Who Needs Act 48 Reporting?

All certified school personnel are covered under ACT 48. Effective July 1, 2000, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enacted Act 48, mandating a continuing professional education program for professional educators to maintain active certification.

What is Needed to Comply with Act 48?

The continuing professional education program requires the satisfactory completion of continuing professional education every five (5) years. These requirements can be met by completing one of these options:

• six (6) credits of collegiate study;
• six (6) credits of continuing professional education courses;
• one hundred eighty clock hours (180) of continuing professional education programs, activities or learning experiences; or
• any combination of collegiate credits, continuing professional education courses, or other approved programs, activities or learning experiences equivalent to one hundred eighty (180) clock hours.

How are credit hours and clock hours calculated?

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) states that for the purposes of calculating hours and credits of continuing professional education, one (1) credit of collegiate studies or continuing professional education courses shall be equivalent to thirty (30) clock hours of continuing professional education programs, activities or learning experiences. Each hour of participation in an approved activity will be calculated as 1 clock hour of participation.

Who Qualifies for Act 48 Credit?

Only offerings made by "Approved Providers" qualify for Act 48 credit. The Duquesne University School of Education is an Approved Provider of collegiate studies as well as other activities, programs, and learning experiences that are offered through projects, grants, etc. in the School of Education. These other activities, etc. may include:

• curriculum development and other program design and delivery activities
• professional conferences and workshops
• education in the workplace, that relates to the professional educator’s area of assignment
• review, redesign and restructuring of school programs, organizations and functions
• in-service programs that comply with guidelines established by PDE
• early childhood and child development activities for professional educators, K-3
• special education activities for professional educators of students with special needs
• other continuing professional education courses, programs, activities, or learning experiences sponsored by PDE

How Do I Know When my Act 48 Credits/Hours Have Been Reported?

You may check your Act 48 progress at the PA Department of Education Records Management Site

https://www.perms.ed.state.pa.us/Screens/wfPublicAccess.aspx