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, providing for educational specialist experience-based certification; and making an editorial change.

PRINTER'S NO. 3249
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2441
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY INGLIS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, PASHINSKI, SANCHEZ AND
CURRY, APRIL 21, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 22, 2026
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,
providing for educational specialist experience-based
certification; and making an editorial change.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Article XII heading of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended to read:
ARTICLE XII.
CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYES.
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1222. Educational Specialist Experience-Based
Certification.--(a) In addition to other requirements
promulgated by the State Board of Education, the Department of
Education shall issue an educational specialist experience-based
certificate to an individual seeking a position as a school
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counselor or school nurse in the public schools of this
Commonwealth if the individual presents any of the following:
(1) For a nurse:
(i) Completion of an approved registered nursing program, or
an equivalent program approved by a State Board of Nursing.
(ii) Completion of three (3) hours of approved training in
how to recognize and report child abuse.
(iii) Passage of the National Council Licensure Examination
or its predecessor, the State Board Test Pool Examination.
(iv) Being current on the thirty (30) hours of continuing
education, which must include two (2) hours of approved training
in how to recognize and report child abuse.
(2) For a counselor:
(i) Holding a master's degree or doctoral degree in
counseling or a field determined by the State Board of Education
by regulation to be closely related to the practice of
professional counseling from an accredited educational
institution.
(ii) Passage of one of the following examinations:
(A) The National Counselor Examination for Licensure and
Certification given by the National Board for Certified
Counselors.
(B) The Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination given
by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.
(C) The Art Therapy Credentials Board Certification
Examination given by the Art Therapy Credentials Board.
(D) The Board Certification Examination given by the
Certification Board for Music Therapists.
(E) The Practice Examination of Psychological Knowledge
given by the North American Association of Master's in
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Psychology.
(F) The Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor
Examination given by the International Certification and
Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Inc.
(G) The Examination for Master Addictions Counselors given
by the National Board for Certified Counselors.
(iii) Experience as follows:
(A) For a master's degree, at least three thousand (3,000)
hours of supervised clinical experience completed in no less
than two (2) years and no more than six (6) years.
(B) For a doctoral degree, at least two thousand four
hundred (2,400) hours of supervised clinical experience, of
which one thousand two hundred (1,200) hours was obtained
subsequent to the granting of the doctoral degree.
(iv) Being current on the thirty (30) hours of continuing
education in acceptable courses and programs offered by approved
providers. The thirty (30) hours shall include at least three
(3) hours in ethics, two (2) hours of the mandated Act 31 child
abuse reporter training and one (1) hour in suicide prevention.
(b) The educational specialist experience-based certificate
shall be issued for the period of time needed by an individual
to complete sixty (60) credit hours for a school counselor or
twenty-four (24) credit hours for a registered nurse in an
approved educational specialist preparation program, but in no
case may the period of time exceed five (5) years from the date
of issuance.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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