Transferring your teaching license from Minnesota to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania evaluates out-of-state teaching credentials on a case-by-case basis. Expect a credential review by Pennsylvania Department of Education and additional Pennsylvania-specific exam or coursework requirements before a full license is issued.
See 803 open teaching jobs in Pennsylvania →Your current credential (Minnesota)
- Issuing authority
- Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)
- License type
- Tier 1 License (non-traditional) or Tier 2 License (traditional) (1 year (Tier 1) or renewable (Tier 2))
- Reciprocity policy
- Minnesota evaluates out-of-state licenses individually. Tier 2 may be issued to teachers with at least 2 years of out-of-state teaching experience.
Pennsylvania certification
- Issuing authority
- Pennsylvania Department of Education
- License you'll earn
- Instructional I Certificate (6 years)
- Typical timeline
- 12–18 months for a traditional university program; Intern Certificate allows earlier classroom entry
- Pennsylvania reciprocity policy
- Pennsylvania participates in NASDTEC. The state evaluates out-of-state certificates and typically requires the Praxis subject assessment for the certification area.
Exams typically required in Pennsylvania
Out-of-state applicants are usually asked to demonstrate content-area knowledge on Pennsylvania's preferred exams, even when basic-skills testing is waived through reciprocity. Plan for one or more of the following:
- Praxis Core Academic Skills (or qualifying SAT/GRE scores)Basic academic skills
- Praxis Subject Assessments (PA-approved tests)Content knowledge for your certification area
Steps to transfer your license
- Verify your Minnesota credential is current. Pennsylvania will request a verification of your active Tier 1 License (non-traditional) or Tier 2 License (traditional) from Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB).
- Apply through Pennsylvania Department of Education. The application packet typically includes official transcripts, prior teaching service verification, and a fingerprint-based background check.
- Sit for any Pennsylvania-specific exams. Most states honor out-of-state content-area exams when scores meet their cutoff, but Pennsylvania may require an additional jurisprudence or state-specific assessment.
- Apply to Pennsylvania districts that match your endorsement. We're currently tracking 803 active openings — browse Pennsylvania teaching jobs to start identifying districts.