The PK-12 Special Education certificates provide candidates with the skills, knowledge, and competencies necessary to meet the needs of students with disabilities in multiple settings.
Grade-Level Scope of Certificate(s)
A person holding a valid Pennsylvania certificate for Special Education PK-12 (age 3-21) is qualified to teach all special education students from PreK through grade 12.
NOTE: The Special Education PK-12 certificate does not a require a corresponding content-specific certificate to be eligible for issuance.
Certification Assignment
An educator holding a Special Education certificate is qualified to render diagnostic, prescriptive, and education services designed within an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to serve students having one or more disabilities; assist in writing the IEP for the identified students; provide appropriate modification to curriculum; and provide instructional support as outlined in the IEP.
Special Education certified teachers are qualified to offer pre-career technical and assessment services; provide basic occupational career awareness activities (such as job shadowing for paid/unpaid work experiences in a community-based operation; coordinate job training agreements; and make provision for the appropriate placement of these students in a work or community transition setting related to their career objectives.
Special Considerations
An educator certified in Special Education may:
- provide professional development;
- serve in the role of mentor/advisor; and
- assist students in understanding how to read content area materials.
A local education agency (LEA) may make a written request to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for a staffing exception to the grade and age level limitations between Special Education PK-8 and Special Education 7-12 for individual teachers on a case-by-case basis. (22 Pa. Code §49.85 - Limitations) The LEA shall submit a written request to the Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality that provides justification for the exception. The Bureau will issue a letter of response that will contain a set time period for the exception to remain valid.
Certificate Clarifications
Other certification titles that remain valid are:
| Certificate Title | Grade Scope | Valid to teach |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education PK-8 (9226) | PK-8 | Nursery level (age 3) through grade 8 |
| Special Education 7-12 (9227) | 7-12 | Grade 7 (age 12) through grade12 (age 21) |
| Special Education N-12 | N-12 | Nursery level (age 3) through grade 12 |
| Mental and/or Physically Handicapped K-12 (9235) | K-12 | Kindergarten through grade 12 |
| Mentally Retarded (9220) | K-12 | Kindergarten through grade 12 |
| Physically Handicapped (9240) | K-12 | Kindergarten through grade 12 |
| Socially and Emotionally Disturbed (9260) | K-12 | Kindergarten through grade 12 |
| Emotionally Disturbed | K-12 | Kindergarten through grade 12 |
Note: All K-12 certificates may teach PreK-12 effective 9/22/07 per §49.85.
Certificate Restrictions
A Special Education 7-12 certificate may not be used at the sixth-grade level (see Special Considerations).
Testing Requirements
See the Certification Test and Score equirements chart at Certification Testing for current testing information for this certification.
Email the staffing specialist at ra-edcertstaff@pa.gov with any questions you may have regarding this certification and staffing.
References
Program Specific Guidelines for Special Education PK-12
Program Specific Guidelines for Special Education PK-8 and Special Education 7-12
PA Public School Code: §1202, §1212, §1604
22 PA Code: Chapter 4: §4.21, §4.22, §4.23
Chapter 49: §49.11, §49.81, §49.85
Chapter 14
This revision supersedes all earlier CSPGs carrying this number and/or addressing this subject. Previous printing dates on this subject: 1973, 3/75, 3/78, 2/82, 1/87, 7/04, 5/05, 3/14, 10/18.
Summary of Changes
| Date of Revisions | Major Changes to CSPG #61 |
|---|---|
| 1/2021 | New Special Education PK-12 certificate was created under Act 82 of 2018. |
| 10/2018 | The restriction for Special Education 7-12 to teach sixth grade was added. |
| 3/1/2014 |
|
| 5/9/2005 | CSPG #61 – Co-teaching addressed for content area teaching combined with Special Education (page 1). |
| 7/1/2004 | CSPG #61 – title change/number change: Special Education-Cognitive, Behavior, and Physical/Health Disabilities (CB/PHD) (Nursery-12).
|
| 4/1/1992 | CSPG #50 – Special Education Certification and Assignment Scope K-12.
|
| 3/1/1975 | CSPG #50 – Certification in Special Education
|