How Do I Get Certfied to Teach in Pennsylvania With a BS Degree Already?
A bachelor's degree is the ticket to a new career in teaching, even if you didn't major in education. If you want to become a teacher in Pennsylvania and already have a bachelor's degree in another field, you don't have to go back to college to earn another degree. You can get a teaching license by completing the state's alternative certification process. It requires online coursework to pass two exams, followed by teaching in a mentoring program.
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Instructions
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Obtain Passport to Teaching
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Choose the educational discipline in which you want to receive your teaching certification. The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) offers three teaching certification programs: English language arts for grades 6-12, mathematics for grades 6-12 and elementary education (kindergarten to sixth grade). For an extra fee, the ABCTE will allow candidates to pursue multiple certifications.
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Enroll in the ABCTE program. You can enroll online through the organization's website.
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Prepare for the examinations required by the ABCTE in your certification area. In order to earn the Passport to Teaching from ABCTE, you must take two exams: one in your subject matter (such as language arts) and another in teaching practice and methods. The ABCTE online program offers study guides, online courses, sample tests and other materials to help students pass these exams.
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Schedule a date to take each exam. The Pearson Vue company administers all the exams necessary for the Passport to Teaching. You can schedule the exams at its website.
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Take each exam. They consist of multiple choice questions that you will answer via a computer.
Complete Teaching Requirement
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Find a teaching position at a Pennsylvania public or charter school. Where you will teach depends on the subject area you chose. For example, if you took the elementary education certification through ABCTE, you will need to find a job at a kindergarten or elementary school. To receive certification, you must teach in your subject for a minimum of 12 weeks. Pennsylvania's education department recommends finding a job before you apply for a permit to teach.
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Apply for a Pennsylvania Temporary Teaching Permit (TTP). To receive this permit, you must submit the following to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE): form PDE 338 G; a money order for $40 made out to the "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;" photocopies of your ABCTE exam scores and your Passport to Teaching; and sealed transcripts from the university or college where you completed your bachelor's degree.
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Contact Point Park University to begin the teacher mentoring program. Point Park University administers the ABCTE program for the state of Pennsylvania. During your time teaching with the TTP, instructors from Point Park must monitor your progress.
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Teach for a minimum of 12 weeks under mentorship from Point Park University. Your mentor will visit your classroom a minimum of four times and each time will fill out form PDE 430 (Student Teacher Assessment). Additionally, your mentor may also assign tasks or study guides for you to complete and include in your teaching portfolio.
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Compile your teaching portfolio and submit it to Point Park University. Once approved, Point Park will then file your teaching certification with the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
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Tips & Warnings
According to the ABCTE website, you can finish its online program in less than a year. The ABCTE structures its program so prospective teachers do not have to quit their jobs and can continue working full-time while completing the necessary coursework and certification process.
The Temporary Teaching Permit is valid for only one year. If you don't complete the 12 weeks of teaching during that time, you will need to file for another TTP.
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- Photo Credit apple for teacher image by max blain from Fotolia.com
