Emergency Teaching Certification Made Easy:
A Step-by-Step Guide from Saint Joseph's University

Emergency certification is a temporary strategy adopted by districts in Pennsylvania and several other states to address the shortages of certified teachers in PK-12 classrooms. This strategy allows candidates without an education degree, or those with certification in a different subject area, to fill teaching positions or serve as substitutes. PA will grant an emergency certificate or permit at the request of a school district. An emergency certificate is temporary and allows the candidate to fill a teaching vacancy for the duration of a school year. Please see the Pennsylvania Department of Education website for more information.

* Most school districts require an undergraduate degree for issuing an emergency certificate.

The school district may allow re-issuance of the emergency certificate upon fulfillment of requirements such as enrolling in a teacher preparation program or taking continuing education credits in your teaching subject area/certification area.

Saint Joseph’s University offers continuing education credits approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Your school district will outline the number of credits you need for PDE to reissue an emergency certificate. Typically, emergency certificate holders are required to take 9 credits in a teacher preparation program within a stipulated time to be able to have your certificate reissued.

Teacher education courses can be taken on campus or online. Special education courses are fully online, mostly asynchronous with some synchronous sessions. Students can begin taking courses at the start of the fall, spring or summer semesters. 

You can remain in your teaching position while taking courses that fulfill the continuing credits you need. Learn more and apply to Saint Joseph’s teacher and special education programs and select courses in your certification area using the links below.

• Early Childhood and Elementary PK4
• Middle Grades 4-8
• Secondary 7-12
• Art Education PK12
• Reading Specialist PK12
• Foreign Language PK12
• Special Education PK12
• Special Education – Deaf/Hard of Hearing PK-12
• Curriculum and Instruction

Affordable tuition options start at $845 per credit.*

Discount Eligibility

Saint Joseph's offers a 20% tuition discount to teachers in the Philadelphia School District, the Philadelphia Archdiocese network, and select surrounding school districts. Contact us to find out more about this discount and whether you qualify.

Have you completed a year or more of service with a recognized service organization? You may be eligible for our mission discount.

Alumni of Saint Joseph's are eligible to receive 10% off the cost of this program through our alumni discount.

Check with your employer to see if they are an Edcor or a Bright Horizons EdAssist member, which may entitle you to a discount on graduate programs.
 

Note: discounts cannot be combined.

*This rate applies to all students accepted by Saint Joseph's University after June 1, 2023. Tuition and fee rates for students accepted prior to June 1, 2023, differ. Pricing does not include room and board, health insurance or any professional, clinical or transportation fees. Visit our Tuition & Fees page or contact us for more information.

Financial aid may be available to you to help offset the cost of your degree. Explore your options on our Financial Aid page.

Saint Joseph's University's School of Education and Human Development helps you build a professional identity that draws on the liberal arts and the Jesuit tradition of fostering a love of learning, a global way of thinking, and a desire to create positive impact. Our master’s in education program has been recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Online Programs Rankings. 

• You are assigned a graduate academic advisor from the first day you join the program who will guide and assist you.
• Courses can be taken fully online. You decide on the number of courses you wish to take in a semester.
• You can enroll in a single course (3 credits) to qualify for financial aid.
• Your classroom and school serve as your field experience and student teaching site.
• Your district may be one of our school partners offering discounted tuition.

Interested in learning more about the School of Education and Human Development? Contact us to request more information about our programs and for all other inquiries.

For more information about graduate admissions, financial aid and specific departments, please contact:

• Graduate Office
• Financial Aid Office
• Department of Teacher Education
• Department of Special Education