APPROVAL AUTHORITY

PSNA is an Approved Education Provider Apporver through the ANCC (letter of appointment)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CERTIFICATE

Beginning July 1, 2000, Act 48 of 1999 required persons holding Pennsylvania professional educator certification to complete continuing education requirements every five years in order to maintain their certificates as active.

Please read carefully the information provided below.
Note: in order for us to notify you regarding the status of your certificate, you must keep us apprised (in writing, including your social security number) of any changes to your mailing address.

Educators must maintain their certificates as active by earning six collegiate credits
or six PDE-approved in-service credits or 180 continuing education hours or any combination of the above every five calendar years.

Must an educator who holds a certificate listing multiple areas maintain active status in all of those areas?

Meeting the requirements every five years will maintain active status for all areas on the certificate.

When does the five-year period begin?

For all educators issued certificates prior to July 2000, the five-year period began on July 1, 2000 and ends June 30, 2005. For those issued certificates after July 1, 2000, the five-year period begins the effective date of issuance of the initial certificate. The requirements will be renewed at the end of each five-year period.

Can credits earned prior to July 1, 2000 be accepted to comply with Act 48 provisions?

The Department may accept credits from courses that ended or began after January 1, 2000 for individuals certificated prior to July 2000. Professional education hours may be accepted if completed on or after June 1, 2000.

May credits earned in excess of those required by Act 48 be used in the next five-year period?

There is no provision in the Act to carry credits over into the next compliance period.What is the difference between an “active/inactive” certificate and a “valid/invalid” certificate?
Active certification indicates compliance with the provisions of Act 48, while inactive certificate will prevent an educator from serving in a professional position in the public school entities of the Commonwealth. Additionally, inactive certification may impact an individual’s ability to use a certificate outside of the public schools.

It should be noted that active/inactive status has no bearing on the validity of a certificate. A Pennsylvania certificate is valid for a specific number of teaching/service years spent in the schools of the Commonwealth. Therefore, a certificate  may remain “valid” even if it becomes “inactive”.

What happens to my certificate if I do not complete the requirements for Act 48?

If a certificate holder does not complete the requirements, the certificate will become inactive after the five-year compliance period and the holder will be disqualified from being employed by a Pennsylvania public school entity as a professional (tenured) or temporary professional (prior to gaining tenured status) employee until all Act 48 requirements have been met. An educator who is not currently employed by a Pennsylvania public school entity may request a voluntary inactive certificate status by submitting form PDE 338R to the Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation. This form can be obtained through the Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation or online at www.pde.state.pa.us.Will an individual with an inactive (including voluntary inactive) certificate be permitted to substitute in public schools?
An individual with inactive certification may be employed as a substitute teacher, principal, superintendent, or assistant superintendent in accordance with the endorsement on the individual’s certificate or letter of eligibility for no more than 90 days during a school year.

What must be done to reactivate a voluntary inactive certificate?

A person who requests voluntary inactive status will have the requirements of Act 48  suspended temporarily. To reactive a certificate, an educator must submit form PDE 338R-2 and evidence of 30 hours or 1 credit earned within the prior 12 months. Once active status is granted, an educator will have the balance of the original five-year period to complete the remaining hours to fulfill Act 48 requirements. Credits/hours taken during the inactive period (including the 30 hours for reactivating the certificate) may be counted toward Act 48 requirements.

Example: Mr. Jones was issued his Level I certificate in May 2001. His five-year period began on May 1, 2001 and will end on April 30, 2006. He only completes 120 hours during the five- year period and did not request Voluntary Inactive status. In this case, his certificate will be rendered inactive by the Department on June 1, 2006, following a 30-day administrative period. He earns the necessary 60 hours in July 2006 and the hours are submitted to the Department in August 2006. At that time, the Teacher Certification System will return his certificate to active status and his new five-year compliance period will begin on August 1, 2006.

Example: Ms. Smith received her Level I certificate in January 2000. Her five-year period is from July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2005. She requests voluntary inactive status (PDE 338R) in January 2001. She has earned no credits so far and used one-half year of her five-year period. If she makes a request to reactivate her certificate in January 2007 (PDE 338 R-2), she must present evidence of having earned 30 hours or 1 credit in the 12 months prior. The 30 hours or 1 credit will count toward the 6 credits/180 hours needed to complete the Act 48 requirements. Any additional credits taken during the Voluntary Inactive period may also be counted toward the balance of the 6 credits/180 hours. Ms. Smith must complete the remaining credits/hours in the 4.5 years following reactivation.

Does Act 48 eliminate Level II (Permanent) certification?

No. The regulations of Chapter 49 related to Level I and Level II certification remain in force. There is still a requirement to convert a Level I certificate to Level II status after six service or teaching years in a Pennsylvania public school.

Do the provisions of Act 48 apply to educators who have not yet converted their Level I certificate to a Level II status?

Yes. The provisions apply to all educators holding a Pennsylvania public school certificate.

Can the credits earned for Level II certification or a Letter of Master’s/Bachelor’s Equivalency (MEQ/BEQ) be applied toward the requirements of Act 48?

Collegiate credits and continuing professional education credits from Pennsylvania intermediate units may be applied to the continuing education requirements if earned after January 1, 2000 and related to the educator’s area of assignment/certification or within a program leading to administrative certification. However, credits/hours will not carry over from one five-year period to the next.

Can continuing education hours, continuing education units, or community college credits be applied toward a Level II certificate or Letter of Master’s/Bachelor’s Equivalency?

No. Only credits from a four-year degree granting college and continuing professional education courses from Pennsylvania intermediate units may be accepted.

How will educators holding a Pennsylvania certificate but not employed by public school entities be made aware of the requirements of Act 48?

The Department will continue to disseminate information regarding the requirements of Act 48 through the media, school districts, colleges and universities, private and nonpublic schools, as well as the Department’s web page at www.pde.state.pa.us.

What are considered “public school entities”?

They include school districts, intermediate units, joint school districts, area vocational technical schools, charter schools, the Scotland School for Veterans Children and the Scranton School for the Deaf, or any of these acting jointly.

Must educators who hold public school certification but are serving in private or nonpublic (religious) schools comply with the provisions of Act 48?

Yes. The provisions of Act 48 apply to all educators holding Pennsylvania public school certificates. However, it is important to note that private and nonpublic schools may, at their discretion, require their professional staff to maintain their certificates as active by completing continuing education credits or activities. Employment by the public school entities will necessitate the completion of the Act 48 requirements.

Are private tutors who hold Pennsylvania certification required to comply with Act 48 requirements?

Yes, except for certified individuals who provide private tutoring services as part of a home education program (home schooling), in accordance with Act 35 of 2001.

Does National Board Certification eliminate Act 48 requirements?

No. Act 48 applies to all professional educators who hold a Pennsylvania professional certificate.

What can educators do if they are not employed by public school entities or move out of Pennsylvania?

They can either maintain their certificates as active by meeting the continuing education requirements or they may request voluntary inactive status from the Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation to suspend the requirements of Act 48.

Who will maintain the records for Act 48 credits acquired by educators?

Approved Pennsylvania providers will submit the credits/hours earned by the educators to the Department. Educators should contact their Pennsylvania college registrar for procedures to ensure credits will be submitted electronically to the Department. Collegiate credits earned outside of Pennsylvania must be submitted on an official college-sealed transcript to:

Department of Education,
Division of Professional Education and Planning,
333 Market Street,
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333.

How can educators and school entities access the continuing education records?

Information regarding the credits/hours earned and the continuing education status may be accessed through the Department’s web pages at www.pde.state.pa.us, Act 48 Reporting System.

How will educators and public school entities know when the five-year period is over?

At least 12 months prior to the end of the five-year period, the Department will notify both the educators and the public school entities regarding the continuing education status and  remaining credit hours, if any, to be completed. An additional notification of certification status will be sent at the end of the five-year period. It is important that the Department has a current address for each educator.

What if circumstances prevent an educator from completing the requirements of Act 48?

There is a provision in the Act for granting an extension of the five-year period due to extenuating circumstances. Extenuating circumstances may include active military duty, a medical disability, educator being out of the country more than twelve months, or other. Use form PDE 338 R 3 to apply for an extension after June 1, 2004. Act 48 also provides for an educator’s right to appeal a notice of inactive certification. Form PDE 338 R 4 may be used to appeal the inactive status designation after the close of the educator’s five-year period when the certification has been rendered inactive by the Department. Form PDE 338 R 4 will be available on July 1, 2005.

The reference for questions concerning professional education plans, approved courses, providers, and submission of credits/hours may be found on the PDE Home Page at www.pde.state.pa.us under Teaching in PA, Act 48 Continuing Professional Education. For information about your certificate, you may contact the Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation at (717) 787-3356. Certification information is also available on the Department website. Notification of a change of address should be sent to:

Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation,
333 Market Street,
Third Floor,
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333.

Please note that collegiate credits for Level II and MEQ issuance must be submitted on an official college-sealed transcript.

It is the responsibility of the educator to monitor credits or hours status on the Department’s website during the five-year period. It is the responsibility of the educator to contact the provider to correct any discrepancies in credits reported.

How can I reactivate my certificate if it becomes inactive because the requirements were not met by the end of the five-year period?

Once an educator with inactive certification has met the Act 48 requirements (i.e. the equivalent of 180 hours of continuing professional education or six (6) collegiate credits) for the original Act 48 five-year period, the Teacher Certification Systems will automatically return that certificate to active status and will assign a new five-year compliance period. The Department will notify the educator that the certificate has been returned to active status.

NOTE: Each collegiate credit is equal to 30 continuing education hours. All credits and hours must be related to an educator’s certificate type or area of assignment, unless enrolled in an dministrative program or approved by the school board.
Who is affected by the requirements of Act 48?

All educators holding Pennsylvania public school certification including Instructional I and II, Educational Specialist I and II, Administrative, Supervisory, Letters of Eligibility and all vocational certificates. Also included are non-certified teachers and administrators employed by charter schools.

When did Act 48 go into effect?

The effective date was July 1, 2000.What must educators do to remain in compliance with Act 48?

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PLAN

What is a professional education plan?

The requirements for professional education plans are in the Act 48 of 1999 Professional Education Plan Guidelines (PDF-requires Acrobat Reader). A professional education plan is a three-year, comprehensive plan that addresses the needs of the school entity and its professional employees. Professional education plans must include evidence to meet the following criteria:

Each professional education experience must:

• Relate to attainment of the Pennsylvania academic standards;
• Be planned in response to an educational need, which has been identified for a target audience;
• Contain clear and concise written content- and skill-based competencies;
• Include content and instructional methods that are appropriate for the intended competencies to be mastered;
• Be planned and conducted by personnel who have an academic degree or other education and experience appropriate to the subject matter being taught;
• Be researched-based, data-driven and contribute to measurable increases in student achievement;
• Provide sufficient support and resources over time to enable individuals to master new content;
• Contribute to building learning communities and continuous improvement;
• Require that participants demonstrate attainment of the competencies; and
• Be evaluated by the participants.

Who creates the professional education plan, and how are they selected?

A Professional Education Committee, consisting of teacher representatives, educational specialists, administrators, parents, local business representatives and additional community members, creates the professional education plan. See the List of Certificates at www.pde.state.pa.us for the list of certified educational specialists. Teacher representatives are to be equally divided among elementary, middle, and high school teachers, and are chosen by colleagues. At least two representatives from each of the other categories should be included.

What are the components of a professional education plan?

The initial steps are to select a professional education coordinator, form a professional education committee, and establish operating procedures. The following components must be included:

• A staff development needs assessment;
• Identified goals;
• A designed delivery system, plan or method;
• An annual evaluation of goals, activities, delivery system and the attainment of competencies for each activity; and 
• Amendments, if appropriate, recommended by the professional education committee, approved by the board of directors and submitted to the Department for approval.

When do professional education plans need to be submitted to PDE?

School district and AVTS professional education plans are submitted for approval with a strategic plan by September 30 of the scheduled year and at the mid-point of the strategic plan. Other plans may be submitted at any time.

 
REPORTING

How will the records of credits and hours acquired by educators be reported?

State-approved professional education providers are responsible for reporting hours/credits to the Department through the Act 48 of 1999 Professional Education Record Management System at www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=32371. Professional educators and the school entity that employs the educator must also receive notification of hour/credits completed.

The department shall notify the school entity that employs the professional educator and the professional educator of the successful completion of credits or hours of continuing professional education courses or programs, activities or learning experiences. Credits from an out-of state college are reported by having an original transcript from the Registrar?s Office (not a grade report) sent to the Division of Professional Development, 333 Market Street-8th floor, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333. Division staff will enter the data into the Professional Education Record Management System.

 
APPROVED PROVIDERS

What is the definition of an approved provider?

An approved professional education provider is an accredited institution of higher education, school entity, individual, regional professional education organization/agency, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or association approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to provide continuing professional education credits, collegiate credits or professional education hours in accordance with Act 48 of 1999.

Who is responsible for approving providers and what is the approval process?

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is responsible for approving professional education providers. School districts, charter schools, area vocational technical schools, intermediate units, the Scotland School and the Scranton School for the Deaf become approved providers when their Professional Education Plan is approved. For instructions see the Act 48 of 1999 Professional Education Plan Guidelines (PDF-requires Acrobat Reader). Accredited higher education institutions are already approved to offer collegiate credits. Higher education institutions may apply to offer professional education hours. Other eligible providers may apply to be approved to offer continuing professional education credits or hours. For instructions see the Act 48 of 1999 Approved Provider Guidelines(PDF-requires Acrobat Reader).

Can a school district choose a provider who is not approved by PDE?

Yes. The school entity must identify those sub-providers in its Professional Education Plan, indicating how the provider's service will help attain defined needs. The PE Plan must then be approved by the board of directors and submitted to the Department of Education for approval.

 
CERTIFICATION

Must an educator who holds a certificate listing multiple areas maintain active status in all of those areas?

The achievement of the 6/6/180 requirement every five years will maintain active status for all types and areas of certification. When an educator has an Instructional, Educational Specialist, Supervisory, Administrative and/or Letter of Eligibility certificate and the criteria are met for any endorsement area, all areas are maintained as active.

Can professional educators holding certification but not currently working in the field maintain active certification?

Yes. A professional certificated educator not working for a school entity or working for a private school may maintain active certification by obtaining six collegiate credits through a higher education institution or six professional education course credits through the local intermediate unit or district every five years.

What can educators do if they move out of Pennsylvania?

PA certificate holders who reside outside of Pennsylvania may meet the Act 48 of 1999 requirements by completing six credits from an accredited college or may request voluntary inactive status from the Department to suspend the requirements. If a certificate holder does nothing, the certificate will become inactive after the five-year compliance period and the holder will be disqualified from being employed by a Pennsylvania public school entity as a professional (tenured) or temporary professional (prior to gaining tenured status) employee.

What does "active certification" and "inactive certification" mean?

Active certification indicates compliance with the provisions of Act 48 of 1999, while inactive certification will prevent an educator from serving in a professional position in the public school entities of the Commonwealth. Additionally, inactive certification may impact an individual's ability to use a certificate outside of the public schools. Educators with an inactive certificate may only substitute up to 90 days a year in the PA public schools.

What is "voluntary inactive status"?

Voluntary inactive status suspends the requirements of Act 48 of 1999 until an application is submitted to reactivate the certificate. Only educators who are not employed as professional or temporary professional staff in public school entities may apply. An individual with inactive certification may be employed as a temporary substitute teacher for no more than 90 days during a school year. A certified educator may apply for inactive status any time during their five-year period by submitting the PDE-338R form from the PDE homepage at www.pde.state.pa.us or contacting the Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation at (717) 787-3356.

When applying for removal of inactive status, educators must present evidence of having completed 30 hours of continuing education within the 12 months preceding their application to the Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation. They must then complete the same number of credits/hours within the same amount of time as existed at the time inactive certification was granted. Those credit/hour and time requirements will be provided when the notice of active certification is sent to the applicant. Submit form PDE-338R-2 to reactivate an inactive certificate.

Yes. At the four-year mark and at the end of the five-year period, the Department will notify both the educators and the public school entities regarding the continuing education status and remaining credit/hours, if any, to be completed.

Does Act 48 of 1999 eliminate the Level II certification?

No. The regulations of Chapter 49 related to Level I and Level II certification remain in force. The provisions of Act 48 apply to all educators holding a Pennsylvania public school certificate.

CREDITS AND HOURS

Do the credits earned for Level II certification or a Letter of Master's/Bachelor's Equivalency count toward the Act 48 of 1999 requirements?

Yes. All collegiate (if credit obtained from an accredited higher education institution) and Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits obtained from approved CPE courses completed after January 1, 2000 can count toward the Act 48 requirements. However, credits will not carry over from one five year time period to the next.

Can professional education hours be applied toward a Level II certificate or Letter of Master's/Bachelor's Equivalency?

No. Only the collegiate credits and PDE-approved continuing professional education credits provided by intermediate units will be accepted.

Can partial credits/hours count toward the Act 48 of 1999 requirements?

Continuing professional education courses will only be approved for one credit or more whole credits. Professional education hours may be counted in half hour increments after the first initial hour.

What type of courses/activities count toward the requirements and who approves them?

All coursework and activities in a school entity's Professional Education Plan are approved once the plan has been approved by the department. PDE-approved professional education courses are listed in the Act 48 of 1999 Professional Education Reporting Management System on the Web site. The following types of professional education will count towards Act 48of 1999 requirements:

1. collegiate studies;

2. continuing professional education courses taken for credit;

3. other programs, activities or learning experiences taken for credit or hourly to include:

(i) curriculum development and other program design and delivery activities at the school entity or grade level as determined by the school entity and approved by the board of directors;

(ii) participation in professional conferences and workshops;

(iii) education in the workplace where the work relates to the professional educator's area of assignment and is approved by the board of directors;

(iv) review, redesign and restructuring of school programs, organizations and functions as determined by the school entity and approved by the board of directors;

(v) in-service programs that comply with guidelines established by the department;

(vi) early childhood and child development activities for professional educators whose area of assignment includes kindergarten through third grade;

(vii) special education activities for professional educators whose area of assignment includes students with special needs; or

(viii) other continuing professional education courses, programs, activities or learning experiences sponsored by the department such as: Governor's Institutes, higher education workshops, educational foundation courses, learning styles and standards based curriculum development and current activities offered during in-service days).

When do educators begin accumulating hours/credits?

The Department may accept credits from courses that end after January 1, 2000.

All professional educators may begin accumulating professional education hours on June 1, 2000.

Can educators only participating in district events and activities attain the required amount of hours?

Yes. If a school entity includes all activities, such as workshops, conferences, in-service days and curriculum planning in its professional education plan, 36 hours a year of professional development may be available for participation. Over a five-year span this would add up to 180 hours.

Does National Board Certification eliminate Act 48 requirements?

No. Act 48 of 1999 applies to all professional educators who hold a Pennsylvania professional certificate.

Will extra-curricular teaching activities, such as teaching a summer study-course, count toward the requirements?

No. Credits or hours will not be granted for any regular duties such as teaching and duties of an educational specialist or administrator, except as stated in ?1205.2(c) pertaining to the Professional Education Plan. Hours may be granted for the preparation/development of the course if the school entity has included this activity in their professional education plan.

When does the five-year period start for professional educators who graduate after July 1, 2000?

The five-year period starts the date of the initial certificate is issued.

Can religious studies count toward the Act 48 of 1999 requirements?

Act 48 of 1999 was intended for educators teaching in the Pennsylvania public schools. Therefore, most religious studies would not count toward the Act 48 requirements. However, a course in The History of Religion can count if the educator is assigned to teaching history in the public schools or certified as a history teacher.

HIRING REQUIREMENTS

Do June 2000 graduates need any additional credits and/or hours prior to being hired by a school entity?

No. Their five-year period to accrue professional education credits or hours will begin July 1, 2000 and end June 30, 2005. For those certificates issued August 2000 and thereafter, the five-year period begins with the effective date of issuance of the initial certificate.

How many credits must a June 2000 graduate attain if not hired until 2001 or 2002?

Please refer to the answer above for clarification. This is applicable to all professionals whether employed in education or not. The number of credits and hours remains six collegiate credits/six continuing professional education credits/180 hours of professional education programs, activities, or learning experiences.

How many credits are needed for an educator who graduated prior to June 2000 to begin a new position in September 2000?

None, if the individual is certified any time prior to July 1, 2000, the five-year period begins July 1, 2000.

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