​CSPG 4 - Evaluation for Certificate Eligibility by the Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality

General Policies

Under certain circumstances, an evaluation of an applicant’s education and experience may be conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality (Bureau). The applicant must meet the standards in effect on the date the application is received by the Bureau.

Certificate Eligibility Requirements

1. Evaluation of Applicants Prepared Outside Pennsylvania
   The Bureau may evaluate an applicant’s education and, if applicable, professional experience for purposes of educator certification when the applicant meets any of the following circumstances:
   
   
   1. Recommended by an Out-of-State Educator Preparation Program
      
      
      1. Applicant completed a college or university educator preparation program approved by another state and has been recommended by the out of state preparation program.
         
         
         1. If the applicant completed a preparation program in a state that participates in the NASDTEC interstate agreement, the applicant must also provide proof of student teaching/internship, minimum 3.0 GPA, and satisfaction of the required Pennsylvania tests. 
         2. If the applicant completed a preparation program in a state that does not participate in the NASDTEC interstate agreement, the Bureau will evaluate the applicant based on the Pennsylvania program framework guidelines for the certification being sought which also includes student teaching/internship, minimum 3.0 GPA, and testing. 
             
      2. If an applicant withdraws from a Pennsylvania-approved educator preparation program and subsequently completes an educator preparation program approved by another state, the individual is categorized as an out-of-state applicant, regardless of where the applicant lives.
          
   2. Holds an Out-of-State Valid Instructional Certificate
      An applicant holding a valid instructional certificate issued by another state through the completion of an approved college or university educator preparation program who has at least two school years of satisfactory teaching on the certificate and satisfied the preparing state’s applicable content test(s) requirements shall be issued a comparable Pennsylvania certificate.  In this instance, the Bureau will issue a certificate without requiring the applicant to successfully complete the state assessment in the requested subject area.
      
      
   3. Holds a Valid Out of State Issued Instructional, Educational Specialist, or Supervisory Certificate
      An applicant holding a valid instructional, educational specialist, or supervisory certificate issued by another state, completed at least two school years of service on the out of state certificate and passed Pennsylvania’s applicable content test(s) may be eligible for comparable Pennsylvania certification. 
      
      An applicant holding an out of state instructional certificate issued through an alternative program provider (non-IHE) who completed at least two school years of service on the out of state certificate and passed Pennsylvania’s applicable content test(s) may be eligible for comparable Pennsylvania instructional certification.
      
      
   4. Coursework from Two or More Educator Preparation Programs
      For an applicant who completed coursework in the requested certification area at two or more approved educator preparation programs but cannot secure a recommendation from any of the educator preparation programs:
      
      The Bureau will evaluate all the applicant’s education and experience against current Pennsylvania program framework guidelines to determine eligibility.
      
      
   5. Preparation Does Not Align To Current Certification Requirements
      For an applicant who completed an out-of-state approved preparation program that does not meet the certification requirements in effect in the preparing state at the time of application:
      
      The Bureau will review the applicant’s education and experience against the current Pennsylvania program framework guidelines and advise the applicant on how to meet any outstanding requirements.
      
      
   6. National Certification
      An applicant who holds a certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or the National Association of School Psychologists will be issued a Level II certificate without having to successfully complete the state assessment in the requested subject area or meet additional requirements. 
       
2. Evaluation of Applicants Educated Outside of the United States
   An applicant who completed an educator preparation program outside of the United States must meet the same standards as applicants educated in the United States.
   
   See requirements in CSPG 5 - Evaluation of Credentials for Individuals Prepared Outside of the United States.
   
   
3. Evaluation of Applicants Prepared by Pennsylvania-Approved Educator Preparation Programs
   An applicant who completed their educator preparation program through a Pennsylvania approved provider are evaluated based on the Pennsylvania Program recommendation process.
   
   An applicant whose educator preparation program has changed or closed must contact a Pennsylvania-approved program provider for more information on the additional requirements that may be needed to meet current requirements and gain their recommendation for certification.  
   
   
4. Other Consideration
   Certificate eligibility for all Pennsylvania applicants is contingent upon satisfaction of the citizenship and character requirements of 24 P.S. §12-1202 and §12-1209.

References:

22 Pa. Code §§ 49.13(3), 49.13(9), 49.13(10), 49.171, 49.63, 49.65, 49.82, 24 P.S. § 12-1206.1 

Chapter 354

This revision supersedes all earlier CSPGs carrying this number and/or addressing this subject. Previous CSPG printing dates on this subject: March 1975, January 1987, July 2004

Summary of Changes