Explore FAQs, videos, and resources to guide your path to becoming a certified teacher.
For aspiring and current teachers
For aspiring teachers
For aspiring teachers
For aspiring and current teachers
FAQs
Emergency Permit FAQ
Aspiring teachers and current teachers that do not have specific content area certification in Philadelphia can use emergency permits as a short-term on-ramp into classrooms. Pennsylvania Department of Education requires ALL teachers to possess a valid and active Pennsylvania instructional certificate in the content area they are teaching.
An emergency permit is a temporary approval that allows a person who is not fully certified in Pennsylvania to teach or substitute teach.
For consideration: For narrative reframing purposes, this is not a less than status but rather a pathway into teaching with a clear bridge for full certification
Type 01 – Emergency Permit (Certified Educator Shortage)
Who it’s for:
- Someone who already holds a Pennsylvania teaching certificate, but not in the subject area of the vacancy. Example: A certified Elementary teacher hired to teach High School Math due to a staffing shortage.
Key points:
- The educator is already certified in PA.
- The permit allows them to temporarily teach outside their certification area.
- Valid for one school year.
- May be renewed if shortage continues.
Type 04 – Emergency Permit (Non-Certified Individual)
This is the permit most often referenced when schools hire career changers or aspiring teachers who are entering alternative certification routes.
Who it’s for:
- An individual who does not yet hold a PA teaching certificate but has at least a bachelor’s degree.
Key points:
- A bachelor’s degree is still required (except limited CTE exceptions).
- Individual is not yet fully certified.
- Valid for one school year.
- Can be reissued if the individual is making progress toward certification.
- This is the permit most often referenced when schools hire career changers or aspiring teachers who are entering alternative certification routes.
- Aspiring teachers and recent grads with a bachelor’s degree
- Career changers with a bachelor’s degree
- Out of state certified teachers working towards PA certification
- Current educators whose certificate does not yet match the subject or grade level they are asked to teach
- You must have a bachelor’s degree to be eligible for most classroom based emergency permits.
- Beginning 2025-2026, submission of a transcript to prove bachelor’s degree is NOT required at time of application. However, the LEA must keep a copy of the official transcript on file for documentation and auditing purposes.
- A school must hire you first and then request it on your behalf
- You must first be hired by a school.
- The school (not you) submits the Emergency Permit request to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- You may need to provide documents (like your bachelor’s transcript), but you do not submit the permit application yourself.
- If you change schools, your new employer must apply for a new permit.
Emergency permits are TEMPORARY. While you can teach now, the expectation is that you must be actively working towards become fully certified
For Consideration Message this as part of the “earn while you learn” pathway. You don’t have to finish everything to get started as a teacher.
An Emergency Permit is temporary. To become fully certified through the Pennsylvania Department of Education, you must complete the requirements for a Pennsylvania Instructional I certificate.
Step 1: Enroll in an Approved Certification Program
You must enter a PDE-approved educator preparation program (traditional or alternative route).
Step 2: Complete Required Coursework & Training
Finish all required education coursework, field experiences, and program requirements.
Step 3: Pass Required Certification Exams
Pass the appropriate Pennsylvania certification exams for your subject area.
Step 4: Apply for Instructional I Certification
Once your program recommends you, apply for your Level I (Instructional I) teaching certificate through PDE.
Helpful Links:
How to Get a Teaching Job FAQ
Philadelphia has many schools hiring teachers every year, but the hiring process can feel confusing because there are multiple school systems and pathways into the classroom.
Philadelphia offers 49 public school teaching options to choose from that includes the city’s largest educator employer, The School District of Philadelphia (SDP)and local public charters. SDP and charters have different cultures, pay structures, and expectations, so candidates can often find a setting that fits their priorities.
District public schools are run by the city’s main school district and follow a centralized pay scale and union contract.
Charter schools are also public but operated by independent boards or networks, which gives them more flexibility in schedule and school model. In addition to stand alone charters, there are several Charter Management Organizations that make up a network of charter schools like Mastery and KIPP Philadelphia.
District public schools usually start with a central application where you submit your resume, references, and basic documents to join an “eligibility pool.” Once you’re in that pool, principals at individual schools invite you to interview for open positions and make hiring decisions for their buildings.
Charter schools typically hire directly at the school or network level. You apply to the specific charter or charter network on their website, and their school leadership team screens, interviews, and hires candidates on its own timeline.
Principals will often ask for concrete examples of your classroom management and relationship building skills, approach to lesson planning and assessment, collaboration, and communication with families. Many interviews include scenario questions (“What would you do if…?”) and may ask you to talk through a sample lesson or student work.
Across sectors, principals tend to look for three things: evidence that you understand their school community, strong classroom management and instructional expertise, and a student‑centered mindset. They also value teachers who collaborate well with colleagues and respond constructively to feedback.
You can stand out by demonstrating you’ve researched the specific school and neighborhood, not just the district or city. Most employers ask teacher candidates to teach a sample lesson to a live group of students that will allow you to showcase your skills.
Helpful questions include:
- “What supports are in place for new teachers here?”
- “How does your school partner with families?”
- “How are student behavior and discipline handled?”
- “What does a successful teacher at this school do consistently?”
District public schools usually offer more standardized salary scales, union protection, and clearly defined benefits. Charter and faith‑based schools can range widely: some are competitive with the district, while others trade higher pay for smaller communities or more flexible environments.
Timing matters a lot. Typical hiring windows are:
January-March | Early recruiting begins
March-May | Peak hiring season
June-August | Late hiring and last minute vacancies
September | Emergency hiring if positions are unfilled
High need areas typically include:
- Special education
- Bilingual education
- Secondary subjects math and science
- ESL
Candidates with these certifications often receive more interviews and faster offers.
1. Decide what grade level or subject you want to teach
2. Research certification pathways on our TeachPHL website
3. Apply to teacher preparation or residency programs
4. Start gaining experience working with students
Aspiring teachers may benefit from something like this as well:
Step 1: Choose a pathway
Step 2: Complete certification or enroll in program
Step 3: Apply to schools
Step 4: Interview and demo lesson
Step 5: Receive offer and onboarding
Additional Helpful Tips:
- Start building classroom experience as early as possible.
- Apply to several schools instead of waiting for one opportunity.
- Attend teacher recruitment events and information sessions.
- Talk to current teachers about their experiences and advice.
Traditional Certification FAQ
This guide is for people who want to become certified teachers in Pennsylvania through the traditional route. It is especially helpful for undergraduates and bachelor’s degree holders who are preparing to enter a PDE-approved teacher preparation program.
Traditional certification means completing a Pennsylvania-approved teacher preparation program, meeting testing and clearance requirements, and then applying through TIMS for your initial Instructional I certificate.
Instructional I is Pennsylvania’s initial teaching certificate. It is valid for six years of actual teaching service, and teachers must move toward Instructional II before it expires. Before completing six years of teaching and completing 24 post-baccalaureate credits, you must upgrade to a permanent Instructional II Certificate.
TIMS is Pennsylvania’s online certification system. You use it to apply for certification, and your preparation program or institution typically helps verify your completion and recommendation.
What are the requirements?
For Pennsylvania’s traditional certification route, the core requirements generally include:
- A bachelor’s degree.
- Completion of a PDE-approved certification program.
- Required tests for your intended certification area.
- Student teaching or supervised field experience.
- Background checks and clearances.
- Meeting the admissions standards of your preparation program, which may include GPA requirements and, depending on the program, other admission criteria.
Citizenship requirement
Pennsylvania generally requires teacher certification candidates to be U.S. citizens, or to hold a valid immigrant visa/green card and file a declaration of intent to become a citizen. Some foreign language pathways may have exceptions.
This depends on your certification area. You need the Praxis Subject Assessment specific to the subject and grade level you want to teach (for example, Praxis Mathematics 7–12 for secondary math). PK–12 candidates also need the Praxis Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge exam. Visit the PDE website for the full list of required tests by certification area. The basic skills exam (PAPA/Praxis Core) is no longer required as of July 2025.
Yes. ETS offers fee waivers for candidates who demonstrate financial need. Additionally, some teacher preparation programs and school based employers offer test fee reimbursement. Ask your HR office representative and check the ETS website for eligibility details.
Approximately nine weeks from the time PDE receives a complete application. Plan ahead and don’t wait until the last minute before the school year starts.
Traditional Certification Starting Point 1: I’m in High School or Just Graduating
You’re exploring teaching as a career and want to know the traditional path.
The traditional route means earning a bachelor’s degree through a PDE-approved teacher preparation program at a college or university. The program includes coursework in education and your content area, field experiences in schools, and a student teaching semester. After completing the program and passing required exams, your institution recommends you for an Instructional I Certificate.
Typically four years for a bachelor’s degree. If you already know you want to teach, choosing an education major from the start is the most direct path. Some universities offer five-year combined bachelor’s/master’s programs.
Tuition varies widely from approximately $10,000–$15,000 per year at Pennsylvania state universities (schools like West Chester, Cheyney, or Millersville) to $40,000+ per year at private institutions. Total cost for a four-year degree can range from $40,000 to over $120,000 before financial aid.
Several options can significantly reduce your costs:
- FAFSA: File annually to access federal Pell Grants (up to ~$7,395/year, no repayment), subsidized loans, and work-study.
- TEACH Grant: Up to $4,000/year for students who commit to teaching in high-need subjects at low-income schools for four years after graduation.
- PA State Grants: PHEAA offers need-based grants for PA residents attending PA schools.
- Institutional scholarships: Many education programs offer their own scholarships — always ask your admissions office.
- Loan forgiveness (after you start teaching):
- Teacher Loan Forgiveness (5-Year Program): Added details about this program, which offers up to $17,500 in forgiveness for highly qualified teachers in mathematics, science, or special education after five consecutive years of service in low-income schools.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) forgives remaining federal loan balances after 120 qualifying payments while working at a public school or qualifying nonprofit.
*A special note on the PSLF: While PSLF is a valuable long-term option, it has been historically difficult to obtain due to strict qualifying payment requirements and complex certification processes
Traditional Certification Starting Point 2: I Have a Bachelor’s Degree (Not in Education)
You have a degree in another field and want to become a certified teacher.
Yes. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in any field, you have multiple options. The traditional route for career changers is a post-baccalaureate certification program which is a focused program (typically 1–2 years) that provides the education coursework, field experience, and student teaching you need for certification.
However, you should also strongly consider Pennsylvania’s alternative “Earn and Learn” pathways, which allow you to teach and earn a salary while completing your certification. Both routes lead to an Instructional I Certificate.
A post-bacc program is designed for people who already have a bachelor’s degree and want to add teacher certification. You take education coursework, complete field placements, and do a student teaching semester. Some programs award a master’s degree alongside certification. Cost ranges from $15,000 to $50,000+ depending on the institution and whether it includes a master’s.
You need to pass the Praxis Subject Assessment(s) for your certification area. These exams cost approximately $50–$209 per test. You may also need the Praxis Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge exam depending on your certification level (required for PK–12 candidates)
Note on Basic Skills: While PA law historically required a “Basic Skills” test (Praxis Core), most candidates now satisfy this requirement through their college GPA (3.0+) or qualifying SAT/ACT scores. Check with your program provider to see if you are exempt.
Traditional Certification Starting Point 3: I’m Certified in Another State
You hold a valid teaching certificate from outside Pennsylvania.
No. Pennsylvania accepts out-of-state certificates. If you hold a valid certificate from another state and have at least two years of classroom teaching experience, you can apply for a Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate without completing a new preparation program. You will need to provide your out-of-state certificate and verification of your teaching experience.
You can still get certified! If you have fewer than two years of experience, your application will be evaluated based on your Teacher Preparation Program.
To qualify, you must have:
- Completed a state-approved educator preparation program (including student teaching).
- Held or been eligible for a certificate in that state.
- Met PA’s testing and GPA requirements (though some tests may be waived if you passed equivalent ones in your home state).
Action Step: Apply via TIMS (Teacher Information Management System). If you have specific questions about your credits, email the Bureau at ra-edcertquestions@pa.gov for a direct evaluation.
It depends on your current credentials.
Subject Area Tests: If you have already passed a content test in another state, PDE will evaluate it for “equivalence.” If it matches PA standards, you’re set. If not, or if you’ve never taken a subject test, you will need to pass the relevant Praxis Subject Assessment.
- Basic Skills (PAPA/Core): As of current 2025-2026 guidelines, the Basic Skills testing requirement is waived for the majority of applicants who meet the state’s minimum GPA requirements.
- Specialty Areas: If you are seeking a PK-12 certification (like Special Education or PE), you may also need to take the Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (#5511) exam.
A special note: In Pennsylvania, if a teacher has two or more years of successful experience in their subject area, they can often have the testing requirements waived entirely under “Reciprocity.” If your audience includes experienced teachers, you should mention that experience can override the need for new exams.
Guides & Tools
Praxis Plan Kit
Your free resource with a Test Identification Guide, a Study Calendar Template, and links to prep resources.
Keep this handy as a reference while studying for the Praxis: Praxis Plan Slides (PDF)
Emergency Permit to Fully Certified
A summary of key certification pathways.
Your step-by-step guide to getting started on your path to becoming a certified teacher: Certification Action Worksheet
You Can Afford This!
A summary of financial resources available for individuals pursuing a teaching career in Philadelphia.
A step-by-step guide for understanding your teacher pathway options: My Personal Funding Plan
Important links for kickstarting your educator journey: Resource Guide