According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), candidates for teacher certification must have at least a bachelor's degree from an approved teacher education program and pass tests known as The Praxis Series. The certification being sought dictates which Praxis test must be taken. The PDE website lists several dozen colleges and universities in the state, both public and private, that offer certified teacher preparation programs.
There are 14 schools within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), in both urban and rural areas across the state. These schools offer teacher education programs that include content-area coursework, pedagogical skills and student teaching assignments Upon graduation, students will be awarded a bachelor's degree and be eligible to take the appropriate Praxis test depending on field of specialization.
Dozens of colleges and universities throughout Pennsylvania offer teacher-education programs that prepare students to take The Praxis Series of examinations. They include Carnegie Mellon, Duquesne, Bucknell, Saint Joseph's, Temple, Holy Family, Albright, King's and Gwynedd-Mercy.
Students can also opt for online teacher preparation programs offered by Pennsylvania-based colleges and universities. This option might be practical for students who cannot attend traditional programs due to work obligations or disabilities. Drexel University and Saint Joseph's University are just two of the colleges that offer online teacher-education programs in Pennsylvania.