Experience-Based Certification Process

First, determine the Pennsylvania teaching certification area you want to pursue. Your certification area will determine which Point Park M.Ed. program is the appropriate pathway.

For example:

• Candidates pursuing PreK-4 certification would follow the M.Ed. in PreK-4 Education pathway.
• Candidates pursuing Special Education certification would follow the M.Ed. in Special Education pathway.
• Candidates pursuing a secondary content-area certification would follow the M.Ed. in Secondary Education pathway.

• Apply to the appropriate Point Park University graduate education program.
• Begin the online application process.

• PDE requires a minimum 3.0 GPA to enter an approved Experience-Based program.

Praxis/content-area OR PECT examinations must be passed before Point Park can recommend you for the Experience-Based Certificate.

You do not have to wait until you are enrolled at Point Park to take the required examination. You can take the test before or during your graduate program.

The specific examination depends on the Pennsylvania certification area you are seeking.

Before Point Park can approve and recommend you for the Experience-Based Certificate through TIMS, you must complete the required initial coursework in your M.Ed. program.

Typically, this will be three or four courses, depending on the program and the candidate's individual course sequence.

These courses can be completed through the appropriate Point Park M.Ed. program:

• M.Ed. in PreK-4 Education
• M.Ed. in Special Education
• M.Ed. in Secondary Education

This means that you do not need to complete the entire M.Ed. program before beginning the EBC process.

The purpose of completing these initial courses is to ensure that you have completed the required foundational preparation before Point Park recommends you for the Experience-Based Certificate.  Additionally, you only have 2 semesters to complete the student teaching. 

You will need to secure an appropriate teaching position in a Pennsylvania school.

Depending on the certification area and program, this may be a full-time teaching position or an appropriate long-term substitute position in the area in which you are seeking certification.

You can look for and secure this position before or after being admitted to Point Park. However, the position must meet the requirements for the Experience-Based pathway before Point Park can move forward with the certification recommendation.

Once you have secured the appropriate position, you will need to complete the required clearances, documentation, and any other requirements associated with your school placement and Point Park program.

Point Park will work with you and the school to make sure the necessary documentation is completed.

Once you have completed the necessary requirements which include the following:

• Admission to the appropriate Point Park M.Ed. program;
• The required 3–4 Point Park courses;
• The required Praxis/content-area examination;
• An appropriate teaching position; and
• Other required documentation;

Point Park can move forward with the Experience-Based Certificate recommendation through TIMS.

You will complete the online certification application through Pennsylvania's Teacher Information Management System (TIMS), and Point Park will verify the program requirements and recommendation.

Once the Experience-Based Certificate has been issued, you can begin teaching while completing the remaining requirements of your Point Park M.Ed. program. You have 2 semesters to complete student teaching.

The primary benefit of the EBC pathway is that you can gain teaching experience and work in the classroom while completing your teacher preparation program.

You will have support from Point Park throughout the process, including supervision, coursework, and other required components of the teacher preparation program.

You will continue completing your M.Ed. coursework and supervised teaching requirements while working under the Experience-Based Certificate.

Once you have completed all of the required program and certification requirements, Point Park will assist you with the next steps toward obtaining your Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate.