Teacher Certification Information

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Drexel University’s School of Education (SoE) offers a number of certification and degree-bearing programs that prepare students for teacher certification. Once an individual has successfully completed their course of study and appropriate exams required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PA DoE), Drexel recommends the student to the PA DoE for issuance of the appropriate teaching certificate.

The following programs provide instruction that can lead to teacher certification:

Degree Programs:

Post-Baccalaureate Certification:

The certification information below, unless otherwise noted, pertains to compliance with teacher certification requirements in the state of Pennsylvania.* For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website.

Instructional I Certification

A candidate’ typical, initial certification is known as “Instructional I” and qualifies teachers to teach for a maximum of six years. The six years need not be continuous but represent the total number of active years of teaching in any given period of time on the Instructional I. To continue teaching after the six years are completed, teachers must receive their Instructional II Certification.

Intern Teaching Certification

Individuals with a bachelor’ degree may receive the Pennsylvania Teacher Intern Certificate which qualifies the candidate to teach for a period not to exceed three calendar years, after which Instructional I certification must be acquired. For more information, visit the PA DoE’ website on Intern Certification.

Instructional II Certification

The Instructional II Certification is considered a “permanent” certification. A teacher applying for Instructional II Certification must have:

Instructional I Certification
A minimum of three years and a maximum of six years teaching experience on an Instructional I Teaching Certificate
24 semester-hour (or 36 quarter-hour) credits beyond a bachelor’ degree**
Completion of an induction program (generally provided by a teacher’ school of employment)

Act 48 Requirements

To maintain Instructional I and Instructional II Certifications, the PA DoE requires a teacher to complete the minimal equivalent of six semester-hour (or nine quarter-hour) credits, 180 professional development, or combination of credits and professional development hours every five years. College credits must be acquired from an accredited four-year, degree-granting college or university.

(Note: For those working to acquire Instructional II Certification, the 24 credits needed to apply for Instructional II may also be count towards Act 48 requirements.)

For more information, visit the PA Department of Education Act 48 Continuing Professional Education.

Primary and Dual Certifications

All candidates working towards a teaching certificate must declare a primary area of certification at the start of their preparation program which represents the core of their instruction and indicates the level at which they are qualified to teach: Pre K–4, Pre K–4 & Special Education, Middle Level (grades 4–8) or Secondary (7–12). This is also the area in which they must complete student teaching requirements.

Candidates who desire an additional or secondary area of instruction may take courses that qualify them for dual or add-on certifications.

The appropriate required exams must be passed in each area of instruction to acquire certification.

Areas of certification offered by the SoE are listed below.

(Note: The list of certifications is slightly different for those students earning a B.S. in a non-education major/M.S. in Education. Please visit the Accelerated Degree Program: B.S. in a Non-Education Major / M.S. with a Major in Education page for more information.)

Pre–Kindergarten—Grade 4
Pre–Kindergarten—Grade 4 & Special Education
Middle Level (grades 4–8) Mathematics and Science
Middle Level (grades 4–8) Science and English/ Language Arts
Middle Level (grades 4–8) Mathematics and English/ Language Arts
Secondary (grades 7–12) Biology
Secondary (grades 7–12) Chemistry
Secondary (grades 7–12) Earth & Space Science
Secondary (grades 7–12) English
Secondary (grades 7–12) General Science
Secondary (grades 7–12) Mathematics
Secondary (grades 7–12) Physics
Environmental Education (grades K–12)
Special Education (not available as a primary teacher certification area; see NOTE below)

NOTE: Special Education Teacher Certification also is available, but may not serve as a primary area of teacher certification with exception for students working toward pre K–4 and special education certification. B.S./M.S. students wishing to complete requirements for Special Education Certification in additional to one of the other available primary areas of teacher certification must select Education as their undergraduate major and pursue the M.S. in Special Education as their graduate degree area.

* Drexel’ School of Education provides courses and sequences of study appropriate for initial teacher certification for many states via the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. To learn more, visit the NASDTEC website, for the specific state of interest to determine state requirements. For more information, email education@drexel.edu or call 215-895-6770.

** All School of Education graduate program courses qualify for Instructional II Certification credit requirements.

PA Certification Testing Requirements

The PA Department of Education has changed their certification testing requirements. For more information, visit the PA Department of Education Testing Requirements or the Teacher Ed Resource Portal.

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