The initial teaching certificate, Instructional I, is also known as a provisional certificate.  The Instructional I certificate is valid for eight service, not calendar, years in Pennsylvania, during which the individual must complete an established set of requirements (e.g. coursework, teaching experience, or an induction program).

Requirements for Career and Technical Instructional I Certificate

An intern must provide evidence of:

1. a minimum of 4 years of wage-earning experience. This does not include the learning period in the occupation to be taught;
2. successful completion of the occupational competency examination or evaluation of credentials for occupations where examinations do not exist;
3. completion of 18 credit hours in an approved program of career and technical education teacher preparation (see list below);
4. Complete the Intermediate Performance Assessment (IPA) and a Professional Education Portfolio review (PEP) having passed the basic skills tests:  
   1. Praxis 5713 - Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading*
   2. Praxis 5723 - Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing*
5. having met all requirements provided by law (School Code 1209 and Title 22, Pa. Code, Section 49.12); and 
6. having received the recommendation of Temple University.

*Be sure to verify the correct Praxis number before registering for the exam. 

Required Coursework

Listed below are the undergraduate course requirements for the Career and Technical Instructional I Certificate. The Intern certificate is valid for only three years and all requirements for the Career and Technical Instructional I shall be completed in that period. The courses are listed in the typical sequence in which they may be taken. Required testing and professional work experience are also listed. The Level I certificate is valid for six years of teaching.