Become a Certified High School Math Teacher in Pennsylvania

<h2 id="section---OverviewOfHighSchoolMathTeacherCertificationInPennsylvania">Overview of High School Math Teacher Certification in Pennsylvania</h2> <p>High school math teachers in Pennsylvania earn a degree in secondary education focused on math during their college or university tenure. Several Praxis exams need to be passed before candidates can acquire their first certificate to teach. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Education/Experience Required</td><td>Bachelor's degree and teacher education program</td></tr> <tr><td>Exams Required</td><td>Basic skills assessment: SAT/ACT, Praxis Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA), or Praxis Core Academic Skills; <br />Praxis Mathematics: Content Knowledge</td></tr> <tr><td>Certificate Validity</td><td>6 years for level I certificate</td></tr> <tr><td>Certificate Extension</td><td>N/A; certificates must be upgraded to Level II following 24 semester hours of credit, 3 years of service, and an induction program</td></tr> <tr><td>Average Pennsylvania Salary (2018)*</td><td>$64,830 for high school teachers</td></tr> <tr><td>National Job Growth (2016-2026)*</td><td>8% for high school teachers</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---JobDescription">Job Description</h3> <p>High school math teachers hold positions in four different grade levels. You'll instruct students from ninth through twelfth grade in several different branches of math, such as algebra or single-variable calculus. You'll create your own lesson plans for the entire year, grade homework assignments that students submit, and provide feedback during conference sessions, which might include discussions with your students' parents. </p> <p>You'll be in charge of disciplinary actions within your classroom, including rule enforcement and intervention from administrative school members. You will likely see several different sections of math students throughout the day, and you can also supervise a homeroom section for students to gather at the beginning of their day. </p> <h3 id="section---EducationAndTrainingRequirements">Education and Training Requirements</h3> <p>All teachers in Pennsylvania need to earn a bachelor's degree. To teach high school, you'll enroll in a program such as a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education Mathematics. During your classes, you might cover topics that include linear algebra, math modeling, and modern geometry. All secondary education majors spend time teaching in a real classroom as part of their state-approved educator preparation. This allows you to gain the vital experience necessary to prepare you for your future in your own classroom. </p> <h3 id="section---ExamRequirements">Exam Requirements</h3> <p>Pennsylvania requires high school math teachers to pass several exams before earning certification. You'll begin with a basic skills assessment, which you can fulfill through the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) or the Praxis Core Academic Skills exams. If you choose the Core Academic Skills test, you'll need to pass all three subtests in reading, math, and writing; you could take all of these at once, or set up several appointments for different sections. </p> <p>For high school education, you'll take the Praxis Mathematics: Content Knowledge exam, which includes an on-screen graphing calculator for use throughout the test. A score of 160 or higher is required to qualify for certification. </p> <h3 id="section---CertificationRequirements">Certification Requirements</h3> <p>An initial background check is conducted on all potential teachers for child abuse history and any criminal records. Once all requirements are complete, you are eligible for a Pennsylvania Level I Certificate. This introductory credential is valid for a maximum of six service years, which only count while you are an active teacher. During this time, you'll need to upgrade your certificate to Level II. This can be done with 24 credits of continuing education at a valid institution, and six of these credits should be in math. You'll need to teach for at least three years and complete an induction program before you can upgrade.</p>