Alumni Services

The interstate agreement, arranged by NASDTEC, is a collection of over 50 individual agreements by states and Canadian provinces. Each individual "agreement" is a statement by that state or jurisdiction outlining which other states' educator certificates will be accepted by that state. Specifically, the agreement outlines which particular types of educator certificates (teachers, administrators, service personnel, or career/technical), and which particular styles of certifications (titles, fields, etc.) will be accepted.

What it is not:

• It is not a collection of 2-way agreements of reciprocal acceptance. For example, although Georgia affirms with its agreement that it will accept certificates from Connecticut, this acceptance in no way implies that Connecticut will accept Georgia certificates.
• It is not a guarantee that all certificate titles will be accepted by a receiving state. For example, in the "sending" state you may hold a "temporary" or "provisional" certificate which is excluded from the agreement signed by the "receiving" state. In such a case, the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement provides no help toward your receipt of a certificate in the "receiving" state.
• It is not necessarily "full" reciprocity. The educator may have to complete additional requirements, such as coursework, assessments, or classroom experience, before receiving a full professional certificate in the new state.

Visit the state's Department of Education website for the current certification requirements and application instructions.

• Register your Username in Keystone Login.  You will not be able to apply in TIMS until 24 hours after you register with Keystone Login.
• Login and Apply in TIMS
• Please make sure to select Duquesne as your "Educator Preparation Program" and to assign your application to Dr. Melissa Boston for review. Also, select "yes" to the 2 questions that ask for Duquesne to have permission to view your application
• You do not need to fill out the work experience section unless you are applying for an Administrative, Supervisory, or Letter of Eligibility certification
• Once we review your online application, we will submit them to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. After you submit your application, you can track the progress in TIMS--as per PDE, please allow at least  7-9 weeks for certification approval. PDE will no longer provide hard copies of your certification, but you will be able to print it out once it has been approved.

PK4 Certificate Holders Only - Grades 5-6 Add-On Option

Interested PreK-4 teacher preparation candidates may take two ETS Praxis modules:

• The Grades 4-8: Module 2 - English Language Arts & Social Studies (ETS Praxis Code 5154) 
• The Grades 4-8: Module 3 - Mathematics & Science (ETS Praxis Code 5155) 
• Candidates may take these modules during or after the PK-4 program and apply for them simultaneously, but the evaluation of the Grades Prek-4 requirements will be evaluated first and the Grades 5-6 add-on certificate will only be granted once the PK-4 certificate is approved. 
• Further information may be found on PDE's Certification Testing page.

If you are seeking verification of training to meet the Pennsylvania Behavioral Specialist license requirements, visit the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) site for the instructions as this process is through the State Board of Medicine.

Duquesne will determine the course specific training based on your transcripts. See the Verification of Training for the BSC chart (.pdf) for the equivalent Duquesne courses that meet training requirements.

All certified school personnel are covered under ACT 48. Effective July 1, 2000, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enacted Act 48, mandating a continuing professional education program for professional educators to maintain active certification.

The continuing professional education program requires the satisfactory completion of continuing professional education every five (5) years. These requirements can be met by completing one of these options:

• Six (6) credits of collegiate study
• Six (6) credits of continuing professional education courses
• One hundred eighty clock hours (180) of continuing professional education programs, activities or learning experiences, or
• Any combination of collegiate credits, continuing professional education courses, or other approved programs, activities or learning experiences equivalent to one hundred eighty (180) clock hours
• Legislation passed as of July 13, 2016 stipulates that if an educator exceeds the 180-hour requirement in this current compliance period, up to 50 excess hours or credit-equated hours earned within the last two years of the current compliance period may be attributed to the succeeding five-year compliance period.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) states that for the purposes of calculating hours and credits of continuing professional education, one (1) credit of collegiate studies or continuing professional education courses shall be equivalent to thirty (30) clock hours of continuing professional education programs, activities or learning experiences. Each hour of participation in an approved activity will be calculated as 1 clock hour of participation.

Only offerings made by "Approved Providers" qualify for Act 48 credit. The Duquesne University School of Education is an Approved Provider of collegiate studies.*

*At this time, Duquesne University is only able to offer Act 48 hours through credited courses only.

You may check your Act 48 progress through the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Professional Education Record Management System (PERMS).