Any one who desires school library certification must affiliate with a college having state-approved certification in that area and pursue certification through that college's or university's program. Pennsylvania colleges and universities will prescribe courses for certification. The Pennsylvania Department of Education does not prescribe credit hours or courses.
Pennsylvania teaching certificates with endorsement in school librarianship may be issued to graduates of Pennsylvania colleges and universities who have:
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Completed a school librarianship preparation program
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Received a competency recommendation from the preparing institution
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Completed the test requirements for professional certification in Pennsylvania
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Passed the Praxis test (a set of rigorous and carefully validated assessments administered by the Educational Testing Service that provides accurate, reliable information for use by state education agencies in making licensing decisions) and
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Met all other requirements provided by law (School Code 1209)
The following colleges and universities provide certification programs in school librarianship:
| Arcadia University, Glenside, PA |
215-572-2900 |
| Clarion University of PA/Main Campus, Clarion, PA |
814 393-2271 |
| Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA |
215-895-2474 |
| Kutztown University of PA , Kutztown, PA |
610-683-4300 |
| Mansfield University of PA , Mansfield, PA |
717-816-6995 |
| Marywood University , Scranton, PA |
866-279-9663 x6002 |
| Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA |
724-805-2933 |
| University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA |
412-624-5230 |
The Office of Commonwealth Libraries suggests that you consult the officials responsible for teacher education at a college or university of your choice for advice. Application for school library certification must be made through the preparatory college or university.
Certification applicants requesting a Level I certificate must complete the appropriate Pennsylvania testing requirements. Applicants must take a specialty area test (Praxis II exam) for each area in which they seek certification. Please refer to the Praxis Registration Bulletin from the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey (609-771-7395) for the appropriate tests required by Pennsylvania.
