The Testing Certification Staffing Policy Guideline (CSPG 21) outlines the testing requirements for all candidates for certification in Pennsylvania. The Grade Point Average (GPA) Allowance, or Sliding Scale Policy, developed by PDE enables an applicant to use their preparation program GPA to meet a qualifying score for their content, and, if applicable, general knowledge assessments. The scores and corresponding GPA spans are outlined on the Certification Testing Chart (Excel). The GPA Allowance does not change the passing score(s) or pass/fail result(s) but allows the acceptance of GPA qualifying score(s) for certificate issuance.
As of November 3, 2025, the GPA Allowance/Qualifying Scores included in the Certification Testing Chart may be used for Experience-Based certificate and add-on applicants. Experience-Based certificate and/or add-on applicants may use their highest degree GPA or most recent GPA to meet the qualifying score for their content, and, if applicable, general knowledge assessment, in the certification testing chart when being recommended for certification by an Educator Preparation Program (EPP). This information should be provided by the recommender (EPP) in the case of an Experience-Based certificate and can be found in TIMS for those requesting add-on certificates. PDE reserves the right to request additional information from the applicant for approval if needed.
It is important to note that when an experience-based certificate holder applies for Instructional I certification, all requirements for Instructional I certification must be met. If the experience-based certificate holder utilized the GPA Allowance/Sliding Scale Policy to pass the content/fundamentals test to enter the experience-based program and receive an experience-based certificate, the applicant must maintain the experience-based program GPA at the level necessary to permit use of applicant’s sliding scale content test score for issuance of the Level I certificate.
An applicant for Level I will be required to retake the content test and obtain a passing score without use of the GPA Allowance/Sliding Scale Policy if the experience-based program GPA does not qualify for use of the sliding scale for program recommendation and Level I certification.
* Note: Expansion certificates for Special Education PK-8 and 7-12 are not included in this policy.