The University's Professional Education Unit is also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Accreditation and interstate agreements between Pennsylvania and selected states assure that courses taken will be considered for certification in most states. Competency tests are required for Pennsylvania Teacher Certification. A student may enter the Secondary Education program either as a major in education or as a major in an academic department with a second major in the Education Department. Registration into Education Department courses numbered 230 and above are limited to majors or second majors in the programs of the Education Department.
Exceptions require the expressed permission of the assistant dean and chair of the department.
All aspects of the state-approved program must be completed to ensure recommendation for certification. Double majors, including both a subject area and Education, may be arranged in the case of exceptional students. These must be approved by both departments involved and by the college dean. A specific program will be designed in each individual case. Double-certification programs may also be arranged with the approval of the appropriate program directors.