PDE Certification Tests Information - Office of Professional Certification

Below please find information about the Pennsylvania required certification tests. Each link takes you to the PA testing page of the test administrator. Be sure to verify that you are on the correct page before proceeding.

You must have the tests taken and passed BEFORE you apply for certification in TIMS. If you have not passed the test with the cut score, please review the chart (#3 on this PDE webpage) for qualifying scores based on your GPA. You may take the tests when you wish to, but PDE recommends taking them AFTER student teaching, internship or final placement for your area of certification.

PLEASE NOTE: Test scores must be sent to Lehigh and PDE. If you take your test in another state, it is not automatically sent to PDE and you MUST request it. If you fail to request that your test score is sent to PDE, it will cost more money to have it sent as PDE requires electronic score submission.

PreK-4 These are administered by Pearson: http://www.pa.nesinc.com

PLEASE NOTE: ALL PREK-4 STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO 'ADD ON' GRADES 5 & 6 THROUGH TESTING. YOU MUST VISIT THE PDE WEBPAGE TO FIND THE TESTS REQUIRED TO ADD GRADES 5 & 6. THEY MUST BE TAKEN AND PASSED BEFORE YOU APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION IN TIMS. YOU MUST ALSO BE ALREADY CERTIFIED IN PK-4 BEFORE YOU CAN COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE ADD-ON TIMS APPLICATION FOR GRADES 5 & 6. PLEASE SEE/EMAIL LISA COLLINS WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

Secondary content areas (7-12), Educational Specialists (School Psychology PK-12 and School Counselor PK-12) and Administrative (Educational Leadership) tests AND Special Education PK-12.

https://www.ets.org/praxis/pa/test-takers/plan-your-test/licensure.html

Basic skills tests are not required of post-graduate students as per a ruling by the Pennsylvania State legislature. Some 5-year program students may be required to take basic skills tests and those students will be notified by the OPC in writing. AS OF JULY 2022, THE BASIC SKILLS REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD UNTIL JULY 2025.

TEST PREPARATION ASSISTANCE

If you would like additional assistance beyond the test preparation that ETS and Pearson offer on their website, please see the Butler County Community College site "www.passpraxis.com" . BC3 offers test preparation for a fee.