Pathways to Certification through PA Department of Education (PDE)

Programs at Chestnut Hill College are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to prepare students for certification with the state. In order to become a certified teacher, students must meet the following exit criteria:

• Complete all coursework, field experiences and/or required student teaching in the certification programs;
• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher;
• Successfully complete instructional exit competencies determined by the specific program requirements;
• Pass all appropriate PECT/Praxis Series exams required by PDE;
• Follow any and all other guidelines announced by PDE; and
• Apply on TIMS for certification.

It is the responsibility of teacher and principal candidates to apply for certification once they have satisfactorily met the requirements. After the certifying officer of the Education Department receives application through the TIMS online system, the certifying officer has the ability to recommend the candidate by electronically signing and sending the application to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Intern Certification

Those seeking intern-certification must pass the Praxis exam, possess a bachelor’s degree and be enrolled in a teacher certification program, such as the degree options offered in the Graduate Education Department at Chestnut Hill College. The intern-certification is valid for three years and belongs to the individual not the school.  

Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) guidelines, here are requirements for obtaining an intern cert:

• Be of good moral character
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a United States citizen or a legal permanent resident holding a valid green card
• Hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree
• Enroll in a PDE approved Intern program; a minimum 3.0 GPA is required to enter the program
• Secure a full-time or long-term substitute position in your content area(s)
• Meet all testing requirements
• Submit an online application through the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS)
• The PDE approved Intern program provider must verify program enrollment through TIMS 
• All required tests must be taken and passed before an intern certificate can be issued. The basic skills tests are not required for the instructional intern certificate.​
• The testing company reports your scores electronically to PDE if you specify PDE as a score recipient when you register for your tests. If you have already taken your tests and did not request PDE as a score recipient, contact the appropriate company.
• Your approved Intern program provider needs your test scores, therefore, you should list them as a score recipient when registering. 
• The Intern certificate is valid for three calendar years from the date issued whether or not the educator is employed.
• The Intern certificate cannot be renewed.

Chestnut Hill College offers varied degree options for those interested in seeking an intern certification. This program is open to qualified applicants and allows a candidate to gain intern certification before completing the coursework necessary for Instructional I certification. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education website, the Intern certificate is a valid professional certificate that entitles the holder to fill a full-time professional teaching position. An Intern certificated individual is entitled to all rights and privileges of a temporary professional as defined by law. The current regulation provides that a Teacher Intern certificate qualifies the holder to fill a full-time teaching position in the certification endorsement area in elementary and secondary schools in Pennsylvania. For more detailed information about eligibility, see the PDE website at www.education.pa.gov.

Emergency Certification

Those interested in this option must be represented by the school in which they are employed. The certification belongs to the school not the individual and must be renewed annually. To qualify, the employee/student must be enrolled in a certification program, such as the degree options offered in the Graduate Education Department at Chestnut Hill College. For more detailed information about eligibility, see the PDE website at www.education.pa.gov.