Pennsylvania teacher certification runs on its own system — Instructional I and Instructional II certificates instead of “initial” and “professional,” and continuing education tracked under a law almost every PA teacher just calls “Act 48.” The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) manages the entire process through the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) and PERMS, and the requirements are specific enough that it’s easy to lose track of deadlines. This guide covers how to get certified, how Act 48 renewal actually works, how Pennsylvania’s salary lanes are structured, and the double benefit most PA teachers miss: the same graduate credits that satisfy Act 48 can also move you up your district’s salary schedule.
Pennsylvania Teacher Certification: Quick Facts
At a glance: Instructional I certificates must convert to Instructional II within six years of service, which requires 24 additional credits. Instructional II certificates are permanent but require ongoing Act 48 compliance every five years — 6 semester credits, 6 CPE credits, or 180 continuing education hours (any combination works). Everything is tracked through TIMS/PERMS. Salary is set by each district’s own step-and-lane schedule, not a statewide table.
How to Get Certified in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania offers several paths into the classroom, but nearly all of them lead to the same entry-level credential: an Instructional I Certificate.
Traditional Route: Educator Preparation Program
Most new Pennsylvania teachers complete a state-approved educator preparation program at a college or university. To earn an Instructional I Certificate through this route, candidates must:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Complete a PDE-approved teacher preparation program, including at least 12 weeks of full-time student teaching under a certified, experienced supervisor
- Pass the required Praxis or PECT exams for their certification area — most PK-12 and special education candidates also take the Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge exam, while secondary (7-12) candidates are typically exempt from that specific test
- Meet PDE’s citizenship, background check, and character requirements
An Instructional I Certificate is not renewable on its own. Within six years of service, it must convert to an Instructional II Certificate, which requires completing 24 semester credits of coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree (at least 6 of those credits in the teacher’s certification content area). CEUs and non-credit continuing education do not count toward this 24-credit requirement — it must be college credit.
Alternative Certification Routes
Pennsylvania offers several alternative pathways for career changers who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Options include:
- Temporary Teaching Permit: Requires an ABCTE Passport to Teaching credential (passing scores on the Praxis Core and the relevant Praxis content exam), then one year of teaching while completing an approved alternative preparation program
- Pennsylvania Teacher Intern Certification Program: For candidates with a bachelor’s degree in the subject they intend to teach who meet program-specific GPA and coursework requirements
- Vocational Instructional Certificate: For career and technical education (CTE) candidates with at least four years of relevant paid work experience, valid for up to three years while completing preparation requirements
Certification by Reciprocity (Out-of-State Teachers)
Pennsylvania is a member of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, which streamlines certification for educators already licensed in a member state — including Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. A 2022 change to state law also means that credentialed teachers from any state with at least two years of teaching experience generally no longer need to retake the Praxis to become certified in Pennsylvania. Out-of-state candidates apply through TIMS and must identify the Pennsylvania certificate comparable to their existing credential.
Note: “Reciprocity” doesn’t mean automatic, no-questions-asked approval. You’ll still need to submit transcripts, meet Pennsylvania’s testing requirements where they apply, and identify the correct comparable certificate through TIMS before you’re cleared to teach.
How to Renew Your Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate (Act 48)
Once you hold an Instructional II Certificate, Pennsylvania’s Act 48 governs your ongoing certification status. Every five years, you must complete one of the following — or any combination that adds up to the equivalent:
| Renewal Path | What It Involves | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| College Coursework | Graduate or undergraduate semester credits from an accredited college or university, related to your certification area. | 6 semester credits |
| CPE Credits | Continuing Professional Education credits earned through a PDE-approved provider. | 6 CPE credits |
| PD Hours | Continuing professional education programs, activities, or learning experiences through a PDE-approved provider. | 180 hours |
These paths convert directly: PDE treats one semester credit as equal to 30 Act 48 hours, so a single 3-credit graduate course generates 90 hours, and two 3-credit courses (6 credits total) generate the full 180 hours needed for the entire five-year cycle. PDE typically sends a reminder about 12 months before your compliance deadline, listing any unfulfilled requirements. Approved providers report completed hours and credits directly into your PERMS account; if you take coursework through an out-of-state institution, you may need to mail official transcripts to PDE directly.
Pro-Tip: If you let your Act 48 requirements lapse, your certificate becomes inactive rather than automatically expiring for good. If you’re not currently working in a Pennsylvania public school, you can also request voluntary inactive status through TIMS to pause the Act 48 clock until you’re ready to return.
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The Pennsylvania Teacher Salary Schedule
Pennsylvania does not set a statewide salary schedule. Instead, each of the state’s roughly 500 school districts negotiates its own step-and-lane schedule through collective bargaining. “Steps” reward years of experience, and “lanes” reward education level — typically ranging from a Bachelor’s lane up through Master’s plus 60 or more additional graduate credits (often written as M+60). Because lanes are set locally, the dollar value of moving up a lane varies significantly by district, but the underlying structure is consistent statewide.
| Salary Lane | Education Level | Sample Top-Step Salary |
|---|---|---|
| BA (Lowest Lane) | Bachelor’s degree, entry certification level | $99,915 |
| Mid Lanes | Bachelor’s + 30, Master’s | Varies by district |
| M+60 (Highest Lane) | Master’s + 60 graduate credits or equivalent | $139,611 |
Sample figures illustrate the scale of lane movement in a well-compensated Pennsylvania district. Because schedules are set district-by-district through collective bargaining, always check your own district’s published salary schedule for exact numbers.
In a district with figures like these, a teacher at the top of the BA lane earning $99,915 could reach $139,611 at the same step by advancing to the M+60 lane — a difference of nearly $39,700 per year, every year, for the rest of their career in that district. That’s the kind of permanent, compounding raise that a one-time bonus or stipend simply can’t match.
How Graduate Credits Help — Act 48 and Salary Lanes at the Same Time
Here’s what a lot of Pennsylvania teachers never connect: the same official transcript can satisfy two entirely separate systems. Most teachers earn their Act 48 hours through cheap, non-credit PD just to stay compliant, without realizing that graduate-level coursework does double duty:
- Each semester credit hour converts to 30 Act 48 hours, so 6 credits (two 3-credit courses) satisfy the full 180-hour, five-year requirement
- The same 6 credits count toward your district’s salary lane advancement (for example, moving from BA toward BA+30 or Master’s), assuming your HR department accepts the credits
That overlap is the highest-leverage move available to most Pennsylvania teachers: instead of doing Act 48 compliance and salary advancement as two separate projects, one set of graduate courses can knock out both simultaneously.
Pro-Tip: Because Pennsylvania salary schedules are set locally through collective bargaining, always confirm with your district’s HR or business office — not just PDE — that a specific course and university will count toward your lane before you enroll. Act 48 approval and salary-lane approval are separate decisions, even when the same course satisfies both.
How CFT Courses Work for Pennsylvania Teachers
Credits for Teachers offers self-paced, 100% online graduate-level courses through regionally accredited university partners — coursework built to satisfy Act 48 and, in most districts, salary lane advancement from the same transcript. Courses are designed around a full teaching schedule, with most 3-credit courses completed in 4–8 weeks and no set class times or commuting required.
Because PDE treats one semester credit as 30 Act 48 hours, Pennsylvania teachers using CFT typically submit a single official transcript that covers their Act 48 renewal and their district’s salary lane paperwork together, rather than tracking separate PD requirements throughout the year.
The Bottom Line: Certification, Act 48, and Salary Growth in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s system rewards teachers who plan their continuing education strategically. Converting Instructional I to Instructional II is only the beginning — the bigger financial decision comes every five years after that, when you choose how to meet your Act 48 requirement. Approach those credits as a salary decision, not just a compliance checkbox, and the same coursework that keeps your certificate active can also move you permanently higher on your district’s pay scale.
Graduate Courses for Pennsylvania Teachers
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Our regionally accredited graduate courses are built to satisfy Pennsylvania’s Act 48 requirements while moving you up your district’s salary schedule. Start earning credit that counts twice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Act 48 hours do I need to renew my Pennsylvania certificate?
You need the equivalent of 180 hours every five years, which you can earn through 6 semester credits of college coursework, 6 PDE-approved CPE credits, 180 hours of PDE-approved continuing education, or any combination of these. Since one semester credit equals 30 Act 48 hours, two 3-credit graduate courses fully satisfy the requirement.
How long do I have to convert my Instructional I Certificate to Instructional II?
Six years of service. Conversion requires 24 semester credits of coursework beyond your bachelor’s degree, with at least 6 credits in your certification content area. CEUs and non-credit PD do not count toward this requirement — it must be college credit.
Do out-of-state teachers need to retake the Praxis to get certified in Pennsylvania?
Usually not, if you have at least two years of teaching experience under a valid credential from another state — a 2022 change to Pennsylvania law removed the retesting requirement for most experienced, credentialed out-of-state teachers. Pennsylvania is also part of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, which further streamlines the process for educators from member states.
What happens if I don’t complete my Act 48 requirements in time?
Your certificate becomes inactive rather than permanently revoked. If you’re not currently employed in a Pennsylvania public school and don’t need an active certificate right away, you can request voluntary inactive status through TIMS to pause the five-year Act 48 clock until you’re ready to return to the classroom.
Do graduate credits count toward both Act 48 and a salary lane change?
Often, yes — but confirm with your district’s HR or business office first, since Pennsylvania salary schedules are set locally through collective bargaining rather than by the state. Act 48 approval and salary lane approval are technically separate decisions, even though credits from a regionally accredited university typically satisfy both.
Is a master’s degree required to reach the top of Pennsylvania’s salary schedule?
Not necessarily. Many Pennsylvania districts offer lanes based on accumulated graduate credit hours (such as BA+30 or M+60) rather than requiring a conferred master’s degree outright. Check your specific district’s salary schedule to see which lanes are credit-based versus degree-based.