Important Certification Requirements
APPLICATIONS FOR PENNSYLVANIA TEACHER CERTIFICATION WILL BE EVALUATED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 354 ESTABLISHED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Grade Point Average (GPA) requirements: 3.0 overall cumulative
GPA as noted on Bachelor's or Master's transcript.
The cumulative GPA must be indicated on the college transcript. If it is not
indicated on the college transcript, the overall GPA may be supplied in a letter
from the college or university.
Qualifying for PA certification with less than 3.0 GPA
(PDF)
A list of frequently asked questions regarding the GPA-Praxis testing requirements can be found under
Commonly Asked Questions .
NOTE: All references to a GPA are relative to a 4.0 scale. Applicants with credits on other scales must
have the equivalent GPA.
Math and English Requirements for PA Certification
Individuals applying for PA Instructional and Educational Specialist certification must have earned:

6 semester hour credits (or the equivalent) in college level mathematics; and

3 semester hour credits in college level English Composition; and

3 semester hour credits in college level English/American Literature.
Mathematics (6 credits):

Coursework must be at the Math 101 level or above (college level)

CLEPs for college level mathematics will be accepted if the credits are recorded on official college
transcripts

AP credit will be accepted if recorded on official college transcripts

The course grade or Pass/Fail (CLEP) must be listed on college transcripts

The SAT Math-Level I Subject assessment with a score of 560 or more will be accepted as the
equivalent of 3 credits of college level mathematics.
The following courses represent typical mathematic courses acceptable for PA certification purposes. This
list is not intended to cover all acceptable mathematic coursework, but to provide general
guidance. If you are concerned that a course you are considering will not meet the requirements for PA
certification, consult with the college/university that is offering the course to ensure it is considered
"college-level mathematics" by the institution.
Examples of acceptable math coursework:

Algebra

Finite Mathematics

Discrete Mathematics

Geometry

Statistics (from any department)

Business Math

Trigonometry

Differential Equations

Calculus

Number Theory

College Mathematics
Examples of unacceptable math coursework:

Economics

Accounting

Methods of Teaching Math (how to teach math in the classroom)

Computer Science

Remedial Math

Developmental Math, etc.
English Composition (3 credits) and American/English Literature (3 credits):

CLEPs for college level English writing or literature will be accepted if the credits are recorded on
official college transcripts

AP credit will be accepted if recorded on official college transcripts

The course grade of Pass/Fail (CLEP) must be listed on college transcripts
The following course topics represent typical composition/literature coursework acceptable for PA
certification purposes. This list is not intended to cover all acceptable coursework topics, but to
provide general guidance. If you are concerned that a course you are considering will not meet the
requirements for PA certification, consult with the college/university that is offering the course to ensure it
is considered "English Composition" or "American/English Literature" by the institution.
Examples of acceptable English composition topics:

Basic English Composition

Technical Writing

Journalism (writing)

Creative Writing

Poetry (writing)

Evaluation/Analysis of Writing

Rhetoric

Linguistics
Examples of acceptable English/American topics:

Reading, analyzing, or interpreting British/American literature

Historical and cultural contexts of British/American literature

Literature for adolescents and young adults

Historical and contemporary British/American literary movements

Characteristics of literary types, forms, elements and devices
Examples of unacceptable English Composition or American/English Literature coursework:

Methods of teaching English Composition or American/English Literature (how to teach in the
classroom)

Remedial coursework (not college level)

Composition or literature that does not have an American/English focus (for example, French
Literature would be unacceptable)
Interstate Agreement: Both testing and GPA requirements are considered ancillary to the Interstate
Agreement and states are permitted to ask that both requirements be met before a certificate is issued.
In cases where the candidate has met all requirements for certification, including tests and GPA, but does
not have the requisite 6 credits of math and 6 credits of English, Pennsylvania may issue a Temporary
Teaching Permit, valid for one calendar year.
For additional information, please contact:
Barb Seifert | Chief, Division of Certification Services
Pennsylvania Department of Education - School Leadership and Teacher Quality
333 Market Street | Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Phone: 717.787.3356
ra-teachercert@state.pa.us | www.education.state.pa.us