching semester.
  • We recommend Secondary Education candidates take their test(s) during the break before the semester prior to their student teaching semester.

     

  • PECT
    • Grades PreK-4
  • Praxis
    • Grades 4-8
    • All Secondary Education
    • Special Education
    • Reading Specialist
  • When registering for the exam(s), use the recipient codes for PDE and Penn State HB to ensure both institutions receive your scores.
    • PDE - R8033
    • PSU HB - RA2708 (mention diff from financial Aid)

Note: When registering, include your social security number. This ensures that PDE can match your results to your certification application.
 

Both PECT and Praxis offer free resources.

Experience-Based Certificate and Emergency Permits

Experience-Based Certificate and Emergency Permits is an alternative route to the Emergency Permit for individuals with a bachelor’s degree.

PDE Emergency Permit and Experience-Based Certificate  Side-by-Side

Emergency PermitExperience-Based Certificate 
Must have bachelor's DegreeMust have bachelor's Degree
Step 1: Get hired by an LEAStep 1: Pass required certification exams
Step 2: LEA requests a permit from PDEStep 2: Get hired by an LEA and enroll in an EPP
Step 3: LEA completes an application for a type 01 permitStep 3: Teacher candidate applies for experience-based certificate. EPP approves
Permit valid for 1 year. Can be renewed for up to 3 yearsCertification valid for 5 years. Cannot be renewed. 
Minimum 9 credits per year and student teaching requiredMinimum 9 credits per year. 
No student teaching.
1st year one EPP observation/Mo.
Two EPP observation each year after.
 

Step 1: Pass Required Certification Exams

Refer to the ‘Certification Testing’ chart on the Penn State Harrisburg Teacher Certification Testing page for required exam information. Please supply a copy of your score report to Ms. Emily Lentz. 

Step 2: Get hired as the teacher of record at an LEA.

(This can be done simultaneously with Step 3.)    

  • Once you have been hired, supply a letter on the LEA letterhead to Ms. Emily Lentz containing the following information:
    Candidate Name
  • Date the job begins
  • Title of Job (e.g. Teacher of Secondary Education English)
  • Signature of supervising administrator or Human Resources Officer

Step 3: Apply and be accepted to the appropriate Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Education Program.    

Visit the Penn State Harrisburg Teacher Education homepage to find your program.

  • Fill out an Interest Form.
  • The program coordinator will reach out to schedule a meeting.
  • Apply to the program of interest 

Step 4: Apply for the Experience-Based Certificate.

  • Create a Keystone Login.
  • Register for a Teacher Information Management Systems (TIMS) account. You will use your Keystone Login credentials.
    PDE TIMS Help/User Guides
  • Save your Professional Personnel Identification Number (PPID).
  • Log on to TIMS.
  • Click “New Credential Application”.
  • Choose “Intern (51)” from the “Requested Credential Type” drop down menu.
  • Complete and submit the application.

PDE First Time User Certification User Guide

For more detailed information see PDE’s Instructional Experience-Based Certificate  Frequently Asked Questions page.
 

AAQEP and Title II

All teacher preparation programs are carefully monitored by external stakeholders, including the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), and the U.S. Government‘s Title II (Sections 205 through 208) of the Higher Education Act.

Penn State Harrisburg is proud of its distinctions as an approved provider authorized by PDE to recommend program completers for state certification in the following subject areas:

  • PreKindergarten- Grade 4 (all subjects)
  • Grades 4-8 English/Language Arts
  • Grades 4-8 Mathematics
  • Grades 4-8 Social Studies
  • Grades 7-12 English
  • Grades 7-12 Mathematics
  • Grades 7-12 Social Studies
  • Grades 7-12 Integrated Science
  • Program Specialist – English as a Second Language PK-12
  • Special Education Grades PK-12 

We stand out as the only Harrisburg area provider of educator preparation to be nationally accredited by AAQEP. Our teacher certification candidates are among the best prepared in the region, and many go on to find employment locally, as well as across the U.S., due in part to the high quality of our faculty and programs.

AAQEP Annual Report for 2025

Pass Rates

The report of pass rates is one of five annual reporting measures AAQEP requires us to share publicly. Shown in the table below are the most recent Pass Rates as calculated by Title II.


Important Notes:

  1.  A student is labeled a “pass” if he/she has passed all tests required for a Pennsylvania teaching certification.
  2. Federal Title II pass rate calculations ignore our state (PDE) policy that applies a sliding scale for certification tests based on grade point average (GPA) permitting candidates to qualify for certification based on a combination of GPA and test score: the higher the GPA, the lower their qualifying test score may be.
  3. When acknowledging PDE’s qualifying score adjustments, Penn State Harrisburg pass rates are much higher than Federal Title II pass rate.

Penn State Harrisburg Pass Rates when PDE Qualifying Scores are Counted


Individual test pass rates are not calculated by Title II for any test with fewer than 10 takers. Penn State Harrisburg is proud to furnish passing data on the individual tests required by PDE for certification.