Act 48 Credits

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 do I earn Act 48 credit

You can earn Act 48 credit by taking continuing education courses or other professional development activities.

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 University of Pittsburgh 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

Who Will Report my Act 48 Credits/Hours?

The Approved Provider of any collegiate course or other activity approved for Act 48 credit is required to report electronically the credits earned or hours of participation to the PDE. The School of Education is reporting collegiate credits for all units at the University of Pittsburgh's Oakland Campus as well as clock hours of participation for other learning activities, etc. provided by the School of Education.

How Do I Get my Act 48 Credits/Hours Reported?

Collegiate Credits

Students enrolled at the Oakland Campus of the University of Pittsburgh who are certified school personnel may count their courses for Act 48 continuing education requirements providing the courses are in their area of certification or teaching assignment. When courses have been satisfactorily completed, students may report their credits to the Student Service Center by telephone at (412) 648-2230 or submit their credits via our secure Act 48 Online Registration web page.

Hours for other activities:

At the conclusion of any approved non-credit activity offered by the School of Education, participants complete an op-scan data sheet for that activity and return it to the instructor/leader. The instructor/leader reviews and verifies this data sheet and forwards it to the Student Service Center in 5500 WWPH. The completed sheets are scanned, and the data are submitted electronically to the PDE.

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

Once collegiate credits or hours of participation have been reported, students/participants receive a letter informing them of the data submitted to the PDE and the date of submission. Upon receipt of this letter, students/participants can go on-line to the PDE homepage and view the credits/hours submitted on their behalf. If credit/hours do not appear on the PDE site or if there are any discrepancies in the data, students/participants should notify the School of Education Student Service Center.