Pennsylvania School Psychologist Continuing Education Requirements
Review Pennsylvania school psychologist Act 48 requirements, continuing professional education hours, Educational Specialist certification, approved-provider requirements, and NCSP considerations.
Pennsylvania School Psychologist Renewal at a Glance
Professional Development Hours
Pennsylvania professional educators must complete 180 hours of continuing professional education during each Act 48 compliance period.
Year Act 48 Period
Act 48 continuing education requirements operate on a five-year compliance cycle.
Credit Alternative
The requirement may also be satisfied with 6 collegiate or PDE-approved CPE credits, or an equivalent combination.
Pennsylvania requires Act 48 professional development to be completed through acceptable sources, including PDE-approved continuing professional education providers. NASP Approved Provider status alone does not automatically make a course eligible for Pennsylvania Act 48 credit.
Pennsylvania School Psychologist Renewal Overview
What Does Pennsylvania Act 48 Require?
Pennsylvania's Act 48 continuing education law applies to individuals holding Pennsylvania public school educator certificates, including Educational Specialist certificates held by school psychologists.
To maintain active certificate status, educators must complete 180 hours of continuing professional education every five years.
The requirement may be met through 180 approved professional development hours, six collegiate credits, six PDE-approved continuing professional education credits, or an appropriate combination of these options.
Act 48 Options
Act 48 Applies to Educational Specialist Certificates
Pennsylvania's Act 48 requirement applies broadly to professional educators holding Pennsylvania public school certificates, whether they are currently employed in a Pennsylvania public school or not.
Educational Specialist I and II Certificates
Pennsylvania school psychologists are generally credentialed under the Educational Specialist certificate structure.
Pennsylvania distinguishes between a certificate being active or inactive under Act 48 and a Level I certificate being valid or lapsed based on service and conversion requirements.
A School Psychologist who holds certification from the National Association of School Psychologists may be issued an Educational Specialist II certificate upon application without having to complete the usual additional Level II requirements.
Two Different Clocks
Do NASP-Approved Courses Automatically Count for Pennsylvania Act 48?
NASP Approved Provider status identifies professional development that meets NASP's continuing education standards. Pennsylvania, however, has its own Act 48 approved-provider system.
Pennsylvania requires Act 48 professional development hours to be earned through qualifying sources, including organizations approved by PDE as Act 48 providers.
Therefore, a course offered by a NASP Approved Provider should not automatically be advertised as Pennsylvania Act 48 credit unless the course is also offered or reported through an appropriate PDE-approved Act 48 provider.
NASP Approved Provider #1152
How Pennsylvania Act 48 Credit Is Awarded
Pennsylvania uses an approved-provider system for continuing professional education. Approved providers are responsible for ensuring that qualifying professional development meets PDE requirements and for reporting eligible activity.
How Are Pennsylvania Act 48 Hours Tracked?
The Pennsylvania Department of Education maintains educators' continuing education records through the Professional Education Record Management System (PERMS).
Educators can use PERMS to review their current five-year compliance period, required hours, earned hours, and qualifying continuing education that has been reported to PDE.
The standard Act 48 requirement displayed in PERMS is 180 hours.
Can Pennsylvania Act 48 Hours Carry Over?
Pennsylvania's PERMS system may carry excess professional development hours from one Act 48 period into the next.
PDE currently indicates that a maximum of 50 excess Act 48 hours may be carried forward into a subsequent compliance period.
Educators should review their individual PERMS record to determine whether carryover hours have been applied to their current period.
PERMS Record
Can Pennsylvania School Psychologists Take Online CE Courses?
Pennsylvania permits qualifying continuing professional education to be completed through approved programs and learning experiences, including eligible online professional development.
The important issue is not simply whether a course is online. For Act 48 purposes, the professional development must be offered through an acceptable Pennsylvania source and properly reported toward the educator's Act 48 record.
Child & School Psychology CE offers asynchronous professional development designed specifically for school psychologists. These courses may be used for NCSP continuing professional development and other applicable purposes, but should not be represented as Pennsylvania Act 48 credit unless Act 48 approval and reporting requirements are satisfied.
Online CE for School Psychologists
Explore self-paced professional development in assessment, behavior, mental health, ethics, legal issues, data-based decision making, and school psychology practice.
Browse CE CoursesPennsylvania Psychologist Licensure Has Separate CE Requirements
Pennsylvania school psychologist certification through PDE is separate from psychologist licensure through the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology.
Pennsylvania licensed psychologists must complete 30 hours of acceptable continuing education during each biennial renewal period.
The 30 hours must include at least 3 hours in ethics, 1 hour in suicide prevention, and 2 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting.
NCSP Renewal Requirements Are Separate
Nationally Certified School Psychologists have NASP continuing professional development requirements in addition to Pennsylvania Act 48 requirements. Some professional development may support both requirements when it independently satisfies the rules of each credential.
Official Pennsylvania Certification Information
Pennsylvania school psychologist certification and Act 48 continuing professional education requirements are administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Educators should review their individual PERMS record and current PDE guidance before relying on professional development for Act 48 compliance.
View Pennsylvania Act 48 Requirements ↗