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HARRISBURG, Pa.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is making significant changes to the processing timelines for teacher certifications, starting on Thursday.
Efforts to Address Teacher Shortage
Carissa Pokorny-Golden, Director of the Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality at the PDE, stated that the department aims to address the teacher shortage by getting more educators into classrooms. The new changes to certification processing timelines are part of this effort.
Reduced Processing Timelines
Pokorny-Golden outlined the revised timelines for different types of certificates:
- In-State Level I Certificates (new educators): 2-4 weeks
- Level II Certificates (experienced educators): 4-6 weeks
- Add-On Certificates: 1-3 weeks
- Emergency Certificates: 2-4 weeks
Prior to these changes, it took approximately 10-12 weeks to process all types of certifications.
Addressing Hold-ups
Pokorny-Golden acknowledged the existing teacher shortage and emphasized the department’s commitment to minimizing any delays in the certification process. By reducing the processing timelines, they hope to expedite the placement of qualified teachers in classrooms across the state.
Advice for Aspiring Teachers
Pokorny-Golden advised individuals seeking teaching positions to explore school district websites and LinkedIn pages for any available vacancies. Additionally, she suggested reaching out to school districts directly to inquire about potential classroom openings.
