Undergraduate Requirements

As an undergraduate Education student, you are required to complete the following items by sophomore spring to be eligible for Admittance to Teacher Certification. A student’s Admittance to Teacher Certification starts the process where The OTEC reports your intention to complete an education program leading towards certification to The Pennsylvania Department of Education.

If you are an internal or external transfer student, you should consult with your Academic Advisor as your timeline may be altered due to later entry into the program.

  • Completion of 48 credits
  • Completion of six (6) credits of college level Mathematics (Math 111 or higher)
  • Completion of three (3) credits of college level English Composition
  • Completion of three (3) credits of English or American Literature
  • Completion of ED 100
  • A grade of C or better in all education courses and Math 111 and Math 112
  • Attainment and maintenance of a minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Fulfillment of disposition requirements as outlined in Taskstream requirements
  • Completion of Basic Skills tests, Reading, Writing, and Math (or submission and approval of qualifying SAT or ACT scores)
    • Please note that the Basic Skills testing requirement for certification has been waived from July 8, 2022 through July 8, 2025 per the Act 168 guidelines set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. For more information, click here.
  • Completion of all clearances as outlined in your program requirement, including fingerprints, background check, PA Child Abuse, National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR), Mandated Reporter Training (Act 31), and submission of recent TB test results
  • Fulfillment of writing sample requirements
  • Completion of Taskstream requirements, including resume, philosophy of teaching, Transition Point 1 and Transition Point 2 (Transition Points 3 and 4 will be completed in remaining semesters or as directed by your advisor or faculty)

PDE Entry Into Certification Program Guidelines
CfE Certification Pathways Checklist
Widener University’s CfE -Professionalism Policy for UG Certification Students