Pennsylvania Teacher Certification Renewal: Act 48 Requirements and How to Meet Them

Pennsylvania teacher certification renewal works differently from most states. Your Pennsylvania certificate doesn't expire on a calendar date and isn't renewed with a new application. Instead, Act 48 requires you to complete 6 college credits, 6 PDE-approved continuing education credits or 180 hours of approved continuing professional education every five years to keep the certificate active. If you miss the deadline, the certificate stays valid but becomes inactive, and you can't hold a professional position in a Pennsylvania public school until you catch up.

This guide covers the Act 48 requirement, what counts, how graduate credits are reported, what inactive status means and how the Level I to Level II conversion fits in. For an overview of certification, see our Pennsylvania teacher certification guide.

Pennsylvania Teacher Certification Renewal at a Glance

These are the key requirements from the Pennsylvania Department of Education's (PDE) Act 48 FAQ:

Act 48 applies to all holders of Pennsylvania public school certificates, including Instructional I and II, Educational Specialist, administrative, supervisory and vocational certificates, whether or not you're currently employed. Educators in private schools must also comply to keep their public school certificate active.

What Counts Toward Act 48

According to PDE's guidance on options to earn Act 48, you can meet the requirement through:

• College credits from an institution listed in the U.S. Department of Education's database of accredited institutions, in courses related to your assignment or certification. Each semester credit is worth 30 Act 48 hours.
• PDE-approved continuing education courses and programs from approved providers, listed in PERMS.
• Hours from your school district or intermediate unit, which are presumed approved providers for their own educators.
• Mentoring or supervising a new teacher or student teacher, up to 15 hours per person and 45 hours per compliance period, if your employer approves.

PDE reads "related" broadly. It includes content-area courses, pedagogy, classroom management, assessment, reading and writing, inclusive classrooms, technology and student health and safety. You can carry over up to 50 extra hours earned in the last two years of a compliance period into the next one.

How Graduate Credits Count

Because each semester credit equals 30 hours, 6 related graduate credits cover the full 180 hours, and a single 3-credit course counts for 90 hours. College credits you earn toward a Level II certificate or a PDE Master's Equivalency can also count toward Act 48 if you earn them during your current compliance period. If the transcript went only to PDE's certification office, email [email protected] to have the credits applied to Act 48.

How the credits get into PERMS depends on where the college is:

• Pennsylvania colleges upload credits to PERMS directly. Ask the registrar to report them for Act 48.
• Colleges outside Pennsylvania don't report to PERMS. You must have an official transcript sent to PDE's Act 48 office, either by mail in an unopened envelope or as an official e-transcript sent directly by the college.

PDE recommends submitting credits and hours within 30 days of finishing. Check PERMS afterward to confirm they posted, since you're responsible for monitoring your own record.

The same graduate credits may also move you up your district's salary schedule. Our guide to the Pennsylvania teacher salary schedule explains how lanes work, and our list of the best online courses for Pennsylvania teachers covers flexible options.

How to Stay Compliant With Act 48

1. Find your compliance dates in PERMS using your PPID. Your first period starts on the effective date of your initial Instructional certificate, and each new period starts the day after the previous one ends.
2. Plan your 180 hours across the five years, using any mix of college credits, approved courses and district hours.
3. Get every activity reported. Approved providers and Pennsylvania colleges report to PERMS. For an out-of-state college, request an official transcript sent to PDE's Act 48 office.
4. Check PERMS after each course and fix any missing hours with the provider.
5. Ask for an extension if you need one. PDE can extend your deadline for reasons such as active military duty, medical disability or financial hardship. The request is made in TIMS, PDE's certification system, and there is no fee.

If Your Certificate Becomes Inactive

If you don't finish Act 48 on time, your certificate remains valid but becomes inactive. While inactive, you can't work as a professional or temporary professional employee in a Pennsylvania public school. You may still substitute for up to 180 days per school year, although individual districts can choose not to hire inactive substitutes.

To reactivate, complete the missing hours and make sure they're reported in PERMS. Your status returns to active overnight, and PERMS starts a new five-year period. An active certificate from another state, used for teaching in the last two years, can also be used to reactivate (PDE charges $50 for this), but not to keep a certificate active.

If you're not working in a Pennsylvania public school, you can request voluntary inactive status, which pauses Act 48. To remove it later, you'll need 30 hours or 1 semester credit earned within the previous 18 months, plus a $50 fee.

Level I, Level II and Act 48

Act 48 is separate from moving from a Level I to a Level II certificate. According to PDE's Level I to Level II page, an Instructional I certificate is valid for 6 years of service in Pennsylvania, not calendar years. Before it runs out, you need:

• 3 years of satisfactory service in Pennsylvania.
• A PDE-approved induction program.
• 24 post-baccalaureate credits, including at least 6 in your content area or in improving professional practice.
• A satisfactory Level I to Level II assessment (PDE 427), verified by your employer in TIMS.

You apply for Level II in TIMS, and the total fee is $150. The Level II certificate is permanent, but Act 48 still applies to keep it active. If you don't convert in time, a Level I certificate lapses. Credits that count toward Level II can also count toward Act 48 when earned in your current compliance period.

Renewal rules differ from state to state; for a broader overview, see our guide to teacher license and certification renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Pennsylvania teaching certificates expire?

A Level II certificate is permanent. A Level I certificate is valid for 6 years of Pennsylvania service and lapses if you don't convert it to Level II. Either way, Act 48 decides whether your certificate is active or inactive.

How many hours do I need for Act 48?

180 hours every five years, which you can meet with 6 college credits, 6 PDE-approved CPE credits, 180 approved hours or a combination.

How many Act 48 hours is a college credit worth?

Each semester credit is worth 30 hours, so a 3-credit course counts for 90 hours.

How do I report credits from an out-of-state college?

Have the college send an official transcript to PDE's Act 48 office, either by mail in an unopened envelope or as an e-transcript sent directly by the college.

Can I keep teaching if my certificate becomes inactive?

Not in a professional or temporary professional position in a Pennsylvania public school. You can substitute for up to 180 days per school year, if your district allows it.

The Bottom Line

Pennsylvania teacher certification renewal means meeting Act 48: 180 hours of approved continuing education every five years, tracked in PERMS. Six related graduate credits from an accredited college cover the full requirement, and the same credits may count toward Level II and your salary lane. If you take courses from an out-of-state college, have the college send an official transcript to PDE's Act 48 office, then check PERMS and confirm the details with PDE.