Certificate
A certificate is a document prepared and issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, which indicates that the person certified has completed a professional preparation program and is qualified to perform specific professional duties in the area of certification. In addition to completion of an approved preparation program, the applicant for a certificate must meet the requirements of 22 Pa Code § 49.12. A certificate is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for employment in the public schools.
There are eleven basic categories of certificates and letters of eligibility that can be issued by the Department of Education: letters of temporary certification; emergency certificates; intern certificates; instructional certificates; educational specialist certificates; supervisor certificates; administrative certificates; school program specialist certificates; letters of eligibility; vocational education certificates; and intermediate unit program specialist certificates.
The Instructional I and Instructional II certificates are the most commonly held teaching certificates. These certificates are described in 22 PA Code in sections 49.82 and 49.83 respectively. The Educational Specialist I and Educational Specialist II are issued to persons whose primary service is other than classroom teaching. These certificates are described in § 49.102 and § 49.103 respectively. The Supervisory I certificate is described in § 49.111 and the Administrative I certificate is described in § 49.121.
The Instructional I and Educational Specialist I certificates can be converted into Instructional II and Educational Specialist II certificates in accordance with § 49.84 and § 49.104 of 22 PA Code.
Act 48 of 1999 (24 PS § 12-1205.2), which became effective on July 1, 2000, requires all professional educators in Pennsylvania to take post-certification training every five years in order to maintain "active certification." To maintain "active" certification, educators must earn six (6) collegiate credits or six (6) Pennsylvania Department of Education approved in-service credits or one hundred and eighty (180) continuing education hours or any combination of these three every five calendar years. The five-year period begins on July 1, 2000 for all educators issued certificates prior to and including July, 2000. For those issued certificates in August 2000, and thereafter, the five-year period begins with the effective date of the issuance of the initial certificate.
Act 48 affects all holders of Pennsylvania certificates. Educators not employed by a public school entity in Pennsylvania or who move out of Pennsylvania either can maintain their certificates as "active" or request "voluntary inactive" status from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. If nothing is done, the certificate will be inactive after the five-year period and the holder will be disqualified from employment by a Pennsylvania public school entity as a full-time professional or temporary professional employe. Educators who desire "voluntary inactive" status must complete a request form supplied the Department of Education and submit the form to the Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation.
A certificate may be valid or invalid. An invalid certificate no longer qualifies its holder to perform specific professional duties. See 22 Pa. Code § 49.2. The holder of the certificate has the responsibility to maintain the validity of the certificate.
School Code 24 PS §§ 12-1201-12-1215
Regulations of the State Board of Education 22 PA Code §§ 49.1 through 49.182.