How to Become a Teacher in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania certification requirements, step by step

Each requirement below is stated as Pennsylvania Department of Education publishes it, with the governing source cited.

1. 1

   Meet basic eligibility requirements

   Be at least 18 years old and hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Pennsylvania organizes certification around Instructional I and Instructional II (Level II), with TIMS as the application portal. Age and degree are the floor, not a substitute for an approved program or exams.

   Source: pa.gov

2. 2

   Complete a PDE-approved preparation program

   Finish a Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved educator preparation program with a minimum 3.0 GPA. New graduates enter on Instructional I after program completion, exams, and the GPA threshold. Certification Staffing Policy Guidelines, including CSPG 64, document subject-area assignment rules that interact with certificate fields.

   Source: pa.gov

3. 3

   Pass required Praxis or PECT examinations

   Take and pass the Praxis or Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) required for your certification area. Elementary and special education candidates often encounter PECT; secondary and many other areas rely on Praxis subject assessments. Verify which series applies before you register.

   Source: pa.gov

4. 4

   Apply for Instructional I certification via TIMS

   Submit your application through the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) for an Instructional I certificate. Application fees are typically $150; confirm the current PDE schedule in TIMS. Instructional I is valid for a maximum of six years of service before educators must advance to Instructional II with Act 48 requirements.

   Source: pa.gov

Pennsylvania organizes teacher certification around the Instructional I and Instructional II (Level II) framework, with the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) as the application portal. New graduates from PDE-approved preparation programs enter on Instructional I credentials after passing Praxis or Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) and meeting the 3.0 GPA threshold. Elementary and special education candidates often encounter PECT, while secondary and many other areas rely on Praxis subject assessments.

The six-year service maximum on Instructional I certificates creates a defined window for educators to complete induction requirements and advance to Level II status. Act 48 of 1999 governs continuing education for Pennsylvania educators, requiring 180 hours of approved professional development every five years for Level II certificate holders. This structure embeds long-term professional learning into Pennsylvania's credential maintenance in ways that differ from states using simple clock-hour renewal without a two-tier progression.

Application fees are typically around $150, though candidates should confirm current PDE fee schedules when applying through TIMS. Pennsylvania's Certification Staffing Policy Guidelines, including CSPG 64, document subject-area assignment rules that interact with certification fields—important for both job seekers and administrators matching credentials to vacancies. Because Pennsylvania uses ETS Praxis alongside state-specific PECT exams, candidates must verify which test series applies to their intended certificate area before registering.

Out-of-state educators apply through TIMS with credential evaluation against Pennsylvania standards rather than automatic blanket reciprocity. The combination of GPA requirements, dual testing systems, and the Instructional I to Level II advancement pathway makes Pennsylvania's system particularly sensitive to accurate transcript documentation and test score reporting at the time of application.

Required exams and fees

Pennsylvania uses Praxis / PECT. Fees and cut scores appear only when published by the cited source (as of August 2026).

Moving a license to Pennsylvania

Out-of-state educators may apply for Pennsylvania certification through TIMS; PDE evaluates credentials against Pennsylvania requirements.

Official Pennsylvania reciprocity guidance