Career and Technical Certification

The Pennsylvania Department of Education will issue Career and Technical Instructional Certificates to persons whose primary responsibility is teaching occupational skills in State approved career and technical education programs in the public schools of the Commonwealth. 

Career and Technical Certification Areas and Codes

This brief informational YouTube video offers information on becoming certified to teach career and technical education in Pennsylvania.

Career and Technical Intern Certificate

Career and Technical Intern certification for teaching in programs of vocational education in the public schools of the Commonwealth requires:

1. Acceptable evidence of four years wage-earning experience in the occupation to be taught;
2. Acceptance for enrollment in a State-approved career and technical teacher preparation program at one of the universities listed below;
3. Passing the appropriate occupational competency examination, or evaluation of credentials for occupations where examinations do not exist;
4. The recommendation for the Career and Technical Intern Certificate by the university at which they are enrolled or accepted; and
5. Meeting all other requirements provided by law (School Code 1209 and Title 22, Pa. Code, Section 49.12).

The Career and Technical Intern Certificate shall be issued for a validity period of three calendar years from the date of issuance.

Career and Technical Instructional I Certificate

Individuals qualifying for the Career and Technical Instructional I Certificate shall be authorized to teach in the occupational competency area(s) they hold.  

The Career and Technical I certificate and the occupational competency areas are issued by the Department on the recommendation of a university having a Pennsylvania approved career and technical teacher preparation program. The applicant must have:

1. A minimum of two years wage-earning experience in the occupation to be taught and hold a bachelor’s degree.  A minimum of four years wage-earning experience in the occupation to be taught is required if following the intern route;
2. Passed the appropriate occupational competency examination, or evaluation of credentials for occupations where examinations do not exist;
3. Completed 18 credit hours in an approved program of career and technical teacher education;
4. Met all requirements provided by law (School Code 1209 and Title 22, Pa. Code, Section 49.12); and
5. Received the recommendation of the preparing Pennsylvania university.

IMPORTANT:  Career and Technical Instructional I certificates issued on or after July 13, 2016 will be valid for eight (8) years of service. Career and Technical Instructional I certificates issued prior to July 13, 2016 that had six years of validity (under the 1999 regulations) and that are valid on July 13, 2016, will have a total of eight (8) years of validity. Career and Technical Instructional I certificates issued prior to July 13, 2016 that had seven (7) years of validity (under the 1987 regulations) and that are valid on July 13, 2016, will receive an additional one school term/year of valid service. 

Career and Technical Instructional I for Out-of-State Applicants

PDE shall issue a PA Career and Technical Instructional I certification to an out of state person who satisfies the following:

1. Holds a current Career and Technical teaching certification or equivalent issued by another state.
2. Completed a minimum of four years of wage-earning experience in the occupation to be taught. Work experience is to be verified by one of the three approved career and technical teacher preparation centers.
3. At least two years of classroom teaching experience and provides satisfactory professional educator performance for the two most recent years of classroom teaching.
4. Meets all requirements in 22 PA Code §49.12 (relating to eligibility). 

The Career and Technical Instructional I certification will be valid for 8 service years and shall be converted to a Career and Technical Instructional II certificate in accordance with 22 PA. Code §49.143 (Relating to Career and Technical Instructional II). 

Career & Technical applicants prepared outside of Pennsylvania should contact one of the centers listed below as a first step in the certification process.

Career and Technical Instructional II Certificate

The Career and Technical Instructional II Certificate shall be a permanent certificate issued to an applicant who has:

1. Completed three years of satisfactory teaching on a Career and Technical Instructional I Certificate attested to by the chief school administrator of the approved public or nonpublic school entity in which the most recent service of the applicant was performed;
2. Completed 42 credit hours in an approved program of career and technical education;
3. Presented evidence of satisfactory ratings conducted by the public or nonpublic school entity;
4. Presented evidence of having passed the Career and Technical II assessment;
5. Completed a Pennsylvania Department of education-approved induction program; and
6. Received the recommendation of the preparing Pennsylvania university.

How to Apply

Candidates for Career and Technical Intern or Career and Technical Instructional certification must apply through one of the following career and technical teacher preparing institutions:

Coordinator, Career and Technical Education
Temple University - Main Campus
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Ritter Hall 372
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-6025

Coordinator, Career and Technical Education
The Pennsylvania State University
301 Keller Building
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 863-0804

Coordinator, Career and Technical Education
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Reschini House
1110 Maple Street
Indiana, PA 15705
(724) 357-4435

Letter of Equivalency for Bachelor's Degree