Continuing Education Requirements Framework

All who earn a new certification are required to earn continuing education units (CEU) over the 5-year term of their certification to be able to recertify or upgrade to the next level. All ecologists who were certified prior to 2021 are permitted to recertify or upgrade one time without fulfilling the requirement, but are required to complete the CEU afterward.*

CEU will be self-reported by participants on an annual basis through the ESA account. Participants are required to adhere to the ESA Code of Ethics in all activities related to their profession, including when reporting professional development.

Interpretive leeway will be given to participants to identify suitable professional development opportunities per the requirements. Beginning in spring 2021, ESA will publish and regularly update a roster of approved training providers and other opportunities in the Professional Development Calendar, and participants are encouraged to favor those opportunities, but any suitable scientific or professional content will be approved, including credits earned toward certifications offered in the professional practice and application of related scientific disciplines.

You must achieve 44 CEU across the categories as described below. Minima are the lowest number of CEU in a category that must be reported per review period; maxima are the highest number that will count toward your recertification or upgrade. You can of course complete more as you feel is beneficial to your professional development, but don’t report them toward your total requirement of 44 CEU, and don’t report more than 70 CEU across all categories.

In the spirit of continuing education, some activities are capped per event or year with the aim of distributing effort and professional development across multiple activities and multiple years. Ecologists certified by ESA are encouraged to seek development opportunities from a broad array of sources, and at least 50% of all units reported in Category I must be earned through activities provided by organizations other than ESA. This is to encourage broader professional scientific development and support organizations that support their certification program.

The time period in which you are eligible to earn CEU begins the day after your application due date and ends at the due date of your application for recertification or an upgrade. For instance, the application due date in 2021 was February 1; any CEU-eligible activity after that date can be reported and counted toward the requirements. Note that any participation in continuing education following application does not certain approval of your application, and cannot be included in your application.

Category I(a) includes scientific education and training that contributes to your professional development as a practicing ecologist. Training may be virtual or in-person.

At least 14 CEU per reporting period must involve education or training in ecology or closely related subjects. Examples include academic or professional development activity in ecology, environmental science, biogeoscience, evolutionary biology, conservation, botany, mycology, entomology, data management, statistics, etc.

Category I(b) includes professional development in key skills for a professional ecologist. Training may be virtual or in-person.

Up to 10 additional CEU per reporting period may involve education and training in leadership, teamwork, project management, resource management, research management and administration, etc., or in allied fields that support your professional development as an ecologist, such as proposal or grant writing.

You may report up to 24 CEU for Category I toward your total requirement per reporting period.

Includes training and practice in the communication of scientific research, data and outcomes via oral presentation. Examples include courses in public speaking or meeting facilitation, or applied instances like oral or live presentations at scientific conferences, teaching a scientific course or providing expert testimony. Includes virtual or in-person presentation. Activities should relate to your professional growth as an ecologist.

You may report up to 14 CEU for oral communication toward your total requirement. There is no required minimum.

Includes writing, editing, reviewing and publishing on courses in ecology and related sciences. Content can include papers for peer-reviewed journals, professional reports, and scientific communication for non-technical audiences (including scientifically rigorous journalism). Teaching this content to others is included, as is participating in or providing training on best practices in science communication. Activities should relate to your professional growth as an ecologist.

You may report up to 14 CEU for written communication toward your total requirement.

Includes service to a professional scientific society, public science programs, environmental advocacy groups and similar organizations. Activities should relate to your professional growth as an ecologist as you apply your skills as a scientist or leader.

You may report up to 14 CEU for service toward your total requirement.

This category must be fulfilled in addition to the other minimum 40 units. Ecologists certified by ESA should seek ongoing professional development in such courses as diversity, inclusion and equity; anti-sexual harassment; scientific or professional ethics; and community engagement.

You must report exactly 4 CEU for human dimensions toward your total requirement (if the total of your activities in this category exceeds 4, just report 4).

*If, for instance, you hold a certification that was issued in 2018, you may upgrade or recertify in 2023, but will need to earn CEU moving forward. By 2026, all program participants will be required to earn and report their CEU.

Teaching Certification

All students seeking teaching certification must be formally admitted to the Pre-certification, Initial Preparation Program (Pre-CIP). Admission to the program can occur after the student has completed 12 Bucknell University courses or their equivalents, including two courses in mathematics, one course in British or American literature, and one in composition; and achieved for the three preceding semesters an overall grade point average of at least 3.0. Appeals to this requirement may be made to the chair of the Department of Education.

* Candidates must also pass the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment tests in reading, writing and math. Students should apply to Pre-CIP as soon as they begin considering a career in education, and no later than the start of the first semester of their junior year. Students are notified of their acceptance or rejection at the end of their sophomore year.

The commonwealth of Pennsylvania generally requires an overall grade point average of 3.0 upon completion of the program prior to recommendation for certification to teach.

All students seeking certification must take two mathematics intensive courses, one English/American literature course and one W1 writing course (in addition to the literature course).

The following are considered to be "add-on" certifications that require students to concurrently pursue certification in one of the areas above:

In addition to completing an approved program and successfully demonstrating the prescribed role competencies, the prospective teacher must be a "person of good moral character" who "possesses those personal qualities and professional knowledge and skills which warrant issuance of the requested certificate."

It is the student's responsibility to satisfy these criteria. Students should note that prior to placement in student teaching or any other field experience, they will be required to submit results of a child abuse clearance, criminal background check and fingerprinting pursuant to requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Results must indicate that there are no criminal or child abuse records.

Students in Education classes with field experiences can get help navigating the clearance process by contacting the departments Director of Professional Education.

Act 151: PA Child Abuse History Clearance

Act 34: PA Criminal History Record Check

FBI Criminal History (Fingerprint)

In addition to coursework, students must complete and submit scores from required Praxis or Pennsylvania Education Certification Test examinations to the Department of Education. Specific examinations required for each area of certification vary. Although members of the department will advise students concerning examinations, the student is responsible for taking those examinations that meet certification program requirements.

Learn more about certification testing

After completing the approved program of courses, the student submits an application for a Pennsylvania teaching certificate through the online Teacher Information Management System website not earlier than the first day of the month of graduation.

Following a review of the student's program, the student may be recommended for certification by the designated officer at Bucknell. As noted above, the student must pass all the competency tests required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the desired certificate.

Bucknell's certification officer is able to recommend for certification students who successfully completed one of Bucknell's teacher certification programs, passed the appropriate tests and met all other certification requirements within five years of the student's date of graduation. Because state requirements and/or curricula may change, it may not be possible to make recommendations for certification outside of this five-year window.

Students who desire certification in states other than Pennsylvania must understand that teacher certification is governed by state law and that each state has different requirements. Obtaining a Pennsylvania teaching certificate, by completing an approved program and meeting all other requirements, does not ensure that students will be certified in another state.

Although members of the Bucknell education department will assist students in obtaining information concerning certification in other states, as well as Pennsylvania, it is the student's responsibility to obtain current information and to meet all the certification requirements of any state.

* These requirements may be modified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) due to COVID-19.

Certification in Special Education

There is a great need for special education teachers as states all across the country are experiencing shortages. ​Today's special​ ​education​ teachers​ ​must​ ​be​ ​highly-skilled​ ​individuals who​ ​not just understand​ ​the​ ​complexities​ ​of​ ​their​ ​students’​ ​needs,​ but are can modify ​curriculum,​ ​and provide​ ​remedial​ ​instruction.

Drexel​ ​University’s​ School​ ​of​ ​Education​ certification in special education program​ prepares​ ​special​ ​education teachers​ ​for​ ​these​ ​challenges.

Drexel’s​ online​ Special​ ​Education​ ​(SPED) certification​ ​program​ ​seeks​ ​to​ ​produce professionals​ ​who​ ​are​ ​equipped​ ​with​ ​the​ ​fundamental​ ​skills,​ ​knowledge,​ ​and competencies​ ​they​ ​require​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​the​ ​needs​ ​of​ ​students​ ​at​ ​risk​ ​for​ ​school​ ​failure and​ ​students​ ​with​ ​disabilities​ ​in​ ​multiple​ ​settings.​ ​The​ ​program​ ​is​ ​intended​ ​for​ ​those interested​ ​in​ ​gaining​ ​greater​ ​skills​ ​and​ ​expertise​ ​and​ ​a​ ​teaching​ ​certification​ ​in​ ​the area​ ​of​ ​special​ ​education.

The responsibilities of special education teachers typically include:

This​ online​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​certification​ program​ ​is​ ​for​ actively​ ​certified​ ​teachers seeking​ ​Pennsylvania's​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​PreK-12​ ​certification.​ ​Candidates must​ ​have​ ​an​ ​active​ ​PA​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​or​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​teaching​ ​certificate​.

Out-of-state​ ​teachers​ ​are​ ​welcome​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​Program as​ ​non-PA​ ​certification​ ​students.

To be admitted into the Special Education certification program, students must also have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Required Materials

The​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​Certification​ ​program​ ​is​ ​a​ ​part-time​ online​ program​ ​consisting of​ ​27​ ​graduate​ ​credits.​ ​For​ ​students​ ​that​ ​have​ ​not​ ​completed​ ​the​ ​prerequisite courses,​ ​the​ ​program​ ​will​ ​require​ ​36​ ​credits:​ ​27​ ​credits​ ​in​ ​Core​ ​Special​ ​Education Certification​ ​courses​ ​and​ ​9.0​ ​credits​ ​in​ ​prerequisites​ ​for​ ​certification​ ​in​ ​special education.​ ​The​ ​certification​ ​areas​ ​are​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​PreK-8​ ​and​ ​Special Education​ ​7-12.

Course​ ​descriptions​ ​may​ ​be​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Drexel​ ​University​ ​Catalog.

Most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​coursework​ ​in this program requires​ ​field​ ​hours.​ ​Students​ ​must​ ​have​ ​the​ ​necessary clearances​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​begin​ ​the​ ​program.

There are multiple learning outcomes and benefits of enrolling in the Special Education Certification Program offered at Drexel University School of Education. Through the program, students will:

The Special Education certification program is a part-time, accelerated program. Students, on average, complete the program in about a year and a half.

For certified teachers in Pennsylvania, a special education certification follows the same renewal cycle as the teacher’s original teaching certification. If a teacher converts their Instructional I teaching certification to Instructional II, their special education certification will also be converted.

Teachers in Pennsylvania must complete their Act 48 requirements every 5 years to renew their certification. This includes 6 semester hours of college credit (there is a conversion for quarter hours), or 180 hours of continuing education programming, i.e., professional development.

Special Education certification is a great program for teachers who are looking to expand their skills to understand how to teach students with special needs. It also a requirement for teachers who would like to become certified special education teachers. Teachers looking for a rewarding career as a special education teacher would also benefit from this program.

Credits​ ​earned​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​Certification​ ​program​ ​may​ ​be​ ​applied​ ​to​ ​the Master​ ​of​ ​Science​ ​in​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​graduate​ ​program​.​ ​The​ ​MS​ ​program​ ​offers four​ ​concentrations:​ ​Applied Behavior Analysis; Autism​ ​Spectrum​ ​Disorders;​ ​Collaborative​ ​Special​ ​Education Law​ ​&​ ​Process;​ and ​Dyslexia Specialist (Wilson® Level 1 certification).​ ​Students​ ​may​ ​also​ ​work​ ​with​ ​their​ ​academic​ ​advisor​ ​to​ ​develop​ ​a customized​ ​concentration​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​specific​ ​objectives.

The Special Education certification program is offered 100% online. you can get started by filling out the Drexel Online Application.