Pennsylvania Teacher Licensure Guide for Online Master's Students

Who Licenses Teachers in Pennsylvania, and Which Exams Does It Use?

Pennsylvania licenses teachers through Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality, and the exams it requires are the Praxis tests from ETS.

For the programs themselves, the online master's in education programs at universities in Pennsylvania are ranked at the in-state price, and the national and specialty lists cover schools in other states.

How Do I Get a Pennsylvania Teaching License With an Online Master's?

Getting a Pennsylvania teaching license with an online master's runs through an approved preparation program and the institution's recommendation for the Instructional I certificate. PDE counts more than 100 colleges and universities with approved teacher education programs, and a master's or post-baccalaureate program is one of its recognized routes for someone who already holds a bachelor's degree.

A graduate of a program in another state applies as an out-of-state completer, and PDE asks for a 3.0 cumulative degree GPA and a program verification form completed by the school. Check candidates in our elementary education and special education rankings against that standard.

Which Exams Does Pennsylvania Require for Teacher Certification?

Pennsylvania requires teacher candidates to pass exams in fundamental subjects and in their certificate area, and PDE's score chart names them. Anyone seeking a first Pennsylvania certificate takes Fundamental Subjects Content Knowledge (5511) from ETS, and the qualifying score slides with GPA: 145 for a 3.76 or higher, 155 for a 2.80 to 2.99.

Content tests then vary by certificate: Pearson modules (8006 to 8008) for Pre-K to 4, ETS modules for grades 4 to 8, and Praxis 5355 for special education PK to 12. Basic skills testing is no longer a certification requirement.

Can I Transfer a Teaching License to Pennsylvania From Another State?

A teaching license from another state can reach Pennsylvania through several PDE pathways, none of them automatic. PDE lists eight: a professional-level certificate plus two years of experience, a completed out-of-state program, Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact membership, National Board or NASP credentials, administrative credentials, foreign preparation, career and technical certificates and military portability.

Scores from another state count when the test name and code match Pennsylvania's exactly and the score meets Pennsylvania's qualifying score. The 2020 Education Commission of the States comparison flagged extra coursework and assessments in Pennsylvania; the table below shows the rest.

Where Can I Do Student Teaching for a Pennsylvania Certificate in an Online Master's Program?

Student teaching for a Pennsylvania certificate in an online master's program is meant to happen largely in Pennsylvania: since January 1, 2025 an approved program must place at least half of a candidate's field experience in a Pennsylvania school and notify PDE before any out-of-state placement. An outside cooperating teacher needs a Pennsylvania certificate or its equivalent and three years of experience in the subject.

A program finished elsewhere is judged separately, and PDE's out-of-state review looks for student teaching, an internship or other field experience on the transcript.

Does Pennsylvania Require a Master's Degree for Level II Certification?

Pennsylvania does not require a master's degree for Level II certification, but 24 credits earned after the bachelor's degree are part of the conversion from the Instructional I certificate, along with three years of satisfactory service in a Pennsylvania public school entity, a PDE-approved induction program and six semi-annual ratings. Graduate credits are accepted, and six of the 24 must sit in the certificate area or improve professional practice.

Which Certificate Do Pennsylvania Principals and School Counselors Need?

A Pennsylvania principal holds the Administrative I certificate, and PDE requires a Pennsylvania-approved graduate-level principal program with an internship or an equivalent out-of-state program, a 3.0 program GPA and three years of relevant professional experience. The score chart lists the School Leadership Licensure Assessment (6990).

A school counselor holds the Educational Specialist certificate for Elementary and Secondary School Counselor PK-12 and takes School Counselor (5422). Weigh an online master's in educational leadership or school counseling against both lists.

Does NC-SARA Membership Cover Teacher Certification for Pennsylvania Online Master's Students?

NC-SARA membership does not cover teacher certification for Pennsylvania online master's students, because SARA does not address licensing board approval of programs. Pennsylvania was approved in November 2016, which opens the state to participating schools, yet PDE alone decides whether a program qualifies for a certificate.

What SARA does require is a statement from participating schools on whether a program meets licensure requirements where you live.

What Should I Ask an Online Program Before Enrolling From Pennsylvania?

Before enrolling from Pennsylvania, ask the online program to state in writing how it fares in Pennsylvania. 34 CFR 668.43 compels a school that markets licensure preparation to list the states where the program does and does not qualify, and to warn you before enrollment when the answer is no or unknown.

Then ask the Pennsylvania questions: is the program on PDE's approved list or will it sign the verification form, can student teaching happen in a Pennsylvania school, does the program GPA reach 3.0, and which Pearson or ETS exams does the curriculum prepare you for.