An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in certification of teachers, further providing for certificates qualifying persons to teach, for standard employment application, for career and technical instructional certificate and for postbaccalaureate certification; and abrogating regulations.

PRINTER'S NO. 1603
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1404
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY CURRY, SANCHEZ, MERSKI, PROBST, PIELLI,
SCHLOSSBERG, BOROWSKI, PROKOPIAK, HILL-EVANS, RIVERA, GUENST,
DONAHUE, ISAACSON, WARREN, PARKER, NEILSON, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
O'MARA, OTTEN, TAKAC AND SCHWEYER, MAY 5, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 5, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in certification of teachers, further
providing for certificates qualifying persons to teach, for
standard employment application, for career and technical
instructional certificate and for postbaccalaureate
certification; and abrogating regulations.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 1201 and 1204.1(a) of the act of March
10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of
1949, are amended to read:
Section 1201. Certificates Qualifying Persons to Teach.--
Only those persons holding one of the following certificates
shall be qualified to teach in the public schools of this
Commonwealth--(1) Permanent college certificate, (2) provisional
college certificate, (3) normal school diploma, (4) normal
school certificate, (5) special permanent certificate, (6)
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special temporary certificate, (7) permanent State certificate,
(8) residency certificate, (9) [intern] second career
certificate, (10) certificates which are permanent licenses to
teach by virtue of the provisions of section one thousand three
hundred eight of the act, approved the eighteenth day of May,
one thousand nine hundred eleven (Pamphlet Laws 309), as
amended, which is repealed hereby, or (11) such other kinds of
certificates as are issued under the standards prescribed by the
State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall
also provide for issuance of certificates by district
superintendents to meet such emergencies or shortage of teachers
as may occur.
Section 1204.1. Standard Employment Application.--(a) The
Secretary of Education, in consultation with organizations
representing school administrators, including personnel
administrators, teachers and school boards, shall develop a
standard employment application form for use by individuals
eligible for or in possession of instructional, career and
technical instructional, [intern] second career or career and
technical [intern] second career teaching certificates in making
application for employment with school districts within this
Commonwealth.
* * *
Section 2. Section 1204.2(b) introductory paragraph of the
act, amended July 11, 2024 (P.L.618, No.55), is amended and the
section is amended by adding subsections to read:
Section 1204.2. Career and Technical Instructional
Certificate.--* * *
(b) In addition to other requirements promulgated by the
State Board of Education, the Department of Education shall
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issue a Career and Technical [Intern] Second Career Certificate
under 22 Pa. Code § 49.151 (relating to eligibility and
criteria) to an individual seeking a position with the primary
responsibility of teaching occupational skills in State-approved
career and technical education programs in the public schools of
this Commonwealth if the individual presents any of the
following:
* * *
(b.2) The Career and Technical Second Career Certificate
shall be issued for the period of time needed by an individual
to complete eighteen (18) semester hours within a career and
technical educator preparation program approved by the
Department of Education, but in no case may the period of time
exceed five (5) years from the date of issuance.
(b.3) In addition to any other requirement promulgated by
the State Board of Education, the Department of Education shall
issue a Career and Technical Intern Certificate under 22 Pa.
Code § 49.151 to an individual securing recognition of
occupational competency upon the basis of credential review and
adequate work experience beyond the learning period as
established by the department in a competency area whether or
not an occupational competency examination exists.
(b.4) In addition to any other requirement promulgated by
the State Board of Education, the Department of Education shall
issue a Career and Technical Instructional Certificate under 22
Pa. Code § 49.142 to an individual securing recognition of
occupational competency upon the basis of credential review and
adequate work experience beyond the learning period as
established by the department in a competency area whether or
not an occupational competency examination exists.
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* * *
Section 3. Section 1207.1(a)(1) and (c) of the act are
amended to read:
Section 1207.1. Postbaccalaureate Certification.--(a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
Secretary of Education shall have all of the following powers
and duties with regard to postbaccalaureate certification
programs:
(1) Evaluate and approve, in accordance with this section,
all postbaccalaureate certification programs, including
accelerated programs, leading to the certification of
professional personnel including [intern] second career
certification programs, residency certification programs and
administrative certification programs.
* * *
(c) (1) Postbaccalaureate instructional [intern] second
career certification programs shall provide flexible and
accelerated pedagogical training to teachers who have
demonstrated subject matter competency in a subject area related
to their certification.
(2) The Secretary of Education may make a one-time issuance
of a postbaccalaureate instructional [intern] second career
certificate for service in a specific area of instruction to
candidates who, in addition to meeting the requirements of
section 1209, present evidence of satisfactory achievement on
the department-prescribed subject matter assessments related to
the area of certification and hold a bachelor's degree from an
accredited college or university. This certificate shall require
continuing enrollment in an approved postbaccalaureate
instructional [intern] second career certification program.
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(3) A postbaccalaureate instructional [intern] second career
certificate shall be valid for [three (3)] five (5) years of
teaching in the public schools of this Commonwealth and may not
be renewed.
(4) A candidate shall be issued an Instructional I
Certificate upon successful completion of the approved
postbaccalaureate instructional [intern] second career program
provided that the candidate has satisfied the requirements of
section 1209.
* * *
Section 4. An individual to whom the Department of Education
has issued an intern certificate or career and technical intern
certificate prior to the effective date of this section and
which certificate is valid on the effective of this section
shall be deemed to hold a second career certificate or career
and technical second career certificate, as applicable, under
the act and the regulations promulgated under 22 Pa. Code Ch.
49.
Section 5. The regulations at 22 Pa. Code Ch. 49 are
abrogated to the extent of any inconsistency with this act.
Section 6. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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