teaching (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown: rent, fingerprinting, home)

[fuddinker]

I need help from any teachers out there.

I am going to moving from Ohio to PA. The Pa teaching website is not all that clear. I have had a lic. since 87, at that time I took the NTE. Do I have to take the praxis? It says that Ohio has agreement with PA. Thanks for any help you can give me.

[Oldiebutgoodie26]

Yes, you have to take the Praxis exam.
What do you teach? It is easier to get struck by lightning that land a job teaching in PA, just so you know. If you are hs math/science/tech or what they used to call home economics, you'll have a better chance.

[countrycitymom]

I did this a few years ago, and things may have changed a bit, but this is what I had to do to get PA certification.

To get the 'easy' stuff out of the way, you need Act 151 and Act 34 clearances. I think there will be links to these on the pde website. One is a criminal history check, and one is a child abuse clearance. I think the state is now fingerprinting applicants, but this must be new because I did not have to do it when I got my cert. in 2004.

Secondly, you have to fill out an application. You can find that on the website. There is an application fee, of course. As part of the application you need a phyiscal exam (including a TB test) and an 'OK' by a doctor that you are physically fit to teach.

Finally, and the biggest headache of all, is those dreaded PRAXIS exams...

When I moved from NJ to PA, I learned that I had to take 3 Praxis exams. I took the NTE too, and it made no difference. I still had to take the PRAXIS tests from the ETS (educational testing service). The first test was a Reading/Writing/Math test (these are three separate sections on the one test). You can take all three tests in one day, or I think you can do them separately, but ETS charges you something like $40 each time you take a test, so it's better to try to take them all at once. The second test - I don't remember the exact name, but it's called something like a 'content knowledge' test. This test also quizzes you on math, language arts, science, and social studies (meaning some history, geography, political science). This test I would say is most similar to the NTE. I took the NTE in NJ when I got my first NJ certification in 1992. Finally, the third test depends on the certification you are trying to get. For example, I wanted elem. ed. certification, so I had to take the elementary education PRAXIS test. I am not sure what the requirements are for tests in other areas.

Just so you know it will probably cost you several hundred dollars for your application, PRAXIS tests, and clearances. It's a real pain in the neck!

I think as far as the interstate reciprocity, I would say that states only accept the academic program you took in college. In other words, in most cases, the PA dept. of ed. won't make you take any additional college courses to earn your certification, they 'accept' the preparatory program you took at your out-of-state school.

Hope this info helps. If you have more questions, feel free to private message me.

Thanks,
CCM

[toobusytoday]

I agree that the PA licensing website is very confusing. My daughter is graduating from college next month with an ed major in one of the 6 states that does not require the praxis for certification. (long story) but she will be certified in IL, where her college is located. According to the PA ed website, PA has a reciprocal agreement with IL but all that means (as CCM ^ says too) is that they will accept her education degree but she still has to take the three praxis tests.

So now the poor girl has taken 5 tests (3 for IL + 2 praxis) and has one praxis to go - and she's not really sure she wants to teach in PA. I would definately call the Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation, at 717-787-3356 to get a straight answer. It sort of looked that if you have been teaching, they may waive it.

As you have probably found out, it's not even clear on the website which praxis tests are neccessary. I ended up calling a friend who went back to college for teaching and asked her what tests my daughter should take. I think it cost $190 for the two praxis tests she took so far. One of the bad parts is that there are only certain testing dates for the Praxis II's. The next one is June 9th. The praxis I can be taken on-line at lots of testing centers thoughout the country. You can probably do that one before you move if you find out it's needed.

PS, there are teaching jobs in PA. It's just that we have so darn many colleges that it's easier for the schools to take the people they know from student teaching, substituting or being aides. There are always jobs in cities though and having experience should certainly count.

[Oldiebutgoodie26]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

PS, there are teaching jobs in PA.

That's great. Where is your daughter going to be teaching this year? Which district? What does she teach?


Quote: There are always jobs in cities and experience should certainly count.

JMO, but sending a poor, unprepared 23 year old to navigate the City of Philadelpia school district seems cruel. Experience SHOULD count, but b/c of budgetary concerns, many districts are prefer to keep experienced teachers as substitutes.
This has been my (and dozens of others) experience in this state as far as landing permanent teaching jobs. Not to be negative, but the school district where I worked last year had two openings, and the principal recieved thousands of applications.

If you really want to get a teaching job in PA, please keep plugging away at it. The competition is fierce (as it should be), b/c we graduate thousands of teaching candidates each semester. Sometimes, it's a lucky break. I have met no one in the past four years who has any more insight into landing a job here. If this is really what you want to do, pursue it. Sometimes, it's who you know. Sometimes, it's from subbing, but that has really changed in the last 5 years. MANY districts simply do NOT have a need for teachers.They will even tell you that at the college job fairs. Good luck, though- I wish you success.

[toobusytoday]

My daughter is going to go to China for a year to teach English there. She doesn't know where she wants to go after that. She's getting her certifications done before she goes just so she can have that out of the way before she gets back. I know a few people in the administration in our school district so I'm hoping that might help as a back up, at least for subbing. She has had two people (including the person that does the hiring) invite her for an informal meeting to talk about her plans and look over her resume. She's a very good student and both people know her, so that helps. She's not that excited about working "back home" but at least the rent is free!

I know that Allentown school district is retiring a large group of school teachers this coming school year. Allentown is not the best area but it does not have a requirement that you have to live there like Philadelphia and there are some not-so-bad schools within the system.

[Oldiebutgoodie26]

That's very exciting for your daughter! What an experience that will be, going to China! Best of luck! Ask her to please bring back a panda bear....

Yes, when I interviewed with Philly, I about fell over when the guy told me I HAD to live in the city limits for, I believe, it was two years (don't recall how long that was). I thought, How does your employer force you to live someplace? He smugly told me that "I wouldn't understand why my kids were bouncing off the walls come Monday morning, after they attended their "ethnic festivals" if I lived in, his words, the lily-white suburbs." Huh. I also was dismayed when I read that I wasn't eligible to teach in certain schools b/c I was white. Apparently, the city council voted to have the school staff "reflect the racial makeup of the school". That offended me greatly. I thought I was in Selma, circa 1955. No, thank you. Oy, good luck with all that, Philly......

Like I wrote, where there is a will, there is a way. Keep plugging away at it. Send good wishes to your daughter!

[powerlumina77]

We are on our way to Utah where my wife is more likely to land a gig, but we learned a lot living outside the city and going to church is the Roxborough area of Philly. Basically, in the suburbs, you should expect to be a long term sub for a few years and hope for a break. My wife's friends graduated with degrees and GPA's over 3.5, and they are into their third year of long term subbing.

Good luck, you never know when a break will happen. But if you want a job pretty quickly, go west or south.

[Hopes]

There are teaching jobs in PA depending on the area of Pennsylvania and type of certification. In the greater Pittsburgh area, school districts get 500 applications for every opening in primary education. Secondary education is almost as competitive except for math and science.

When I was considering switching careers and going into teaching, I contacted many of the human resources departments at the districts around me. This is what they told me: "It will be next to impossible to find a position in primary education. You can find a job SOMEWHERE in Pennsylvania in secondary education for english and social studies, but not necessarily in the immediate metropolitan area. You can have your pick of jobs throughout the in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area and Pennsylvania overall for secondary math and science. And everything depends on the praxis scores."

Bottom Line:

----you'll have an easier time finding a job in rural Pennsylvania than greater metropolitan areas.

----secondary math and science are in high demand throughout Pennsylvania.

----secondary english and social studies are needed somewhere in Pennsylvania. You just won't be able to pick where you want to live if you want a job immediately, but you can find a job within the area of Pennsylvania you live eventually if you have time to wait.

----primary education should plan to look for work outside of Pennsylvania or substitute for eternity.

----Districts compare the Praxis scores of applicants so you want the highest scores possible.

----Districts are starting to use personality tests to pick teachers who fit best into their idea of the perfect teacher. From what I understand, they're looking for team players and submissive personalities----if that helps you figure out the best way to answer the questions when you take the personality tests.

I've run into many teachers who sub fulltime. There is enough work to keep someone continually busy as a sub. And many districts in the greater metropolitan area of Pittsburgh hire subs when there is an opening. The best way to get your foot in the door is to start substituting. Just applying won't get you anywhere unless you have secondary math and science. So plan on being a substitute for a couple of years.

Teachers aren't in high demand in Pennsylvania because salaries are higher in Pennsylvania. People from all over the country try to come to Pennsylvania to teach.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by powerlumina77

Good luck, you never know when a break will happen. But if you want a job pretty quickly, go west or south.

The jobs don't pay as well in many other areas of the country though, and often the classroom environment is less than desirable compared to Pennsylvania classrooms.