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How many ACT 48 hours do I need?

Author

Andrew Vasquez

Updated on February 25, 2026

How many ACT 48 hours do I need?

All educators holding Pennsylvania public school certification must earn 180 Act 48 hours (approved professional development hours) every five years to remain in active status.

Hereof, how do I get Act 48 hours in PA?

You may check your Act 48 progress at the PA Department of Education Records Management Site by visiting /wfPublicAccess.aspx and entering your Professional Personal ID number.

Similarly, what does Act 48 mean? Act 48 Defined

Act 48 of 1999, enacted on July 1, 2000, is a PDE precept that requires all public school educators to complete additional courses to stay current in their content areas and as teachers in a rapidly changing world.

Regarding this, do ACT 48 hours carry over?

No. There is no provision in Act 48 to carry credits over into the next compliance period. If an educator exceeds the 180 hour requirement, the excess hours or credit-equated hours will be attributed to that five-year period and not to the succeeding five-year period.

What happens if your PA teaching certificate expires?

Instructional and Educational Specialist certificates are "valid" for six (6) years of service teaching in the area of the certificate. If an educator does not complete the requirements for conversion from Level I to Level II within the six (6) years, the certificate will "lapse" and become invalid for teaching.

How do I get Act 48 hours?

How can I fulfill my Act 48 Requirements Quickly? You must obtain 180 hours of professional development every 5 years. If your certificate is in danger of being inactive or you need to reactivate it for an upcoming job opportunity, your fastest option to obtain Act 48 hours is through The Teacher's Academy.

Do teachers have to continue their education?

Teaching is a profession that requires continuous education in order to maintain certification. Every state has their own unique requirements for prospective teachers who would like to earn their license. Many options are available to teachers to can maintain your certification, and each state has its own requirements.

How do I view my pa teaching certificate?

How do I view my pa teaching certificate?
  1. Go to
  2. Hover the mouse over “EDUCATORSâ€
  3. Click “Certification†from the drop down menu.
  4. Click the GREEN “TIMS Educator Online Certification System†box in the middle of the page.
  5. Thoroughly review Help With TIMS self-help options.

What is my PA personnel ID?

What is my PPID? The PPID number is the Professional Personal Identification number that is assigned to each certified teacher within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

What is a professional personal ID?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Professional Identification is a type of social identification and is the sense of oneness individuals have with a profession (e.g. law, medicine) and the degree to which individuals define themselves as profession members.

Can you substitute teach in PA without certification?

If you wish to substitute teach in a Pennsylvania school, you must hold a PA teaching certificate. The Emergency Permit is only issued through joint application with a school district, which must verify that they have advertised for a substitute teacher and cannot find a certified, fully qualified applicant.

How many ACT 48 hours is 3 credits?

Advancement Courses (AUN 300000189) is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to meet Act 48 continuing professional education requirements. Each Advancement Courses credit is approved for 30 continuing education hours, meaning one 3 credit course is equal to 90 Act 48 hours.

What happens when your teaching certificate expires?

When a teacher's certification has expired, the state's education department can provide a reinstatement application. This form must be completed and returned to the appropriate department to be considered for reinstatement.

How do I put my pa teaching certificate on hold?

If you are not currently working in a state school but wish to maintain your certificate, you can request a voluntary inactive status by submitting form PDE 338R to the Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation. (Contact them at 717-787-3356 to obtain this form).

How do I renew my teaching certificate?

How do I renew my certificate? Log in into your TEAL account to access your educator account, click "View My Educator Certification Account" to access your ECOS account and complete the online application titled "Renew a Standard Certificate" and pay the fee.

What is a Level 2 teacher?

The Level 2 teacher is expected to perform a range of teaching tasks in a school or specialised unit of the Department, accept responsibility for the provision of advice to principals and provide general administrative support across a number of faculties or departments or throughout the school.

What is a PDE induction program?

Level II certification requires completion of a PDE-approved induction program to include a mentoring component for all newly employed professional educators. Public school entities in PA are required to provide a PDE-approved induction program.

What is an instructional 1 certificate PA?

The initial certificate, Instructional I, is also known as a provisional or intern certificate. Depending on the type, it is valid for a specific number of years of service, during which the individual must complete an established set of requirements (e.g. coursework, teaching experience, or an induction program).