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How to become a certified teacher in Pennsylvania. Bachelor's degree required. Primary exam: Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (or SAT/ACT/GRE equivalent scores). Government fees: $327.60–$477.60. Substitute requirements: Bachelor's degree for a Substitute Teaching Permit; emergency/day-to-day substitutes may have lower requirements at district discretion. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Teacher / Substitute Teacher · Pennsylvania
Everything you need to become a certified teacher or substitute teacher in Pennsylvania. Education, exams, fees, and application steps — verified against Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) - Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality.
Last verified: 2026-03-21
Degree Required
Bachelor's degree
Primary Exam
Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (or SAT/ACT/GRE equivalent scores)
Total Gov Fees
$327.60–$477.60
Initial Cert
6 years
| Minimum Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree |
| Teacher Prep Program | Required |
| Student Teaching | Required |
| Background Check | Required |
| Fingerprinting | Required |
| GPA Requirement | 3.0 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the U.S. |
basic skills
Passing score: Reading: 156, Writing: 162, Math: 150
Basic skills assessment required unless exempted through qualifying SAT, ACT, or GRE scores. Pennsylvania accepts multiple alternatives to Praxis Core.
content knowledge
Passing score: Varies by subject area
Subject-specific content exam. Pennsylvania uses Praxis for most areas but has state-specific PECT exams for certain fields like PreK-4, Special Education, and School Nurse.
Initial certificate issued to new teachers who have completed an approved teacher preparation program, passed required certification tests, and completed all clearances. Valid for 6 years.
Permanent certificate issued after completing 3 years of satisfactory teaching experience, 24 post-baccalaureate credits (including 6 in the content area), and an induction program. The Instructional II is a permanent credential.
Issued by school districts to fill immediate staffing needs when no certified teacher is available
Issued to candidates in alternative certification programs who are teaching while completing preparation requirements
Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree for a Substitute Teaching Permit; emergency/day-to-day substitutes may have lower requirements at district discretion
Certificate Required
Substitute Teaching Permit
Background Check
Required
Permit Fee
$10
Validity
6 years
Pennsylvania issues a Substitute Teaching Permit valid for 6 years. Applicants need a bachelor's degree and must complete Act 34 (PA State Police), Act 151 (PA Child Abuse History), and Act 114 (FBI fingerprinting) clearances. Day-to-day substitutes may be employed through the permit, while long-term substitutes (more than 20 consecutive days) need a standard teaching certificate.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee$50 standard certification fee + $100 Professional Educator Discipline fee (per Act 47 of 2025) | $150 |
| Fingerprint FeeFBI fingerprint check (Act 114); additional fees for Act 34 PA State Police ($22) and Act 151 Child Abuse ($13) clearances | $22.60 |
| Exam Fees (Total)Praxis Core ($150 combined or $270 individual subtests) + content exam ($120–$170); may be lower if SAT/ACT scores exempt from Core | $270–$420 |
| Initial CertificateInstructional I Certificate fee ($50 + $100 discipline fee) | $150 |
| Renewal FeeInstructional II certificate is permanent and does not require renewal | N/A |
| Substitute PermitSubstitute teaching permit application fee | $10 |
| Total Government FeesApplication ($10), clearances (~$57.60 total for Acts 34, 114, 151), and exams ($270–$420); lower if exempt from Praxis Core | $327.60–$477.60 |
Register on the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) at the PDE website
https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Certification/TIMS/
Graduate from a PDE-approved teacher preparation program with a bachelor's degree and minimum 3.0 GPA
Pass Praxis Core (or qualify for exemption via SAT/ACT/GRE) and the required Praxis content area or PECT exam
Fee: $270–$420
Complete Act 34 (PA State Police), Act 151 (PA Child Abuse History), and Act 114 (FBI fingerprinting) clearances
Fee: $57.60
All three clearances are required before being hired
Apply for the Instructional I Certificate through the TIMS online system
Fee: $10
Program will verify your completion directly through TIMS
After being hired, complete a PDE-approved induction program during your first year(s) of teaching
Required to advance to the Instructional II Certificate
Pennsylvania offers an Intern Certificate for career changers who have a bachelor's degree and are enrolled in a PDE-approved alternative certification program. Interns can teach for up to 3 years while completing their preparation. The state also offers a Career and Technical Instructional Certificate for industry professionals with trade experience to teach in vocational programs.
Available Programs:
CE Required
Yes
Hours per Cycle
180
Renewal Cycle
5 years
Pennsylvania requires 180 continuing education hours (Act 48) during each 5-year compliance period. Hours can be earned through college coursework, PDE-approved in-service programs, curriculum development, professional conferences, and other approved activities. Each college credit equals 30 Act 48 hours.
Reciprocity Type
Interstate agreement with review
Interstate Agreement
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
Pennsylvania participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. Out-of-state teachers with comparable certificates and passing scores on equivalent exams may qualify for a Pennsylvania certificate. Teachers must still complete Pennsylvania's three-clearance background check requirement (Acts 34, 114, and 151).
Additional requirements: Must complete PA clearances (Acts 34, 114, 151); may need to pass additional certification exams; must provide verification of out-of-state certificate
Unique to Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania has one of the lowest teacher certification application fees in the nation at just $10, but requires three separate state-mandated background clearances (Acts 34, 114, and 151) that add to the overall cost. The state also uses a mix of ETS Praxis exams and state-specific PECT exams depending on the certification area.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Pennsylvania.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#12 of 51
Cost
#9 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021)
Entry Level
$59,680
25th percentile
Median
$74,160
+19% vs. national avg ($62,340)Experienced
$79,730
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
47,220 employed in this state
Note: BLS category covers elementary school teachers only. Secondary, special education, and other teaching specializations have separate SOC codes with different wage data.
Source: BLS OEWS – Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
0%
Below AverageNew Jobs
-500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
103,200
per year (avg.)
1.4M currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Source: PDE Educator Certification
Estimated total: 216–234 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: PDE Educator Certification
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: PDE Educator Certification
Study guides for Praxis Core and subject-specific teacher exams.
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Pennsylvania requires completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program to earn your teaching certificate. Explore approved programs and alternative certification routes.
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