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.Key Benefits of Point Park's ABCTE Program
- Flexibility and convenience – Our program is designed to accommodate working adults' busy schedules.
- Supportive faculty – Our faculty bring years of classroom experience into their coursework, as well as a commitment to students' professional development and success.
- Career-ready education – Our rigorous coursework emphasizes theory to practice and instills confidence in aspiring educators so they feel well-prepared to enter their own classroom.
- Affordability – Our program provides an affordable pathway to teaching certification. Costs are incurred through the American Board, Point Park University and PDE.
- 2025-26 academic year costs, effective Fall 2025:
- Visit the American Board website for current pricing.
- Tuition for 6 credits at Point Park, effective this fall: $4,014, plus the cost of books
- Cost of 60-Day Mentoring (0 credits): $6,000
- Visit the PDE website for current teaching certificate application fees.
- 2024-25 academic year costs:
- Visit the American Board website for current pricing.
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Tuition for 6 credits at Point Park: $3,912, plus the cost of books
- 2025-26 academic year costs, effective Fall 2025:
- Apply your 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
- Master of Education in Reading and Literacy
- Master of Arts in Educational Administration
- Master of Education in Teaching and Leadership
- *Transfer credits are not approved for the ABCTE Program.
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 PreK-12
- PreK-4
- Secondary Education Grades 7-12:
View the ABCTE program requirement sheets:
Additional Resources
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., lecturer and director of student placements, at dmoore@pointpark.edu and requesting an invitation to a Zoom informational meeting.
Learn About Our 2024 ABCTE Certified Teachers
Learn about our 2023 ABCTE certified teachers in this video.
Meet the Director
Mrs. Beverina-Moore, M.A., NCSP (retired), director of student placement
Mrs. Beverina-Moore has more than 35 years of experience working in public education.
Meet the Chair
Kamryn York, Ed.D., interim chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning
Dr. York collaborates with local K-12 school administrators and community organizations to secure field experiences for preservice teachers that strengthen their professional development.
Tuition
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.
Payment
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
For More Information
Email Mrs. Beverina-Moore, M.A., lecturer and director of student placements, at dmoore@pointpark.edu and request an invitation to a Zoom informational meeting.