Career and Technical Personnel Preparation Center

Website: www.iup.edu/careerteched
Monica Murdoch, Chair

The Career and Technical Professional Studies program offers undergraduate curricula that prepare in-service teachers for career and technical education. Programs may lead to either a Bachelor of Science in Education with certification or to professional certification only. Program graduates have a broad range of employment opportunities as teachers/trainers in secondary schools, career and technical schools, postsecondary schools, and business and industry.

Certification to teach career and technical education in the commonwealth’s secondary schools is issued to individuals who meet statutory requirements, demonstrate occupational/technical proficiency on a nationally standardized occupational competency examination (which includes documenting four years of wage earning experience) and complete 60* credits of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s approved university program.

Certification to serve as a cooperative education teacher-coordinator in the commonwealth’s secondary schools can be earned by completing a program of studies tailored to each student’s individual background and professional needs. The program prepares individuals for managing industrial cooperative training and school-to-work transitional experiences. For people holding a valid Pennsylvania Instructional Certificate, the program of studies will be individualized based on educational credits earned.

Each program requires completion of the following credits: Bachelor of Science in Education (120cr), cooperative education teacher/coordinator certification (9-13cr), and vocational-technical education certification (60cr*).