The Department of Education

How to Obtain PA Certification

Undergraduate students who have finished their degree, and graduate students who have completed all of their required courses, can apply for their Instructional I certification with Pennsylvania if they have also passed all of their required Praxis exams and maintained a GPA of 3.0.

The certification application (PDE 338G) and (PDE 338C) forms and instructions are available from the PA Department of Education. Click here.

Applications must be signed by a physician, and accompanied by a money order and an official SJU transcript when submitted to the SJU Education Department in Barbelin Hall 273. Applicants must also forward Praxis exam scores to the SJU Education Department if they have not already done so. The Chair of the Education Department, who serves as the certifying officer, reviews and signs applications, and forwards them to the PA Department of Education.

Instructional I certification is good for six years of teaching. Students can find information on how to: obtain Instruction II certification; keep their certification current through ACT 48 credits; and obtain additional certifications by consulting the PA Department of Education. Click here.

Graduate students can obtain Intern certification through Saint Joseph's enabling them to work in paid teaching positions as they complete their course work and student teaching. To learn more, consult the Frequently Asked Questions.