If becoming a teacher in Pennsylvania is your goal, then the best place to start is by receiving your Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and completing an approved teacher preparation program in Pennsylvania. By going this route, while attending school, you will receive the appropriate training, take all appropriate courses, and complete the required testing.

In order to receive your certification in Pennsylvania, you will need a recommendation from the school where you completed your teacher preparation. In addition to the recommendation, you will need to submit an application form, all applicable fees, and submit to a criminal background check. When you are approved, you will receive a Level I certificate which is valid for six years.

When you receive your certification, you will want to find a teaching position in Pennsylvania. The School District of Philadelphia is one of the largest districts in the nation. It is located centrally within close proximity to New York, Atlantic City, Baltimore, and Harrisburg. The district is broken down into ten regions, each serving an ethnically and racially diverse population. Pittsburgh Public Schools is the second largest district in Pennsylvania and has been following the Excellence for All program since 2006 to ensure that every student, no matter their level of academic performance, can achieve excellence. Allentown School District is currently updating aged buildings to ensure an environment conducive to learning. Additionally, the lower level grades have been making great progress with their academic achievement under recent initiatives. Erie School District has been restructuring teaching approaches to match students’ needs in a district that offers several athletic and academic based achievement programs.

After teaching for six years in Pennsylvania on your Level I certificate, you will need to move up to a Level II certificate to be eligible for continued teaching. In order to receive your Level II certificate, you must have completed 24 semester hours of college credit. Continuing Education Units are not allowed as a substitute for the college credits.