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School Library Certification for Pennsylvania Residents
Pennsylvania certified teachers who complete the following 31-33-credit program with a 3.0 GPA or better can request the addition of "Library Science" to their teaching certificate by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). This certification is granted for grades K- 12. Candidates for the certification concentration:
- Have earned at least a B in the four core special education courses, required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, or their equivalent:
- SPE 5501 - Educating Children with Exceptional Learning Needs
- SPE 5530 - Diverse Cultural and Linguistic Learners
- SPE 5542 - Assessment and Behavior Management
- SPE 5544 - Instruction for High Incidence Disabilities
- Completed 10 core courses of the School Library & Information Technologies graduate program
- Completed the culminating, three-credit School Library Practicum (LSC 5565) course
- Earned at least a 3.0 GPA in graduate course work
- Passed the state-required Library Media Specialist PRAXIS II Test (0311)
Although Pennsylvania certified teachers can become certified school librarians by passing the Library Media Specialist PRAXIS II Test, completion of the School Library & Information Technologies program fully prepares the candidate for the rigors of the job.
The following course plan of 31 credits is designed for PRAXIS-certified school librarians who have been working as a professional school librarian for at least one consecutive year prior to taking the culminating LSC 5565 course.
- Have earned at least a B in the four core special education courses, required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, or their equivalent:
- SPE 5501 - Educating Children with Exceptional Learning Needs
- SPE 5530 - Diverse Cultural and Linguistic Learners
- SPE 5542 - Assessment and Behavior Management
- SPE 5544 - Instruction for High Incidence Disabilities
- Completed 10 core courses of the School Library & Information Technologies graduate program
- Completed the culminating, one-credit School Library Practicum (LSC 5565) course
- Earned at least a 3.0 GPA in graduate course work
Students must contact the Department Chairperson (Cindy Keller) for approval to take the one-credit School Library Practicum (LSC 5565) culminating experience course.
Note about Level II Certification:
The PA Dept. of Education requires all educators to convert their initial Level I certification to Level II within six years to remain eligible for employment. As stated on their Commonly Asked Questions page:
Instructional or Educational Specialist applicants must complete 24 semester credits (graduate or undergraduate level) or 24 PDE-approved IU credits beyond their initial bachelor's degree.
For forms and an informational booklet see PDE's Level II Application page.
Master's Degree Only—No School Library Certification
The non-certification concentration is designed for teacher-certified educators who are not seeking Pennsylvania certification in school library but will request Certification/Licensure/or Endorsement in library science, K-12, in accordance with requirements of their state Department of Education. Any student who is seeking only the Master of Education degree, without school library certification, must complete the following courses earning a 3.0 GPA or better:
- 10 core courses of the School Library & Information Technologies graduate program, and
- a culminating, three-credit School Library Practicum (LSC 5565) course.
School Library Certification for Non-Pennsylvania Residents
Out-of-state students may seek Pennsylvania school library certification by applying for reciprocity to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Pennsylvania has reciprocal certification agreements with all states. Known as the Interstate Agreement, this provision allows teachers certified in a particular state to teach in reciprocal states, sometimes with additional requirements.
Even though Pennsylvania may have a reciprocal certification agreement with another state, out-of-state students still need to contact their state’s department of education to identify additional requirements needed for transferring PA library certification to their state.
An out-of-state student who wishes to earn Pennsylvania school library certification first and then use the Interstate Agreement to secure certification in his or her state needs to meet these Pennsylvania requirements:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree
- Have completed a state-approved teacher education program, including a supervised student teaching experience, leading to a teaching certificate
- Have taken at least three (3) credits of college-level English composition coursework, three (3) credits of college-level English literature coursework and six (6) credits of mathematics courses (at least undergraduate level)
- Passed the following Educational Testing Services (ETS) test:
- Praxis II Test for Library Media Specialist:
Post-baccalaureate candidates for initial certification are not required to take the PAPA. Post-baccalaureate candidates must take the specific certification area test(s). If you are already certified and adding another certificate, you only have to take the test(s) corresponding to the new certification area. PRAXIS II Test for Library Media Specialist (0311)
Note: the PRAXIS II test should be taken near or at the end of the School Library & Information Technologies program
- Praxis II Test for Library Media Specialist:
- Completed all required courses in the School Library & Information Technologies program (31-33 credits) which includes either the one or three-credit School Library Practicum (LSC 5556) culminating experience course, depending on whether the candidate is certified as a school librarian and has worked as a professional school librarian for at least one consecutive year prior to taking the culminating course
- Have earned at least a B in four core special education courses, required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, or their equivalent:
- SPE 5501 - Educating Children with Exceptional Learning Needs
- SPE 5530 - Diverse Cultural and Linguistic Learners
- SPE 5542 - Assessment and Behavior Management
- SPE 5544 - Instruction for High Incidence Disabilities
- Have earned at least a 3.0 GPA in graduate coursework
- Received the recommendation from the Certification Officer at Mansfield University
Students must contact the Department Chairperson (Cindy Keller) for approval of the one-credit School Library Practicum (LSC 5565) course.
Certification Advice for Out-of-State Candidates
When contacting your state department of education, find the answers to these important questions and get them in writing, if possible:
- Does your state have a reciprocity agreement with PA? Are there any conditions?
- Are there any additional courses that must be taken beyond the SL&IT courses?
- What tests are required, if any, for school library certification in your state?
Helpful Certification Web Sites
The sites below are invaluable for informing students about certification requirements and reciprocity for each state:
- School Library Media Certification by State (School Library Monthly)
- 50 States' Certification Requirements (University Of Kentucky)
- About Certification for Applicants Prepared Outside of Pennsylvania (PDE)
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement (National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification)
New York Information
Students are advised to contact Betty DeNardo, Teacher Certification Coordinator at 607-654-2269
Additional information is located on the NY State Dept of Education's Certification page, at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/
Praxis Information
Information about the PRAXIS test (registration procedures, fees, forms, test dates and locations) are included in either the PRAXIS Series Registration Bulletin or the School Leadership Registration Bulletin. They are available at college and university offices, at university test centers, or from the Educational Testing Service (call 609-771-7395 or browse to http://www.ets.org/praxis).
Also check out the Praxis II Test at a Glance from ETS or the SL&IT’s Praxis Study Guide. Be sure to request that your PRAXIS test scores be sent to both Mansfield University and PDE. For additional information, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Certification Services (717-787-3356).