Teacher Certification Pathways (TCP)
Teacher Certification Pathways offers three distinct paths for people who hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university to earn a Pennsylvania Level I certification.
In 1985, the Pennsylvania Department of Education approved the Wilson College Teacher Intern Pathway (TIP). Wilson offers TIP 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.
The Teacher Online Pathway (TOP) allows students who cannot easily drive to Wilson to pursue certification in: in English, biology, chemistry, mathematics or social studies at the secondary (7-12) level; and Pre-K-12 Spanish; and business, computer and information technology.
The Foreign Language Intern Pathway (FLIP) offers Pre-K-12 certification (intern only) in the following: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish. To enter this pathway, the FLIP student must have passed all state testing and be employed as a foreign language teacher.
Wilson College offers the traditional post-baccalaureate (TIP/TOP) route to Pennsylvania Instructional I certification: application, acceptance, student-specific program design, coursework, standardized state 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 and TOP programs, in compliance with PDE guidelines, has incorporated this option into the program. The TIP and TOP 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.