​CSPG 21 - Testing

Modified: December 21, 2022

The Testing Certification and Staffing Policy Guideline (CSPG) outlines the testing requirements for all education candidates for certification. The information provided in the Testing CSPG is applicable to all educators who are currently applying for a Pennsylvania certification.

General Policies

All candidates should refer to the Certification Test and Score Requirements chart for current test information. Test requirements, including qualifying scores, are subject to change.

The GPA Qualifying Scores included in the chart may not be used for:

• Intern certificates;
• Add-ons by testing; or 
• Basic skills assessments.

Candidates must meet the assessment requirements on the date the application is submitted. Older tests, taken when required in Pennsylvania, may be eligible under the replaced test policy (refer to section 3).

Assessment Exceptions

• Candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher are not required to take the basic skills assessments as a post-baccalaureate program entrance requirement.
• Out-of-State Instructional candidates who submit a copy of a current, valid, and comparable certificate with verification of two years of satisfactory teaching experience are only required to take the content test.
• Educational Specialist candidates who hold a valid license recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education are exempt from all testing.
• Vocational candidates in post-baccalaureate programs are not required to take the basic skills assessment in reading and writing. The mathematics assessment is required for vocational level II certification.
  

Test Score Submission

• All test scores must be reported electronically and directly from the test provider when available.
• If not available, we accept test scores through alternative submission methods:
• A letter from another state education agency sent directly to PDE with the
• Current name of the applicant;
• Application ID, PPID, date of birth, or last four digits of the SSN;
• Test information: test date, test code, test name, and either the score or state qualifying score needed for certification at the time the test was taken.
• Official scores in an envelope sealed by the test provider and forwarded to PDE with a TIMS application cover sheet to the address listed on the cover sheet.
• SAT or ACT scores entered by the Pennsylvania approved program provider in TIMS.
• Scores verified from an official score report sent directly to PDE from the program provider or high school (ACT, SAT). The letter may be sent via:
• Email RA-TeacherCert@pa.gov
• Fax 717.783.6736
• U.S. Mail to the address listed on the TIMS application cover sheet.
  

Replaced Tests

Tests are periodically replaced. Old test scores will be accepted if taken within six months of the effective date of the new test unless:

• A candidate registered for the test prior to the effective date of the new test.
• A candidate took the test within the window and failed. They will be given an additional six months.
  

Adding Certificate Areas by Testing

Educators currently holding a valid Pennsylvania Instructional certificate may add subject areas by passing the appropriate content tests and applying in TIMS.  Certification areas that may not be added via testing are Special Education (all areas), Cooperative Education, Health and Physical Education, and Reading Specialist. 

Educators currently holding a valid Pennsylvania Supervisory certificate may add a single area Supervisory certificate, excluding special education, by passing the current, applicable test.

Reference

Chapter §49.18, §49.65, §49.111, §49.121, §49.163, §403.4

Related CSPGs

CSPG 4

This revision supersedes all earlier CSPGs carrying this number and/or addressing this subject.  Previous CSPG printing dates on this subject: 1/1987, 7/2004, 5/2008, 8/2008, 7/2014, 9/2016

Summary of Changes