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Permanent Certification

       Overview

  • LEVEL II (permanent) CERTIFICATION: PDE has advised that educators waiting until the end of their six year period to submit their applications for Level II run the risk of a lapsed certificate. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT EDUCATORS SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR LEVEL II as soon as all requirements are met. 
  • LEVEL I & LEVEL II CERTFICATION INFORMATION: Pennsylvania currently has two levels of certifications. A Level I certificate is considered a “temporary” certificate and is valid for a specific number of service years, during which time you must complete educational and service requirements. Upon completion of these requirements, the Level I may be converted to a Level II certificate, which is considered “permanent.” If the Level I certificate is not converted within its validity period, it will lapse. Educators cannot be employed in a Pennsylvania public school with a lapsed certificate. 

 Requirements to Convert from Level I to Level II Certification 

a.   24 post baccalaureate credits** (Educators holding a Level I certificate, who were awarded their initial baccalaureate degree after October 1, 1963, must provide evidence of 24 semester hour post-baccalaureate credits, six of which must be associated with the area(s) of certification and/or designed to improve the professional practice, to meet the education requirement for conversion to a Level II certificate. Sealed transcripts of the post baccalaureate credits must be provided to PDE at the time of      conversion.)
b.   Educators must have 3 years of satisfactory service on Level I.

c.   Educator must possess at least six semi-annual evaluations of satisfactory performance on the Level I certificate in the area for which the certificate was issued.

d.   Satisfactory service is verified via the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) for schools provisioned to access TIMS or the PDE-338P form for non-provisioned educational entities.

e.   Educators must complete an Induction Program.

f.    Educators must provide a money order or online payment for current fee made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

g.   Supervisor must complete a 427 evaluation form.

 

Once all the requirements are met, the educator must apply for a Level II through TIMS. Please notify Human Resources prior to applying in TIMS. Human Resource will assist you with the process. 

Here is a link that will help with your Level I to Level II application. https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Certification/PAEducators/Pages/default.aspx

Be sure to check out the Level II checklist that is listed at the above link.