Program Overview

PA State Education Certifications & Endorsements

Advance your existing career in education or enter the education field through a post-baccalaureate certification program at Widener.

At a Glance

• Offered as: Certifications, Endorsements, & Teacher Intern Program
• Format: On Campus
• Credits: Endorsements: 12, Certifications & Teacher Intern: Vary by program
• College/School: College of Health & Human Services
• Campus Location: Chester, PA

Program Overview

Widener’s Center for Education offers numerous post-baccalaureate certification and endorsement programs to meet your individual professional development goals. You can pursue your first certification or add on to previous ones, with the option to enroll in a full graduate degree by matriculating certification program credits when possible. Programs include:

• Pennsylvania Dept. of Education Certifications
• Pennsylvania Dept. of Education Endorsements
• Teacher Intern Program (certification for those changing careers)

PA State Education Certifications & Endorsements Program Options

Certifications Curriculum & Coursework Requirements

Expand your professional education career prospects through our Pennsylvania Department of Education certification programs. The following affordable programs are priced per credit, significantly under the cost of the master's and doctorate degrees, and most courses will matriculate into the corresponding master's and/or doctoral programs, if pursued.

• Elementary Education: The Early Years (Pre-K-4)
• Home and School Visitor
• K-12 Educational Leadership/Principalship
• K-12 Professional School Counselor
• Full-time School Social Work Specialization*
• Part-time School Social Work Specialization*
• Reading Specialist
• Secondary Education
• Special Education (Pre-K-12)
• Superintendent (Letter of Eligibility)
• Teacher Intern Program (Alternate Route): Elementary Education: The Early Years (Pre-K-4)
• Teacher Intern Program (Alternate Route): Secondary Education

Must be currently enrolled in the MSW degree program to obtain certificate

Endorsements Curriculum & Coursework Requirements

The Pennsylvania Department of Education Endorsement programs document knowledge in new and emerging areas where formal certifications do not exist. The Endorsement programs are intended to improve your skills in dealing with complex classroom settings and would be added to existing Level I or Level II certifications but are not required to perform service in these areas.

• Instructional Coaching Endorsement
• Online Teaching Endorsement

Most endorsement courses will matriculate into the corresponding master's and/or doctoral programs.

Teacher Intern Program Curriculum & Coursework Requirements

Widener’s Teacher Intern Program is an alternate route to certification for those seeking a career change.

Become eligible for Level I PA Instructional Certification in the following subject areas:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Elementary Education: The Early Years (Pre-K-4)
• English
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Social Studies
• Spanish

To receive an intern certificate from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, you will complete certain prescribed courses, receive passing scores on the Praxis tests, and receive a Letter of Intern Candidacy. Additionally, you must secure a teaching position before you can apply for an intern teaching certificate.

Once you have secured a full-time, paid teaching position, you will be supervised by Widener faculty over a minimum one-year period. In addition, you can take required coursework in the evenings at Widener’s Main Campus or online. Upon completion of the coursework and the supervised teaching experience (which takes about two years to complete), you will be eligible for Pennsylvania Instructional I certification in your content area.

View the academic catalog for coursework and requirements for The Teacher Intern Program- PreK-4 The Early Years.

View the academic catalog for coursework and requirements for The Teacher Intern Program- Secondary Education.

Career Outlook & Outcomes for Educators

Potential Careers

• Elementary or Secondary Education Teacher
• Home and School Visitor or K-12 School Counselor
• Instructional Technology Specialist
• K-12 School Principal, Superintendent, or Instructional Coach
• Reading Specialist

Avg. Salary

$101,320

2022 median annual salary for elementary, middle, and high school principals

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Recent Employers

• CADES
• Chester Upland School District
• Chichester School District
• Elwyn
• Interboro School

Industry Growth

Employment of school and career counselors and advisors is expected to grow by 5% from , faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Employment Projections.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Why Study Education at Widener?

A Professional Learning Community

Take courses as part of a professional learning community, where your knowledge and work experience are integrated with others. You'll take the fast-track to developing leadership, consultative, and collaborative skills.

Experiential & Field-Based Learning

At Widener, you will build on your professional reputation and gain the skills to become a teacher or expand your teaching capabilities through integrated experiential and field-based learning opportunities.

Mentoring Relationships & Individualized Attention

Choosing to enroll in one of Widener’s post-baccalaureate education certificate programs is an investment in you—your education, your career, and your future. You'll benefit from mentoring relationships with your professors and advisors. Collaborating together, you'll develop individualized academic plans tailored to you.

• Faculty Mentorship

Clubs & Organizations

Education majors have the opportunity to join various clubs and organizations across and outside of campus to expand their network, including Kappa Delta Pi, and many more.

• View All College of Health & Human Services Clubs & Organizations

Our Faculty

• Xiaobao Li, Associate Professor
• Zora M. Wolfe, Associate Dean of the College of Health & Human Services
• Richard E. Thurlow, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology
• Dana Reisboard, Associate Professor

Tuition

• PA Department of Education Certifications: $492 per credit
• PA Department of Education Endorsements: $492 per credit

Paths to Savings

• 85% of Full-Time Grad Students Receive Aid
• Widener Scholarships
• Graduate Assistantships
• Employer Discounts & Tuition Reimbursement
• 20% Discount for Widener Alumni (some restrictions apply)