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​Veterans Preference

Section 1205 of Act 143 provides direction for active duty military members, veterans, and the spouses or surviving spouses of active duty military members or veterans to receive preferential application handling and a reduced application fee when applying for any educator certification.

In order to qualify, a veteran is an individual who served at least 180 days of active duty, other than for training, or was discharged after serving 30 days due to a service-connected disability in the US Armed Forces and was discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions. Honorable conditions includes Honorable and General Under Honorable discharges.

Applicants must meet all Pennsylvania certification requirements to receive a license. 

Military, veteran, and spouse applicants can apply for the desired certification using the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS):

Complete the online application indicating "yes" to the question regarding veteran status.

Send in any required documents listed on the coversheet and your proof of service document(s):

  • Active duty members: photocopy of military orders assigning duty station;
  • Active duty spouse: photocopy of military orders assigning duty station and a photocopy of your marriage license;
  • Veterans: photocopy of DD form 214 with Discharge under Circumstances other than Dishonorable;
  • Veteran spouse/surviving spouse: photocopy of DD form 214 with Discharge under Circumstances other than Dishonorable and a photocopy of your marriage license.