| What does it take to be a public school teacher in Pennsylvania?
Education -- and lots of it.
Those wishing to take up residence in front of the chalkboard need to complete a bachelor's- or master's-degree program at an accredited college or university, receive a recommendation from the institution and take the state's qualifying tests.
The state currently offers seven types of certificates: intern, instructional, vocational instructional, education specialist, supervisory, administrative and letter of eligibility. The Department of Education also offers an emergency certificate to qualify individuals as temporary substitutes in districts where supply is short.
A state-issued certificate is required to teach in any public school. Private schools, however, may employ non-credentialed teachers.
Prospective teachers are first awarded a Level I -- or provisional -- certificate, good for teaching through six school years. To graduate to Level II, a teacher must put in three years of teaching and complete an additional 24 college-level credits.
Since July 2000, when Act 48 went into effect, maintaining a teaching certificate has become more rigorous, with ongoing studies now required of each teacher.
Every five years, all licensed teachers must complete six credits of collegiate study, six credits in continuing professional education courses and 180 hours of continuing professional education programs, activities or learning experiences or any combination of credits or activity hours equivalent to 180 hours.
One credit equals 30 activity hours.
Educators and school district officials can keep track of continuing education credits at the Department of Education's Web site, www.pde.psu.edu.
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