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Pennsylvania Highlights
- Average Elementary Teacher Salary: $50,410
- Average Secondary Teacher Salary: $51,840
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Teacher Salary vs. State Average: 132%
- Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: 15
- Years to Tenure: 3
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To become a certified teacher in Pennsylvania, you will need to fulfill all prerequisite coursework, teacher preparation, and testing requirements.
Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating the site with new information on a regular basis. To stay up-to-date with the latest in teacher certification, please complete the form in the right sidebar.
Prerequisite Coursework
All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas. Pennsylvania does not have any undergraduate credit hour requirements, though there are teacher preparation programs available to undergraduates.
Teacher Preparation
There are over 90 different Pennsylvania-based teacher preparation programs that can recommend candidates directly for PA certification.
Other programs, including those from universities based outside of Pennsylvania or online, may also qualify you for a PA credential.
Alternative Certification
Graduates of accredited colleges or universities whose bachelor’s degree was not in education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. The state of Pennsylvania officially recognizes ABCTE certification as a route to earning your Pennsylvania teacher certification.
Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship.
Teacher Certification Reciprocity
| Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California |
| Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida |
| Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois |
| Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine |
| Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Mississippi |
| Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada |
| New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York |
| North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma |
| Oregon | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota |
| Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont |
| Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin |
| Wyoming |
Teacher Salary and Benefits
- Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Pennsylvania provides loan forgiveness support for teachers teaching in high needs schools and loan forgiveness and differential pay for teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
- Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Pennsylvania has strong induction policies in place
- Average Elementary Teacher Salary: The average elementary school teacher in Pennsylvania makes $50,410
- Average Secondary Teacher Salary: The average secondary teacher in Pennsylvania makes$51,840
- Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in Pennsylvania makes 132% of the salary of the average worker in Pennsylvania
- Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: The average teacher in Pennsylvania receives 15 weeks of vacation per year
- Number of Years to Tenure: Pennsylvania requires 3 years of teaching before a teacher is eligible for tenure
Required Tests
In order to become a certified teacher, you must satisfactorily complete the Basic Skill Test requirement and any Subject Area Competence assessments needed for your desired area of instruction.
