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School Counselor Certification Renewal & Advancement to Educational Specialist II Certification
To renew and advance to Educational Specialist II School Counselor Certification in Pennsylvania, you need to fulfill specific requirements and follow the application process outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (see PDE Overview for Educator Certification Advancement).
Below are the requisite criteria and procedural steps for achieving progress:
Requirements for Educational Specialist II School Counselor Certification
- Education Specialist I Certificate:
- Hold an Education Specialist I Certificate in School Counseling.
- Induction Program:
- Complete a PDE-approved induction program for School Counselors.
- Verified Satisfactory Service Years:
- Provide evidence of three (3) years of satisfactory service as an Education Specialist I Certificate holder. This must be verified by the chief school administrator of your district or employing entity.
- Post Baccalaureate Credits:
- Earn twenty-four (24) post baccalaureate credits from accredited institutions or PDE-approved sources (see Continuing Professional Development).
- These credits must be earned after the conferral of your initial bachelor’s degree.
- At least six (6) of these credits must be in the content area of your Level I certificate or in a related area that improves professional practice.
- Act 48 Continuing Education:
- Fulfill Act 48 continuing education requirements every five (5) years for the life of the certification.
- Six (6) credits or 180 hours of continuing education are required, which can be obtained from various approved sources such as colleges, intermediate units, or in-service hours from approved providers.
Application Process
- Prepare Documentation:
- Gather all necessary documentation, including transcripts (see Sending Electronic Transcripts) showing completion of required credits, evidence of completion of the induction program, and verification of three (3) years of satisfactory service.
- Create a TIMS Account:
- Log in to the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) and create an account if you haven’t already.
- Complete Application in TIMS:
- Submit your application for Educational Specialist II School Counselor Certification through TIMS.
- Follow the instructions provided within TIMS to complete the application process.
- Submit Supporting Documents:
- Once you have submitted your application to TIMS, print out the TIMS application cover sheet.
- Send supporting documents, such as transcripts and evidence of induction program completion, along with the TIMS application cover sheet to the address provided on the cover sheet.
- Documents should not be submitted to PDE until after you have submitted your application in TIMS.
- Background Checks:
- Ensure that all required background checks are up-to-date and on file with PDE.
- If any additional background checks are needed, complete them according to PDE guidelines.
- Pay Application Fees:
- Pay the required $200 application fees as specified by PDE.
You can follow up on your application status through TIMS and for assistance with your application or any questions regarding the renewal process, contact the certification department at (717)-728-3224 or (717)-787-3356. You can also email a specialist at ra-edcertqustions@pa.gov.