Career and Technical Education

Career and Technical Certification

Individuals qualifying for the Career and Technical Certificate shall be authorized to teach in the occupational competency area(s) they hold. The Career and Technical certificate and the occupational competency areas are issued by the Department on the recommendation of a university having a Pennsylvania-approved career and technical teacher preparation program. Career and Technical certification for teaching in programs of career and technical education in the public schools of the Commonwealth requires:

1. Acceptable evidence of experience verified by Temple University, Penn State University, or Indiana University of Pennsylvania (see below). Individuals interested in enrolling with Point Park University must present experience verification from Temple, Penn State, or Indiana University of Pennsylvania to Point Park University.
   • Four years wage-earning experience in the occupation to be taught; or
   • Two years wage-earning experience in the occupation to be taught and hold a bachelor’s degree; or
   • Four years full-time experience teaching post-secondary courses at a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the occupation to be taught; or
   • When applicable to the occupation to be taught, four years volunteer experience as a firefighter or emergency medical technician.
2. Acceptance for enrollment in a State-approved career and technical teacher preparation program at one of the universities listed below;
3. Passing the appropriate occupational competency examination, or evaluation of credentials for occupations where examinations do not exist;
4. The recommendation for the Career and Technical Certificate by the university at which they are enrolled or accepted; 
5. Completion of 18 credit hours in an approved program of career and technical teacher education*;
6. Meeting all other requirements provided by law (School Code 1209 and Title 22, Pa. Code, Section 49.12); and
7. Applying for Career and Technical Certification in the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS).  See Submit an Application.

*Individuals with a job placement who meet all requirements except for the completion of 18 credits hours in an approved program of career and technical teacher education may apply for and obtain Career and Technical Intern Certification allowing them to teach full time while completing the required credits. Those who have neither completed the credits nor passed the appropriate occupational competency examination may be able to teach under an emergency permit at the request of the employing PA public school allowing them to substitute. See Certification and Staffing Policy Guideline (CSPG) 25.  Once the examination is passed, they may apply for the Intern certificate.

The Career and Technical Intern Certificate is valid for three calendar years from the date of issuance.  The Career and Technical Instructional I Certificate is valid for eight years of service.  See CSPG 7.

Career and Technical Instructional I Certification for Out-of-State Applicants

Please visit the Out-of-State educators page for more information.

Career and Technical Instructional II Certification

The Career and Technical Instructional II Certificate is a permanent certificate issued to an applicant who has:

1. Completed three years of satisfactory teaching on a Career and Technical Instructional I Certificate attested to by the chief school administrator of the approved public or nonpublic school entity in which the most recent service of the applicant was performed;
2. Completed 42 credit hours in an approved program of career and technical education at Temple University, Penn State University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, or Point Park University and received the recommendation of the preparing Pennsylvania university;
3. Been recommended for Career and Technical Instructional II by the chief school administrator of the approved public or nonpublic school entity in which the most recent service of the applicant was performed on the PDE 427 Level I to Level II Assessment form. See Instructional I to Instructional II Assessment Form (PDF);
4. Completed a Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved induction program; and
5. Applied for Career and Technical Instruction II Certification in TIMS.  See Submit a Level II Application.

Career and Technical Teacher Preparing Institutions

Candidates for Career and Technical Intern, Career and Technical Instructional I, and Career and Technical Instructional II certification must apply through one of the following:

Coordinator, Career and Technical Education
Temple University - Main Campus
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Ritter Hall 372
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-6025

Coordinator, Career and Technical Education
The Pennsylvania State University
301 Keller Building
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 863-0804

Coordinator, Career and Technical Education
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Reschini House
1110 Maple Street
Indiana, PA 15705
(724) 357-4435

Coordinator, Career and Technical Education
Point Park University
201 Wood Street, Academic Hall, 7^th Floor
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
(412) 389-6631

How to Submit an Application