PENNSYLVANIA
STATE RESOURCES

• Bachelor's degree in education from an approved teacher prep program   (Special Ed PK-12) 

  • This degree should have a concentration or major specifically in Special Education. This can be a Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) or Bachelor of Arts in Education (B.A.Ed.) with a focus on Special Education. 

• PDE Approved Certification Programs  

• Coursework Requirements 

  • The coursework typically includes topics such as special education methods, classroom management, child development, assessment techniques, and working with students with disabilities. 

  • Courses may also cover specific areas of special education, such as autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, and developmental disabilities. 

  • Field Experience and Student Teaching.

Upon completion of the degree, candidates must pass the relevant Praxis test: PRAXIS for PA 

Candidates need to apply for a Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate in Special Education. in one of many core academic areas, including Special Education PK-8, Special Education 7-12, Special Education-Hearing Impaired, Special Education-Speech/Language Impaired and Special Education-Visually Impaired. These certificates are offered at the Instructional I level to new educators and at the Instructional II level when teachers have completed the required professional experience and continuing education credits. 

You can review more information from Pennsylvania's Department of Education: https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Certification/Staffing%20Guidelines/Pages/CSPG61.aspx

For those who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field, there are alternative certification pathways. These often involve completing a post-baccalaureate or master's level program in special education, which includes the necessary coursework and certification requirements.

Pennsylvania's Department of Education provides a list of alternate program providers for those seeking certification.

• Albright College - Dual bachelor’s and master’s 4+1 degree program 

• Albright College - Master of Science/Arts in Special Education (with or without certification) 

• Alvernia University  - Certificate

• Arcadia University - Certificate 

• Bryn Athyn College of New Church - BS in Early Childhood and Special Education

• Bryn Athyn College of New Church - MS in Special Education

• Cairn University - Certificate

• Cairn University - Online MS in Special Education

• Carlow University - Graduate Certificate

• Cedar Crest College - BS in Special Education

• Cedar Crest College - M.ED in the Art of Teaching with Special Education Certification 

• Chestnut Hill College - BS in Special Education 

• Chestnut Hill College - MS in Education

• Cheyney University of PA - BS in Early Childhood Education (PreK-4) and Special Education

• Commonwealth University of PA - BSED in Special Education (PK-12) and Early Childhood Education (PK-4)

• Commonwealth University of PA - Master's in Special Education (M.Ed., M.S.)

• Delaware Valley University - MS in Special Education

• DeSales University - BS in Special Education

• Drexel University - BS in Special Education

• Drexel University- MS in Special Education

• Duquesne University - MS in Special Education

• East Stroudsburg University - BS in Special Education, Dual Certification

• East Stroudsburg University - M.Ed. in Special Education

• Eastern University- BS in Special Education

• Eastern University - M.Ed. Special Education

• Elizabethtown College - BS Early Childhood Education with Special Education Certificate 

• Elizabethtown College - M.Ed. in Special Education

• Gannon University - BS in Education

• Geneva College - BS in Early Childhood Education and Special Education 

• Grove City College - BS in Special Education

• Gwynedd Mercy University - BS in Special Education

• Gwynedd Mercy University - Online Master in Education with Special Education Certification

• Holy Family University - BA in Education with Special Education Certification 

• Immaculata University - BA in Education with Special Education Certification

• Indiana University of PA - BS in Special Education

•  Indiana University of PA - M.Ed. in Special Education

• Juniata College - BS in Education with Special Education Certification

• Juniata College - M.Ed in Special Education

• Keystone College - BS in Special Education

• King’s College - BS in Education PK-4 and Special Education K-12

• King's College - M.Ed. in Special Education

• Kutztown University of PA - BS in Special Education

• La Roche University - BS in Special Education

• La Roche University - BS in Pre-K-4 Education with Pre-K-12 Special Education

• La Salle University - BA in Pre-K-4 Early Elementary Special Education

• La Salle University - Pre-K-12 Special Education Certification

• La Salle University - MA in Education with Special Education Certification

• Lancaster Bible College - Combined BS/M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education/Special Education

• Lebanon Valley College - BA in Early Childhood Education and Special Education

• Lebanon Valley College - M.Ed in Education 

• Lehigh University - Combined BS/M.Ed in Special Education

• Lincoln University - M.Ed in Early Childhood Education and Special Education Dual Certification

• Lincoln University - M.Ed in Special Education with Pre-K-12 Certification

• Marywood University - BS in Early Childhood Education and Special Education

• Marywood University - M.Ed. in Special Education

• Messiah University - BS in Special Education

• Messiah University - M.Ed. in Special Education

• Millersville University of PA - BS in Special Education

• Millersville University of PA - M.Ed. in Special Education

• Moravian University - BA in Early Childhood Education and Special Education

• Neumann University - BA in Early Childhood Education and Special Education

• Neumann University - M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education and Special Education

• Penn State University - BS in Special Education

• Penn State University - M.Ed. in Special Education

• Penn West University - BS in Special Education

• Penn West University - Dual BS in Early Childhood Education and Special Education

• Point Park University - BA in Education with Special Education Certification

• Point Park University - M.Ed. in Special Education

• Robert Morris University - BS in Early Childhood Education and Special Education

• Rosemont College - BS in Elementary Education with Special Education Certification

• Saint Francis University - BS in Special Education

•  Saint Francis University - M.Ed. in Special Education

• Saint Joseph’s University - BS in Pre-K-4 Elementary Education and Special Education

• Saint Joseph’s University - MS in Special Education

• Seton Hill University - BA in Early Childhood Education with Special Education Certification

• Seton Hill University - MA in Special Education 

• Shippensburg University of PA - BS in Early Childhood Education and Special Education

• Shippensburg University of PA - M.Ed. in Special Education

• Slippery Rock University of PA - BS in Education with Special Education Certifications

• Slippery Rock University of PA - M.Ed in Special Education

• Susquehanna University - BS in Special Education

• Susquehanna University - M.Ed in Education

• Temple University - BS in Special Education

• Temple University - M.Ed. in Special Education

• University of Pittsburgh - BS in Special Education

•  University of Pittsburgh - M.Ed. in Special Education

• University of Scranton - BS in Special Education

• University of Scranton - MS in Special Education

• West Chester University of PA - BS in Special Education

• West Chester University of PA - MS in Special Education

• Widener University - BA in Early Childhood Education with Special Education Certification

• Widener University - MS in Special Education

• Wilkes University - BA in Special Education

• Wilkes University - MS in Special Education

• Wilson College - BA in Special Education 

• Wilson College - MS in Special Education

• York College of PA - BS in Special Education

• PA CEC has a student division:  https://www.pa-cec.org/   

• PaTTAN:  Pennsylvania Training & Technical Assistance Network: https://www.pattan.net/  

• PHEAA (PA Higher Education Assistance Agency) PA Student Teacher Support Program 

• PHEAA State Grant Program and PA Forward (Student Loans)  

• Other possible sources from PHEAA: https://www.pasmart.pa.gov/explore-education/paying-for-education/ 

• PA Forward Student Loan Program – PHEAA created the PA Forward Student Loan Program to assist Pennsylvania students, families, and schools with higher education tuition costs not covered by grants, scholarships, federal student loans, or other aid. 

• State Work-Study Employment – Gain career-related, on-the-job work experience while earning money to help pay for your higher education. 

• PA-TIP – Explore aid that helps strengthen the state’s workforce and makes higher education more affordable with the Pennsylvania Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP). 

• Aid for Military & PA National Guard – Service to our country may qualify you or your dependents for financial aid when you pursue higher education. 

• Loan Forgiveness – Find out if you are eligible for loan forgiveness, which repays part or all of your educational loan debt if you fulfill certain work-related requirements in specific fields. 

• RTSS Program – Learn how to help make college affordable with the Ready to Succeed Scholarship Program (RTSS).