Certification Testing

Requirements

Pennsylvania requires assessment of candidates in General Knowledge, Professional Knowledge and Subject Area Knowledge prior to issuance of a certificate. The documents below provide guidance for completing these requirements. Please review them carefully prior to completing any assessment requirement.

Basic Skills Assessment Requirement
Effective July 1, 2025, the basic skills assessment required under 22 Pa. Code § 49.18 (relating to assessment) will no longer be required for entry into a Pennsylvania baccalaureate teacher preparation program. (24 P.S. § 1207.3)

NOTE: Section 1509-K of the Public School Code waived the basic skills assessment for three years from July 8, 2022 to July 8, 2025. (24 P.S. § 1509-K) The amendment to section 1207.3, which was enacted under Act 55 of 2024, permanently ends the basic skills assessment requirement for individuals in Pennsylvania baccalaureate teacher preparation programs.

Announcements

Family and Consumer Sciences (5122) will no longer be available after 8/31/2024; Family and Consumer Sciences (5123) will be available on 9/1/2024.
Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) will no longer be available after 8/31/2024; Social Studies (5581) will be available on 9/1/2024.
Technology Education (5051) will no longer be available after 8/31/2024; Technology and Engineering Education (5053) will be available on 9/1/2024.
Environmental Education (0831) is no longer available through ETS; a new test is being developed by PDE, please check back this fall.