Transfer Your Professional Skills to a Teaching Career
Point Park University is the only Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)-recognized institution in Pennsylvania that offers an American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) program.
ABCTE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to putting qualified professionals in the classroom through a state-approved alternative teacher certification program.
All candidates in Point Park's ABCTE Program must possess an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university prior to initiating the ABCTE program. PDE may now accept a conferred graduate degree from an accredited college or university in lieu of a baccalaureate degree.
PDE Certification Areas
By completing the ABCTE program, you may obtain an Instructional I certificate in one of the following content areas. Visit the links below to view what these certifications allow you to teach.
- Special Education PK–12
- PK–4
- Secondary Education Grades 7-12:
Key Benefits of Point Park's ABCTE Program
Our program is designed to be flexible and convenient, accommodating the busy schedules of working adults. In the classroom, supportive faculty bring years of classroom experience into their coursework, as well as a commitment to students' professional development and success. Plus, our rigorous career-ready coursework emphasizes theory-to-practice and instills confidence in aspiring educators so they feel well-prepared to enter their own classroom.
Our program provides an affordable pathway to teaching certification. Costs are incurred through the American Board, Point Park University and PDE.
As an added benefit, you can apply credits to a master's degree program. After earning your Instructional I Certification, your 6 credits from the ABCTE program can be used toward a master's degree (and possible additional certification) in the following areas:
- Master of Arts in Special Education or Educational Administration
- Master of Education in Reading and Literacy or Teaching and Leadership
*Transfer credits are not approved for the ABCTE Program.
- Visit the American Board website for current pricing.
- Tuition for 6 credits at Point Park, effective this fall: $4,128, plus the cost of books
- Cost of 60-Day Mentoring (0 credits): $6,000
- Visit the PDE website for current teaching certificate application fees.
ABCTE costs are incurred through the American Board, PDE and Point Park University.
Students enrolled in the ABCTE Program are not eligible for funds administered through the university since the program does not meet the criteria for eligibility for federal, state or private sources of funding. This includes the following: university funds, PHEAA state grant funds, Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), Direct Student Loans (DL) and most private student loan programs. However, College Avenue, PNC Bank, and Sallie Mae, who are private student loan lenders, will provide assistance to non-degree-seeking graduate students.
PA CareerLink Tuition Funding
To learn more about how to qualify for PA CareerLink funding, visit the PA CareerLink website.
The university offers a Tuition Payment Plan that ABCTE Program students may consider. Students who do not make satisfactory arrangements to pay tuition and other charges will be assessed non-refundable late fees until such time that all charges are paid in full. In addition, all academic transcripts and records will not be released until all charges are paid in full.
The Office of Student Accounts is primarily responsible for billing, payment plans, employer reimbursement, third-party billing, collections and student refunds.
For information on payment plans, contact the Office of Student Accounts at studentaccounts@pointpark.edu.
Get Started
Learn More
Learn more about the ABCTE program at Point Park and have all your questions answered by sending an email to Mrs. Beverina-Moore, M.A., NCSP (Retired), senior lecturer and director of ABCTE, at dmoore@pointpark.edu and requesting an invitation to a Zoom informational meeting.
View our ABCTE flyer for an overview of the program.
Additional Resource
CSPG 5 - Evaluation of Credentials for Individuals Prepared Outside of the United States
