A Pennsylvania Special Education PK–8 educator can receive a Special Education 7–12 expansion certificate by obtaining a passing score (no GPA option) on the PECT Special Education 7–12 test. A Pennsylvania Special Education 7–12 educator can receive a Special Education PK–8 expansion certificate by obtaining a passing score (no GPA option) on the PECT Special Education PK–8 test. The addition of the appropriate expansion certificate to a current certificate allows an educator to teach the full Special Education PK–12 grade span (see Act 82 Expansion Email for more details).

Act 136 of 2020 waives the Basic Skills requirement in PA statute through June 30, 2021, for preparation program entry or application for certification. Students enrolled in a Pennsylvania institution and seeking to become certified to teach in Pennsylvania do not have to meet the basic skills requirement for entry into a preparation program. Confer with the educator preparation program for more information regarding admittance. Applicants for certification—both in-state and out-of-state—should take note that the Basic Skills test requirement is waived and will not need to be verified in an application. This waiver ends June 30, 2021.