To address teacher shortages and maintain Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for students across the Commonwealth, a recent amendment to the School Code recognizes veterans’ service experience for purposes of obtaining Career and Technical Instructional certification.
Career and Technical Instructional Certification
CTE programs provide students with a unique, hybrid education of both traditional classroom and hands-on experiences. All CTE teachers are required to obtain a state-issued Career and Technical Instructional teaching certificate.
Section 12-1204.2 of the School Code establishes the requirements for obtaining Career and Technical Intern Certificates and Career and Technical Instructional Certificates.
Current Certification Requirements
To obtain either certificate, individuals must meet any of the following:
1. “Evidence of a minimum of eight thousand (8,000) hours, equivalent to four (4) years full-time, of wage-earning experience in the occupational area to be taught.”
2. “Evidence of a minimum of four thousand (4,000) hours, equivalent to two (2) years full-time, of wage-earning experience in the occupational area to be taught plus a baccalaureate degree.”
3. “Evidence of a minimum of eight thousand (8,000) hours, equivalent to four (4) years full-time, of experience as a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical technician in the occupational area to be taught.”
4. “Evidence of a minimum of eight thousand (8,000) hours, equivalent to four (4) years full-time, of experience teaching post-secondary courses at a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the occupational area to be taught.”
Amendments
Act 41 adds a fifth option for veterans to obtain a certificate:
5. “Evidence that a veteran has served in the United States Armed Forces for a minimum of eight thousand (8,000) hours, equivalent to four (4) years full-time, in the occupational area to be taught.”
“Veteran” includes an individual who served in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or National Guard, provided they were discharged or released from that service under conditions other than dishonorable.
Bottom Line For Schools
Not only will the Act provide a new pathway for veterans to become educators, but it will also expand the number of eligible teachers for CTE programs. The Act will take effect on December 26, 2025.
