Pennsylvania Education Certification Tests (PECT)
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), in conjunction with the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson, has developed the Pennsylvania Education Certification Tests (PECT). (The ETS test is no longer appropriate for students seeking Pennsylvania certification. Passing scores from ETS tests administered before April 2, 2012, are not accepted after ten years.)
Requirements for Entrance to Major
Qualifying scores on the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) series for Reading, Writing, and Mathematics are required for entrance into the EECE major. Qualifying scores on the PAPA modules must be in the Penn State system–appearing on your degree audit–by the end of the fall semester prior to your spring entrance to major semester. For more information, including qualifying scores, visit the Pennsylvania Educator Certification Test website.
Recommended Scheduling
Students are strongly encouraged to attempt these tests during their first year or by no later than the September testing date of their sophomore year.
Requirements for Instructional I Certification
For the Instructional I Certificate, the Pennsylvania Department of Education requires qualifying scores on the following PECT tests:
| Certification Area | Test Vendor & Series | Test Code | Test Name | Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Childhood Education Teaching Option (PreK–4) | ESP/PECT | PA 702 | PreK–4 Module 1, Module 2, and Module 3 or | 220 per Module |
| Childhood Education Teaching Option (PreK–4) | ESP/PECT | PA 006 | PreK–4 Module 1 | 220 |
| Childhood Education Teaching Option (PreK–4) | ESP/PECT | PA 007 | PreK–4 Module 2 | 220 |
| Childhood Education Teaching Option (PreK–4) | ESP/PECT | PA 008 | PreK–4 Module 3 | 220 |
Recommended Scheduling
Begin taking at the beginning of the graduation semester.
NOTE: Make sure you have these scores reported to Penn State. If your scores do not appear on your degree audit, a copy of your ETS score sheet must be attached to your certification application submitted during your graduation semester. KEEP YOUR ETS SCORE SHEET(S)!
Additional Information
The information offered here is intended to serve as a general guide to students preparing to become educators in Pennsylvania. It is not intended as a substitute for meeting with your academic adviser and researching and fulfilling all current certification requirements in your state.
For more information, visit Penn State College of Education Teacher Testing or Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests. Tutoring services and online preparation courses are available for the PAPA and PECT Exams.