ABCTE Program

Pictured above: Meet Diane Nutbrown, Ph.D., ABCTE 2020 graduate and chemistry/physics teacher for The Neighborhood Academy.
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.
American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence
The PDE has implemented a procedure for candidates holding the ABCTE certificate issued by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence to obtain an Instructional I certificate in the following content areas:
- NEW! Special Education PreK-12
- PreK-4
- Secondary Education Grades 7-12
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Science
Get Started
For more information, visit the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence/Pennsylvania and follow the ABCTE Program Process steps below.
Additional Resources
Required 60 Consecutive Days of Teaching Start Dates – Important
Start Dates |
All Information and TTP Submitted No Later Than 11:59 p.m. on These Dates |
September 6 | August 12 |
October 10 | September 16 |
November 7 | October 14 |
January 9 |
December 9 |
January 30 | January 6 |
February 20 | February 1 |
ABCTE Program Process
The flowchart below lists the steps and actions that must be taken in order to complete the ABCTE mentoring process through Point Park University.
Learn more about the ABCTE program at Point Park and have all your questions answered by sending an email to Mrs. Beverina-Moore (Lecturer and Director of Student Placements) at dmoore@pointpark.edu requesting an invitation to an upcoming Zoom Informational Meeting.
Steps |
Person Responsible |
Actions |
PHASE 1 |
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1. Visit Americanboard.org and register. |
Candidate |
Complete this Verification of Registration for American Board Certification form. |
2. Pass the Professional Teaching Knowledge (PTK) Exam and one content exam.
|
Candidate |
Submit American Board Scores and Certificate to Mrs. Beverina-Moore. |
3. Apply online to Point Park University.
OR
Required Supporting Documents:ID Photos – As of Summer 2022, applicants must submit a personal photo and a picture of a government-issued photo ID for identity verification purposes. Photos may be uploaded during the application process or emailed to gradadmission@pointpark.edu.
Official transcripts - Admission as an ABCTE candidate requires proof of a bachelor's degree from an accredited American institution or its equivalent from a recognized institution outside the United States. Therefore, all ABCTE candidates must request official copies of all college and university transcripts showing conferral of a bachelor's degree and have them sent to Point Park University.
Official transcripts:
OR
Office of Graduate Admission 201 Wood St. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 NOTE: Candidates who earned their degrees at institutions outside the United States must request an official transcript evaluation from World Education Services or International Consultants of Delaware (all non-English transcripts must also include English translations) and have that evaluation sent directly to Point Park University. |
Candidate |
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PHASE 2 |
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4. After being admitted, register for two online graduate classes at Point Park University. Transfer credits are not approved for the ABCTE Program. |
Lynn Ribar, Office of Graduate Admission |
Candidates are required to successfully complete two of the eight-week online graduate courses listed below and earn a 3.0 GPA: NEW! Special Education PreK-12
PreK-4 AND Secondary Education (Grades 7-12)
PreK-4
Secondary Education (Grades 7-12)
|
5. Pass American Board exams. |
Candidate |
Submit American Board scores and certificate in Schoology Professional Development Step 5. |
6. Complete the Statement of Financial Responsibility form. |
Candidate
|
Submit Statement of Financial Responsiblity form in Schoology Professional Development Step 6. |
7. Request approval for your 60-day teaching placement and include:
|
Candidate
|
Candidate will acquire his or her own placement. (The placement must consist of at least 60 consecutive days of full-time, full-day teaching in the candidate's certification area. Part-time and cyber school placements are not acceptable.) Review the chart above for the approved start dates and dates when documents are due. Submit to Schoology Professional Development Step 7:
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8. Complete Placement Verification form including School District Official’s signature. |
Candidate |
Submit approved Placement Verification form to Schoology Professional Development Step 8. |
9. Apply for new clearances. |
Candidate
|
Submit: |
10. Complete Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania training. |
Candidate | Submit certificate - Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania to Schoology Professional Development Step 10. |
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PHASE 3 |
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11. Upon successful completion of Phases 1 and 2, candidates are required to gain permission via email from Mrs. Beverina-Moore, to apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the Temporary Teaching Permit (TTP). Learn more: TIMS FAQ page |
Candidate with required permission from Mrs. Beverina-Moore
|
In order to apply for the TTP, a candidate must supply the following to PDE:
Submit the ABCTE application addendum in Schoology Professional Development Step 11. Review the chart above for the approved start dates and dates which documents are due. |
12. Using your TIMS username and password access your Temporary Teaching Permit (TTP). |
Candidate |
Submit your TTP to Schoology Professional Development Step 12. |
13. Mentoring Process Begins Review the chart above for the approved start dates and dates which documents are due. |
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14. Mentoring Requirements
|
Candidate
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Complete 60 consecutive days of full-time, full-day teaching in certification area. Assignments submitted in Schoology ABCTE mentoring:
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PHASE 4 |
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15. Upon completion of Phase 3, candidate applies through TIMS for Instructional 1 Certification. Learn more: TIMS FAQ page Navigating the Teacher Information Management System Video: |
Candidate
|
TIMS |
2022-2023 Academic Year 60-Day Mentoring
Allegheny County - $4,500
Outside of Allegheny County - $6,000
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ABCTE Mentoring for Special Education PreK-12 (SPED)
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ABCTE Mentoring for Secondary Teacher Certification (EDUC 640)
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ABCTE Mentoring for PreK-4th Grade Teacher Certification (EDUC 627)
Graduate Tuition and Fees
Please see our Tuition and Costs page for the most recent information regarding online graduate education tuition per credit.
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, Sallie Mae is a private student loan lender that will provide assistance to Non-degree seeking Graduate students.
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.