TEACHER CERTIFICATION TUTORIAL
TIMS = Teacher Information Management System
BY: Dr. Cindy Ferraro
and
Ginger Daddona
BEGIN AT: PA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Begin at the PA Department of Education Home Page (Above Hot Link)
Log In Information
• Once you have registered with the Pennsylvania Department
of Education, you will then “Log In” to your account. The Log
In will grant access to your information and you will use this
account to apply for proper certifications.
• To “Register” simply click on “Register” and follow the
prompts.
• Remember: You will need this login for every time you wish to
check the status of your certification applications & other
pertinent information regarding teacher certification (make
sure you make note of your Log In and Password for future
reference).
Above is a snapshot of the “Log In” Page
Enter your registered Username & Password
Main Screen Following Log In
Next: Click on “Teachers” Icon
Next click on: “TIMS” Icon
Green Arrow = (Click) User Guides
Red Arrow = (Click) Log Into the TIMS
Next: TIMS Application
Dashboard
Verifying Your Test Scores
Apply For Certification =
Click: “New Credential Application”
Select “Requested Credential Type” = Instructional I (61)
Select Certification Subject Area(s)
For a complete step by step guide to help you with applying for your PA Certification, please
see/click: “A Knights Guide for Applying for Teacher Certification in Pennsylvania”
(The link will take you to a detailed PDF document)
Printing the Coversheet
The applicant will print this coversheet and directly mail (as directed in
Seminar II) to the state of Pennsylvania.
Next: “Click here to print the coversheet.”
Next: This prompt below will appear.
Click “Open” or “Save”
A new window will open
with a PDF file as shown below.
The Coversheet Explained
Requirements
Proof of Documents
Important Instructions for document submission.
Please read all instructions carefully
The Coversheet Explained
“Taken from PDE Applicant User Guide”
• IMPORTANT NOTE: A two page document will open in PDF format.
Review BOTH pages of the document as it provides detailed
instructions for submitting required documentation. It is
important that you read and follow all directions closely as this will
help ensure that your application is processed as quickly as
possible. Providing the cover sheet, which includes bar codes are
used to identify and process your application within TIMS.
• You may save and print this document from the PDF file. Refer to
screenshot of the second page of cover sheet document on slide
14. By saving the document to your hard drive you can print the
document later or send it electronically to a PK‐12 Educational
Entity or an Approved Educator Preparation Program if necessary.
You will be required to submit it to PDE along with the
documentation required. You may return to TIMS and print the
cover sheet from your dashboard also.
The Coversheet Explained
“Taken from PDE Applicant User Guide”
• As noted, Slide 15 is the second page of the cover sheet which
provides specific information regarding the requirements for
the credential or credential update for which you are
applying.
• The last column “Application Requirements” identifies the
requirements, while the “Acceptable Documents” column
indicates the possible proof items that would demonstrate
that you meet the requirements. To facilitate receipt of the
documents and document scanning, these items are
categorized in first column, “Document Category”.
• Below the grid are IMPORTANT instructions on how to submit
the documentation to meet the requirements for the
credential being requested.
Application Checklist
1. Application / Coversheet is 100% complete and
correct (when submitted)
2. Health Certificate*
1. *Send blank health form to PDE:
2. Effective July 9, 2013, Act 59 of 2013 has
eliminated the requirement for the Health
certificate
1. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/comm
unity/applications___forms/8649/health_certificate/1
224647
Things to Remember When Applying
for Certifications……
• There is a $100 Fee when applying for the
“Level I (61) Certification” in the State of
Pennsylvania.
• All candidates are required to apply online via
Teacher Information Management System.
• Applicants may pay processing fee in either two forms
• Debit / Credit during TIMS online application.
• Standard money order: $100.00
• Make payable to “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania”)
Send All Certification Materials to:
Bureau of School Leadership &
Teacher Quality
The Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street, 12th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Things to Remember…Cont:
• Verify that your online application is 100% complete
& error free before submitting for approval.
• The TIMS system will not allow the applicant to “go
back” and make changes to their certification
materials once everything has been submitted to
PDE.
• If changes are necessary, the applicant must contact
the PA Department of Education.
Things to Remember…Cont:
• Verify that your application is specifically a
Pennsylvania “Instructional I (61)” application before
finally submitting to the PDE.
• Remember to follow up with the Neumann
University Education Department to learn if your
online application has been received & properly
processed.
• The Department should receive a notification in their
TIMS dashboard in order to confirm applications to
the PDE.
News: Certification Delivery
• As of 2/9/2012, The State of Pennsylvania will
no longer send Teacher’s Certificates via U.S.
Mail.
• Certificates will be available online via the
TIMS database once the certification process
has been completed and approved by the
appropriate administrators of Neumann
University & the State of Pennsylvania.
Contact Information
If you have any questions concerning the new
TIMS system (excluding technical support),
please contact:
Ms. Ginger Daddona
Neumann University’s Certification Specialist.
Email: daddonag@neumann.edu
Phone: 610-358-4501 (8am to 5pm M-F)
Please Note
• Due to the new implementation period of the
Teacher Information Management System
(TIMS), the information presented on this
slideshow may be amended at anytime.
(4/2013)