The Post Bachelor’s Baccalaureate Teaching Certification program in Elementary Education (grades PreK-4), Middle Level (grades 4-8), and Secondary Education (grades 7-12) are designed for professionals who hold a bachelor’s degree and who seek to qualify for Pennsylvania state teacher certification at the elementary, middle, or secondary level. Students take courses online that satisfy Pennsylvania teaching certificate requirements while completing the required number of weeks of students teaching. Pennsylvania has reciprocation agreements with nearly every state in the U.S. meaning you can transfer your teaching certificate to another state.
The curriculum for this teacher certificate program at Drexel University is designed for those changing careers into the education field, as well as those who already serve as temporary, emergency, or substitute teachers and wish to earn a formal teaching credential.
Students who wish to complete a master’s degree in Teaching, Learning and Curriculum have the opportunity to transfer the credits earned in the Post Bachelor’s Teaching Certificate into the MS in Teaching, Learning & Curriculum program.
The PA teacher certification program requirements at Drexel University’s School of Education prepares students for a Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate.
A commonly asked question regarding our programs, is "how long is the teacher certification program"? If you already have a bachelor's degree, the elementary, middle level and secondary education programs typically take two years to complete. Drexel also offers a dual certification option for secondary and special education. A bachelor's degree program typically takes up to 4 years to complete.
The first step towards becoming a K-12 teacher is to earn a bachelor’s degree. If you earn a bachelor’s degree in a program that leads to teaching certification, such as elementary education or teacher education, you will graduate with all the requirements necessary to become a licensed teacher. If your bachelor’s degree is in a non-teaching program, you will need to follow the next steps on this list to complete your educator certification program..
If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can become a teacher through our teacher certification program. The first step is to determine what subject you would like to teach. Some students choose a subject that reflects their bachelor’s degree experience while others may choose a new subject that they are passionate about.
Once you have decided on a subject, you should enroll in a teacher certification program and focus on your chosen subject. You will complete required coursework for certification and gain the knowledge needed to complete the required Praxis exams.
While you complete your required coursework, you will also gain the required hours of student teaching experience. Most teacher certification programs require 12 weeks of student teaching experience. The School of Education’s Field Placement Office assists students with identifying student teaching opportunities in school districts close to where they live, anywhere in the U.S. and other parts of the world.
Once you have completed your required courses and student teaching experience, you will schedule and sit for your Praxis exams. Passing the required exams is a critical final step to become a certified teacher. Passing the exams will allow you to begin teaching in classrooms on your own. Some school districts may allow emergency certifications to allow teachers who have not completed their exams to teach in their schools for a certain period of time until they can pass the required exams.
Once you have passed the required exams, you will be issued an Instructional I teaching certificate in the state where you took the exams. As a certified teacher, you will be eligible for teaching positions in the subject in which you are certified. You can add additional certifications or complete requirements for an Instructional II teaching certificate as you advance in your career.
Drexel's Post Bachelor's Teaching Certificate in Middle Level (grades 4-8) is ideal for students who would like to teach middle school students in the areas of Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. In addition to gaining knowledge of effective teaching methods, students will also learn how to create culturally responsive pedagogy and create a safe, productive, and positive classroom environment that facilitates learning for all students.
The coursework for a certificate for middle level education consists of 33 credit hours (13 courses) and includes mandatory field-based experiences and 12 weeks of student teaching.
The Post Bachelor's Teaching Certificate for Middle Level (Grades 4-8) curriculum and course descriptions may be found in the Drexel Online Course Catalog.
The Post Bachelor’s Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education (Grades 7-12) is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree and who seek to qualify for PA state teacher certification at the secondary level. The curriculum is designed for those changing careers as well as those who already serve as temporary, emergency, or substitute teachers and wish to earn a formal teaching credential.
The coursework for a general certificate of secondary education consists of 30 credit hours (11 courses) and includes mandatory field-based experiences and 12 weeks of student teaching.
The Post Bachelor's Teaching Certificate for Secondary Education (Grades 7-12) curriculum and course descriptions may be found in the Drexel Online Course Catalog.
The School of Education offers eight content-specific areas of study each leading to their own certifications with required courses and Praxis exams:
Once a student has successfully completed their course of study and all exams required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Drexel recommends the student to PDE for issuance of the appropriate teaching certificate.
Pennsylvania’s initial state certification is known as “Instructional I” and is valid for a total of six years (the six years need not be continuous). To continue teaching after six years, teachers must receive an Instructional II Certification.
The Instructional II Certification is considered a “permanent” certification. (It must, however, be renewed every five years through the fulfillment of continuing education requirements.) A teacher applying for Instructional II Certification must have:
The PA Educator Certification Tests (PECT) are required for Elementary Certification (Grades PreK–4). Students are required to take the appropriate exam for each area of certification sought.
For more information about examinations and registration, visit the PA Educator Certification Tests (PECT).
All Post Bachelor’s students seeking certification in Secondary Certification (Grades 7–12) are required to pass the Praxis II Series. Students must pass the appropriate Praxis II Content Knowledge test(s) for each area of certification they wish to obtain.
For more information about examination and registration, please visit the Praxis Series.
To maintain Instructional I and Instructional II Certifications in Pennsylvania, the PDE requires a certified teacher to complete the minimal equivalent of six semester-hour (or nine quarter-hour) credits, 180 professional development hours, or a combination of credits and professional development hours every five years. College credits must be acquired from an accredited four-year, degree-granting college or university.
Note: For those working to acquire Instructional II Certification, the 24 semester credits or 36 quarter credits needed to apply for Instructional II may also count toward Act 48 requirements. Undergraduate credits from a community college may not be counted toward Act 48 credits for Instructional II Certification.
For more information and to apply credits to your state record, visit the PA Department of Education Act 48 Continuing Professional Education.
Drexel University's Post-Bachelor's Teacher Certification courses are offered 100% online. You can get started by filling out the appropriate Drexel Online Application for an online Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification:
Students pursuing secondary teacher certification are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and cannot receive a grade lower than a “B” in any ESTM, EDUC and EDEX course. For certification, students must complete 38.5 credits of coursework (42.5 credits for MATH majors). In many cases, DragonsTeach coursework overlaps with degree requirements.
In most cases, students can complete the requirements for both an undergraduate degree and Pennsylvania teaching certification by their projected graduation date. However, depending on the program of study and the timing of entrance into the program, a additional post baccalaureate term(s) may be required to complete the requirements for Pennsylvania teaching certification.
Please review the "Teacher Certification Forms” section of the School of Education’s website for a complete list of all forms and tests necessary for secondary teacher certification.
By law (PA School Code §1202), all standard instructional certificate holders must be U.S. citizens. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) will, however, allow non-U.S. citizens to teach under an “Alien Provisional Certification” for a maximum of six years. The Alien Provisional certificate will convert to a standard certificate once U.S. citizenship is attained. If U.S. citizenship is not obtained during the six year period, the candidate will no longer be legally eligible to continue employment. In order to qualify for an Alien Provisional Certificate, the candidate must:
Teaching certification requirements vary from state to state and some states do not have a U.S. citizenship requirement to become certified to teach. We are willing and able to provide students who complete the DragonsTeach certification requirements (including student teaching) with a formal letter documenting the completion of a Pennsylvania-approved teacher certification program and verifying their preparation for the teaching profession. The U.S. Department of Education (DoE) offers a map to assist students in linking directly to departments of education and bureaus of professional certification in other states. You may also find the following websites useful:
New Jersey Department of Education Certification & Induction
Delaware Department of Education Teacher Licensure
International students that wish to participate in the DragonsTeach program should schedule a consultation with Drexel’s International Students and Scholar Services Office (ISSS). Before reaching out to the ISSS office, please talk to the DragonsTeach advisor to have a discussion about your options.
3210 Chestnut Street Creese Student Center, Suite 215
Philadelphia, PA 19104
isss@drexel.edu
Hours: Monday–Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Walk-in Advising Hours: Monday–Friday: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
UAB will only recommend students for certification if they have successfully completed a State-approved teacher education program and other University requirements. Each student is responsible for submitting a completed certification packet to the Office of Student Services during the semester they intend to finish their approved program. A student who does not apply for their Professional Educator Certificate within five years (60 months) after completing a state-approved program may be required to fulfill additional requirements (i.e., testing and/or coursework).
The Office of Student Services will verify that each student meets all degree and certification requirements after graduation and submit completed certification packets to the Alabama State Department of Education.
Check UAB e-mail during your final semester for announcement from certification specialist.
Submit your educator certification application and the supporting documentation to the Office of Student Services via UAB Box.
Your application will be audited by the certification specialist to ensure you meet the current certification requirements.
Upon conferral of your degree, you will receive an e-mail notification from the certification specialist once your application has been mailed to the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) for processing.
Watch for your mailed certificate.
The best time to apply for your Professional Educator certificate is during your last term of enrollment. This timeline will ensure that your paperwork will be submitted to the Alabama State Department of Education(ALSDE) on time.
Completed certification application packets are processed and mailed to the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)in the order they are received.
The term you plan to graduate: | The application is due: |
---|---|
Fall (December graduation) | November 1 |
Spring (May graduation) | April 1 |
Summer (August graduation) | August 1 |
Please call the Alabama State Department of Education at 334-694-4557.
The level of courses you take (300, 400, 500, 600, etc.) will be dependent on your last certification, so communicating with one of our program directors is essential.
Important: You are responsible for sending the needed documentation to the state to complete the recertification process.
*State of Michigan requirements for teacher certification are subject to periodic change. Students must meet all requirements in effect at the time of application.
In order to meet Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) requirements mandated by the State of Michigan for teacher education candidates,
Don’t attempt these exams until you’ve completed 90% of coursework in each subject area. Most students take the test immediately preceding or during student teaching. Registration, test objectives and study guides are available on the MTTC website. Additional study resources can be found on this list of MTTC Study Guides.
For information on MTTC Waivers, including the department policy on granting waivers, view the Hope College Education Department MTTC Voucher Application .
For information on reciprocity and out-of-state licensure, postgraduate teaching certification, additional endorsements or state testing requirements, please contact:
Dr. Sara Hoeve
hoeve@hope.edu
616.395.7740
The Hope College certification officer will offer licensure advice based on their knowledge and prior experiences. However, it is the responsibility of the Hope College teacher candidate to double check specific state websites for current testing information and certification requirements given ongoing changes in individual state policies.
MTTC tests are meant to ensure that each certified teacher has the necessary skills and subject area knowledge to serve in Michigan's schools. These tests are designed and implemented by the Michigan Department of Education.
Save all official MTTC score reports in a safe place because you may need them for employment or teacher certification in other states. If you need new score reports, additional copies may be ordered using these instructions.
In order to be certified, students must pass the MTTC subject area tests that correspond to the major and minor field(s) of study. These tests should not be taken until the final year of the program, but it is highly recommended that students pass their MTTC subject area test(s) before student teaching.
Students seeking elementary certification must also take the Elementary Education MTTC test #103. Do not take the new Lower or Upper Elementary tests 117-124. When registering for the Elementary Education test, report elementary education as a "major." Take the time to review the online study guide and test objectives. Spend extra time studying for these subareas, which have lower pass rates:
Candidates interested in teaching grades 9–12 special education in a Michigan public school may need to take additional MTTC tests later in consultation with the hiring school (mathematics, integrated science, and/or language arts).
If you have questions, contact Calvin's certification and assessment coordinator at (616) 526-6208 or certification@calvin.edu.
The mission of the Dual Special Education Program is to develop competent, caring, and ethical educators who are able to meet the diverse learning needs of all students across a variety of age, grade, and ability levels. The preparation program will facilitate competence in areas of academic, social, and emotional growth, and methods of maximizing a student’s capabilities through diagnostic and instructionally adaptive practices.
The Dual Special Education Certification program prepares candidates to work with special needs populations in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades (PK-12). Students will follow the requirements for an initial certification program in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Middle Level Education, or Secondary Education with a few course substitutions permitted as noted below, in addition to completing the extra requirements for the Special Education program. Special Education is a concentration that students may add to their initial program in order to qualify for dual certification.
Students majoring in Elementary and Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Special Education PK-12 will complete the following courses in addition to the afore-cited Elementary and Early Childhood program requirements (not the course substitutions permitted):
Special Education certification candidates will complete half their student teaching in a special education setting and half in a regular education setting.
Students majoring in Middle Level Education with a concentration in Special Education PK-12 will complete the following courses in addition to the afore-cited Middle Level Education program requirements (not the course substitutions permitted):
Special Education certification candidates will complete half their student teaching in a special education setting and half in a regular education setting.
Students minoring in secondary education with a concentration in Special Education PK-12 will complete the following courses in addition to their specific program in the major:
Special Education certification candidates will complete half their student teaching in a special education setting and half in a regular education setting.
In order to be eligible for Alabama teacher certification, the Alabama State Department of Education requires students in undergraduate and Alternative Master's teacher education programs to complete a series of tests. These tests evaluate students' mastery of content knowledge in a specific certification area (Praxis Subject Assessments); and readiness to teach (Educative Teacher Performance Assessment ( edTPA)). These tests are taken at different points throughout the UAB Teacher Education Program. Please consult the guide below to confirm when the tests should be taken.
In order to receive teacher certification from the Alabama State Department of Education, undergraduate and Alternative Master's students must receive a passing score on the Praxis Subject Assessment in their given certification area. Praxis Subject Assessments are administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS).
Undergraduate Students: (Prior to Student Teaching)
Undergraduate students must receive a passing score as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education on the Praxis Subject Assessment(s) in their given certification area prior to starting student teaching.
* Students pursuing certification in Elementary/Early Childhood are also required to pass the Praxis Teaching memorizing prior to beginning student teaching.
Alternative Master's Students: (Prior to Admission)
Alternative Masters’ students must receive a passing score as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education on the Praxis Subject Assessments(s) in their given certification area prior to beginning coursework.
* Students pursuing certification in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education are required to pass the Praxis Teaching memorizing prior to beginning student teaching.
Qualifying score requirements can be found on the ETS website. To locate the qualifying score for your certification area, follow the steps below.
Visit the ETS website for information about Praxis study resources.
Register for the Praxis Subject Assessment(s)
edTPA is a pre-service assessment process designed by educators that includes a review of a teacher candidate’s authentic teaching materials as the culmination of a teaching and learning process that documents and demonstrates each candidate’s ability to effectively teach his/her subject matter to all students. Candidates must receive a passing score on the assessment as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education.
Undergraduate Students: (edTPA: During Student Teaching)
Undergraduate students must receive a passing score on the edTPA as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education during student teaching.
Alternative Master's Students: (edTPA: During Student Teaching)
Alternative Master's students must receive a passing score as defined by the Alabama State Department of Education during student teaching.
Have you:
If so, then you are eligible to apply for a Georgia teaching certificate!
Establishing Connection...
All students seeking teaching certification must be formally admitted to the Pre-certification, Initial Preparation Program (Pre-CIP). Admission to the program can occur after the student has completed 12 Bucknell University courses or their equivalents, including two courses in mathematics, one course in British or American literature, and one in composition; and achieved for the three preceding semesters an overall grade point average of at least 3.0. Appeals to this requirement may be made to the chair of the Department of Education.
* Candidates must also pass the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment tests in reading, writing and math. Students should apply to Pre-CIP as soon as they begin considering a career in education, and no later than the start of the first semester of their junior year. Students are notified of their acceptance or rejection at the end of their sophomore year.
The commonwealth of Pennsylvania generally requires an overall grade point average of 3.0 upon completion of the program prior to recommendation for certification to teach.
All students seeking certification must take two mathematics intensive courses, one English/American literature course and one W1 writing course (in addition to the literature course).
The following are considered to be "add-on" certifications that require students to concurrently pursue certification in one of the areas above:
In addition to completing an approved program and successfully demonstrating the prescribed role competencies, the prospective teacher must be a "person of good moral character" who "possesses those personal qualities and professional knowledge and skills which warrant issuance of the requested certificate."
It is the student's responsibility to satisfy these criteria. Students should note that prior to placement in student teaching or any other field experience, they will be required to submit results of a child abuse clearance, criminal background check and fingerprinting pursuant to requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Results must indicate that there are no criminal or child abuse records.
Students in Education classes with field experiences can get help navigating the clearance process by contacting the departments Director of Professional Education.
Act 151: PA Child Abuse History Clearance
Act 34: PA Criminal History Record Check
FBI Criminal History (Fingerprint)
In addition to coursework, students must complete and submit scores from required Praxis or Pennsylvania Education Certification Test examinations to the Department of Education. Specific examinations required for each area of certification vary. Although members of the department will advise students concerning examinations, the student is responsible for taking those examinations that meet certification program requirements.
Learn more about certification testing
After completing the approved program of courses, the student submits an application for a Pennsylvania teaching certificate through the online Teacher Information Management System website not earlier than the first day of the month of graduation.
Following a review of the student's program, the student may be recommended for certification by the designated officer at Bucknell. As noted above, the student must pass all the competency tests required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the desired certificate.
Bucknell's certification officer is able to recommend for certification students who successfully completed one of Bucknell's teacher certification programs, passed the appropriate tests and met all other certification requirements within five years of the student's date of graduation. Because state requirements and/or curricula may change, it may not be possible to make recommendations for certification outside of this five-year window.
Students who desire certification in states other than Pennsylvania must understand that teacher certification is governed by state law and that each state has different requirements. Obtaining a Pennsylvania teaching certificate, by completing an approved program and meeting all other requirements, does not ensure that students will be certified in another state.
Although members of the Bucknell education department will assist students in obtaining information concerning certification in other states, as well as Pennsylvania, it is the student's responsibility to obtain current information and to meet all the certification requirements of any state.
* These requirements may be modified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) due to COVID-19.
Updated August 2020
Our graduate and undergraduate programs are recognized by New York State Education Department (NYSED) as “approved teacher preparation program(s)” and as such prepare students to meet the requirements of Initial Certification in Visual Art, Grades Pre-K-12.
This page directs students to certification information but does not replace the State website on certification. It is a student’s responsibility to visit the New York State Office of Teaching Initiatives website to keep abreast of changes to certification requirements and to visit the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations website for all test and submission dates and fees.
In order to be recommended for NYSED Initial/Certification in Visual Arts, Pre-K–12, candidates must have completed the following procedures, workshops and tests as you move through the program so that by the time you have finished your last semester, you will have completed everything you will need to apply for certification.
First, students must open an account with New York State Education Department TEACH System, select Initial or Professional Certification in Visual Art, all grades (Pre-K-12), pay the $50 fee, verify, and update their profiles. Students are responsible for regularly monitoring your TEACH accounts for accuracy. The TEACH account records and verifies your progress towards certification. Instructions for using TEACH online are available here.
The DASA workshop will be offered at Pratt Institute every Fall for current students only. Contact jjoshua@pratt.edu for the date of the next scheduled workshop and to register. If you take the DASA workshop outside of Pratt it must be taken with a provider approved by NYSED and it will be at your own expense.
*Note: The test and test score dates are available from the NYSTCE website. Test Preparation Guides are also available from NYSTCE.
In order to be “recommended” for certification, students must complete an Institutional Recommendation Form (IRF) form prior to graduation. These forms are available from the ADE office (contact Jonell Joshua at jjoshua@pratt.edu). Completed forms must be submitted to the ADE office either in person or by mail at the completion of the program/graduation.
Once the completed IRF forms and all supporting documents are approved by the ADE Office, they are turned over to the Registrar for review and the student is then “recommended” for certification. Students who are NOT currently in one of our “approved programs” leading to certification, should contact NYS Office of Teaching Initiatives for more information.
Jonell Joshua
Assistant to the Chair of Art and Design Education
Main building, room 202
Pratt Institute
200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
718.636.3637