Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program

The​ ​Post​ Bachelor’s​ Baccalaureate​ ​Teaching​ ​Certification​ ​program​ ​in​ Elementary Education​ ​(grades​ ​PreK-4)​, Middle Level (grades 4-8), ​and​ Secondary​ ​Education​ ​(grades​ ​7-12)​ ​are​ ​designed for​ ​professionals​ ​who​ ​hold​ ​a​ ​bachelor’s​ ​degree​ ​and​ ​who​ ​seek​ ​to​ ​qualify​ ​for Pennsylvania​ ​state​ ​teacher​ ​certification​ ​at​ ​the​ ​elementary, middle,​ ​or​ ​secondary​ ​level. Students take courses online that satisfy Pennsylvania teaching certificate requirements while completing the required number of weeks of students teaching. Pennsylvania has reciprocation agreements with nearly every state in the U.S. meaning you can transfer your teaching certificate to another state. 

The​ ​curriculum​ ​for​ ​this​ ​teacher​ ​certificate​ ​program​ at Drexel University ​is​ ​designed​ ​for​ ​those​ ​changing careers​ ​into​ ​the​ ​education​ ​field,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​those​ ​who​ ​already​ ​serve​ ​as​ ​temporary, emergency,​ ​or​ ​substitute​ ​teachers​ ​and​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​earn​ ​a​ ​formal​ ​teaching​ ​credential.

Students​ ​who​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​a​ master’s​ ​degree​ ​in​ ​Teaching,​ ​Learning​ ​and Curriculum​ ​have​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​transfer​ ​the​ ​credits​ ​earned​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Post​ ​Bachelor’s Teaching​ ​Certificate​ ​into​ ​the​ ​MS​ ​in​ ​Teaching,​ ​Learning​ ​&​ ​Curriculum program.

The​ PA teacher​ ​certification​ program​ requirements at​ ​Drexel​ ​University’s​ ​School​ ​of​ ​Education​ prepares ​students​ ​for​ ​a​ ​Pennsylvania​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​Certificate.

A commonly asked question regarding our programs, is "how long is the teacher certification program"? If you already have a bachelor's degree, the elementary, middle level and secondary education programs typically take two years to complete. Drexel also offers a dual certification option for secondary and special education. A bachelor's degree program typically takes up to 4 years to complete.

The first step towards becoming a K-12 teacher is to earn a bachelor’s degree. If you earn a bachelor’s degree in a program that leads to teaching certification, such as elementary education or teacher education, you will graduate with all the requirements necessary to become a licensed teacher. If your bachelor’s degree is in a non-teaching program, you will need to follow the next steps on this list to complete your educator certification program..

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can become a teacher through our teacher certification program. The first step is to determine what subject you would like to teach. Some students choose a subject that reflects their bachelor’s degree experience while others may choose a new subject that they are passionate about.

Once you have decided on a subject, you should enroll in a teacher certification program and focus on your chosen subject. You will complete required coursework for certification and gain the knowledge needed to complete the required Praxis exams.

While you complete your required coursework, you will also gain the required hours of student teaching experience. Most teacher certification programs require 12 weeks of student teaching experience. The School of Education’s Field Placement Office assists students with identifying student teaching opportunities in school districts close to where they live, anywhere in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

Once you have completed your required courses and student teaching experience, you will schedule and sit for your Praxis exams. Passing the required exams is a critical final step to become a certified teacher. Passing the exams will allow you to begin teaching in classrooms on your own. Some school districts may allow emergency certifications to allow teachers who have not completed their exams to teach in their schools for a certain period of time until they can pass the required exams.

Once you have passed the required exams, you will be issued an Instructional I teaching certificate in the state where you took the exams. As a certified teacher, you will be eligible for teaching positions in the subject in which you are certified. You can add additional certifications or complete requirements for an Instructional II teaching certificate as you advance in your career.

Drexel's Post Bachelor's Teaching Certificate in Middle Level (grades 4-8) is ideal for students who would like to teach middle school students in the areas of Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. In addition to gaining knowledge of effective teaching methods, students will also learn how to create culturally responsive pedagogy and create a safe, productive, and positive classroom environment that facilitates learning for all students.

The coursework for a certificate for middle level education consists of 33 credit hours (13 courses) and includes mandatory field-based experiences and 12 weeks of student teaching.

The Post Bachelor's Teaching Certificate for Middle Level (Grades 4-8) curriculum and course descriptions may be found in the Drexel Online Course Catalog.

The Post Bachelor’s Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education (Grades 7-12) is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree and who seek to qualify for PA state teacher certification at the secondary level. The curriculum is designed for those changing careers as well as those who already serve as temporary, emergency, or substitute teachers and wish to earn a formal teaching credential.

The coursework for a general certificate of secondary education consists of 30 credit hours (11 courses) and includes mandatory field-based experiences and 12 weeks of student teaching.

The Post Bachelor's Teaching Certificate for Secondary Education (Grades 7-12) curriculum and course descriptions may be found in the Drexel Online Course Catalog.

The School of Education offers eight content-specific areas of study each leading to their own certifications with required courses and Praxis exams:

Once​ ​a​ ​student​ ​has​ ​successfully​ ​completed​ ​their​ ​course​ ​of​ ​study​ ​and​ ​all​ ​exams required​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Pennsylvania​ ​Department​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​(PDE),​ ​Drexel​ ​recommends the​ ​student​ ​to​ ​PDE​ ​for​ ​issuance​ ​of​ ​the​ ​appropriate​ ​teaching​ ​certificate.

Pennsylvania’s​ ​initial​ ​state​ ​certification​ ​is​ ​known​ ​as​ ​“Instructional​ ​I”​ ​and​ ​is​ ​valid​ ​for​ ​a total​ ​of​ ​six​ ​years ​(the​ ​six​ ​years​ ​need​ ​not​ ​be​ ​continuous).​ ​To​ ​continue​ ​teaching​ ​after six​ ​years,​ ​teachers​ ​must​ ​receive​ ​an​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification.

The​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification​ ​is​ ​considered​ ​a​ ​“permanent”​ ​certification.​ ​(It​ ​must, however,​ ​be​ ​renewed​ ​every​ ​five​ ​years​ ​through​ ​the​ ​fulfillment​ ​of​ ​continuing​ ​education requirements.)​ ​A​ ​teacher​ ​applying​ ​for​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification​ ​must​ ​have:

The​ ​PA​ ​Educator​ ​Certification​ ​Tests​ ​(PECT)​ ​are​ ​required​ ​for​ ​Elementary Certification​ ​(Grades​ ​PreK–4).​ ​Students​ ​are​ ​required​ ​to​ ​take​ ​the​ ​appropriate​ ​exam for​ ​each​ ​area​ ​of​ ​certification​ ​sought.

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​about​ ​examinations​ ​and​ ​registration,​ ​visit​ ​the​ PA​ ​Educator Certification​ ​Tests​ ​(PECT)​.

All​ ​Post​ ​Bachelor’s​ ​students​ ​seeking​ ​certification​ ​in​ ​Secondary​ ​Certification​ ​(Grades 7–12)​ ​are​ ​required​ ​to​ ​pass​ ​the​ ​Praxis​ ​II​ ​Series.​ ​Students​ ​must​ ​pass​ ​the​ ​appropriate Praxis​ ​II​ ​Content​ ​Knowledge​ ​test(s)​ ​for​ ​each​ ​area​ ​of​ ​certification​ ​they​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​obtain.

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​about​ ​examination​ ​and​ ​registration,​ ​please​ ​visit​ ​the​ Praxis Series​.

To​ ​maintain​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​and​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certifications​ ​in​ ​Pennsylvania​,​ ​the PDE​ ​requires​ ​a​ certified​ teacher​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​the​ ​minimal​ ​equivalent​ ​of​ ​six semester-hour​ ​(or​ ​nine​ ​quarter-hour)​ ​credits,​ ​180​ ​professional​ ​development​ ​hours, or​ ​a​ ​combination​ ​of​ ​credits​ ​and​ ​professional​ ​development​ ​hours​ ​every​ ​five​ ​years. College​ ​credits​ ​must​ ​be​ ​acquired​ ​from​ ​an​ ​accredited​ ​four-year,​ ​degree-granting college​ ​or​ ​university.

Note:​ ​For​ ​those​ ​working​ ​to​ ​acquire​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification,​ ​the​ ​24​ ​semester credits​ ​or​ ​36​ ​quarter​ ​credits​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​apply​ ​for​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​may​ ​also​ ​count toward​ ​Act​ ​48​ ​requirements.​ ​Undergraduate​ ​credits​ ​from​ ​a​ ​community​ ​college​ ​may not​ ​be​ ​counted​ ​toward​ ​Act​ ​48​ ​credits​ ​for​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​Certification.

For​ ​more​ ​information​ ​and​ ​to​ ​apply​ ​credits​ ​to​ ​your​ ​state​ ​record,​ ​visit​ ​the​ PA Department​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​Act​ ​48​ ​Continuing​ ​Professional​ ​Education​.

Drexel University's Post-Bachelor's Teacher Certification courses are offered 100% online. You can get started by filling out the appropriate Drexel Online Application for an online Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification:

Undergraduate Teacher Certification Requirements

Undergraduate Teacher Certification Requirements

Drexel offers a number of education certification and degree programs that prepare students for formal teacher certification. Once a student has successfully completed their undegraduate course of study and all qualifying teacher certification exams required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Drexel recommends the student to the PDE for the appropriate teaching certificate.

The School of Education requires that students maintain at least a "B" average (3.0 GPA) in content courses needed for teacher certification in addition to earning a grade of "B" or better in each core pedagogy course required for certification.

All undergraduate students are required to obtain and submit updated and current copies of the required clearances to the School of Education annually in order to participate in classroom observations and student teaching in Pennsylvania. All full-time undergraduates will receive assistance in gaining these clearances during their first term. Non-PA students should contact their state's department of education or school district office for a list of clearances required in their state.

This initial certification qualifies a teacher to teach for a maximum of six years. The six years need not be continuous. To continue teaching after the six years are completed, the teacher must receive an Instructional II Certification.

The Instructional II Certification is considered a permanent certification. A teacher applying for Instructional II Certification must have:

The Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) are required for Grades PreK–4 and Special Education. All undergraduate and dual degree BS/MS students are required to pass the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) basic skills exam. In addition, students will be required to take the appropriate exam exam for each area of certification they wish to obtain.

For more information about examinations and registration:

All undergraduate and dual degree BS/MS students seeking certification in middle (grades 4–8) or secondary (grades 7–12) levels are required to pass exams from the PA Education Certification Tests (PECT) and the Praxis II Series. Students must pass both the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) basic skills exam exam and the appropriate Praxis II Content Knowledge test for each area of certification they wish to obtain.

For more information about examinations and registration:

To maintain Instructional I and Instructional II Certifications, the PDE requires a teacher to complete one of the following every five years:

Note: For those working to acquire Instructional II Certification, the 24 semester credits or 36 quarter credits needed to apply for Instructional II may also count toward Act 48 requirements.

Download the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Frequently Asked Questions about Act 48 [PDF].

400-Pound Student Sues After Dream of Being Gym Teacher Is Blocked

A former Wayne State University student who tipped the scales at more than 400 pounds is suing the school for discrimination, saying it blocked him from getting certified to become a gym teacher by refusing to grant him physical accommodations. The Michigan university called the suit by David Lopez, 44, “frivolous” and said he cannot legally claim discrimination on the basis of weight. Lopez told The Detroit News that completed all course work but needed a special arrangement for student teaching that would not require him to stand or walk for long periods. “They didn’t want me to graduate with my certification because I didn’t fit what they perceived to be a gym teacher because of my size and because of my weight,” he said.