Teacher Intern Program
In 1985, the Pennsylvania Department of Education approved the Wilson College Teacher Intern Program (TIP). This program is for people who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and want to earn a PA Level I Instructional Certificate. Wilson offers certification in: early childhood (Pre-K-4) education; dual certification in early childhood and special education (PreK-8); English/language arts, mathematics, science or social studies at the middle (4-8) level; dual certification in special education (PreK-8) and English/language arts, mathematics, science or social studies at the middle (4-8) level; in English, biology, chemistry, mathematics or social studies at the secondary (7-12) level; dual certification in special education (7-12) in English, biology, chemistry, mathematics or social studies at the secondary (7-12) level; and Pre-K-12 Spanish; business, computer and information technology; or health and physical education. Also offer Pre-K-12 Foreign Language certification (intern only) in the following: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish.
Wilson College offers the traditional post-baccalaureate route to Pennsylvania Instructional I certification: application, acceptance, student-specific program design, coursework, standardized testing and, lastly, student teaching, which rounds out the program, resulting in achievement of the state-issued certificate. Most students choose to take this route to achieve certification. An alternate route may also be taken.
The concept of the intern certificate was developed to provide an alternate route to certification for an Instructional I certificate. The Wilson TIP program, in compliance with PDE guidelines, has incorporated this option into the program. The TIP student can begin his/her prescribed program of study once accepted, but must pass standardized professional testing and secure professional paid employment to obtain the intern certificate. While employed, the intern student will receive continuous, long-term supervision while simultaneously taking the academic coursework required for the Instructional I certification.