1. PA Certification Directions
As of November 20, 2017
Saint Joseph’s University
Joseph K. Cifelli, Ed.D.

2. Establish PDE Portal Login
This is a ONE-TIME process 1. Navigate to
2. Select Certifications from the Teachers & Administrators menu in the upper right corner
3. Select TIMS (Certification Application System)
4. Click on the Register link

3. Complete the registration form
• Information with a red * asterisk must be supplied
• Use a permanent personal address (not one issued by an employer or a college/university)
• Create your User ID
It should NOT have spaces
It is NOT case sensitive
Record this ID

4. Create your Password
It IS case sensitive
It must have at least one:
Capital letter
Lower case letter • Number
• Visible symbol
• It should NOT have spaces
• Record this password
• Create a very easy security question with an answer you will remember

5. wait for a registration confirmation email
After successfully completing and submitting the registration form you must
wait for a registration confirmation
before you may log into TIMS for the first time
It may take up to 24 hours to receive the confirmation
Next Slide appears after you log on to TIMS.

6. CLICK ON NEW CREDENTIAL APPLICATION

7. See next slide for input choices…......

8. SELECT INSTRUCTIONAL I (61) for all teaching certificates including PK-4, 4-8, 7-12, PK-12, Reading Specialist, Special Education, and Hearing Impaired.
Select PROGRAM SPECIALIST (86) for ESL
Select Educational Specialist (31) for Instructional Technology Specialist
Select Endorsement (58) for Autism
Select Administrative I (78) for Principal
Select Supervisory (76) for any supervisor
Select Letter of Eligibility (90) for superintendent

9. SELECT 1 OR MORE CERTIFICATION AREAS, FLIP THROUGH PAGES TO FIND YOUR AREA(S)
You can add more than 1 area within the same certification type. For example, you can include PK-4 and SpEd PK-8 on the same application.
CLICK HERE AFTER MAKING SELECTIONS

10. VERIFY SECTIONS, THEN answer questions above.
Question 1 is NO (unless this is an ADD ON APPLICATION)
Question 2 is YES
Question 3 applies to veterans ONLY. Answer Yes or NO.

11. How answers should look for typical application…....

12. RESPOND TO ALL OF THE BACKGROUND QUESTIONS.
IF YOU NEED TO ANSWER “YES” TO ANY QUESTION, CONFER WITH DR. CIFELLI BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION.
BE SURE TO CHECK OFF THE AFFIDAVIT, CLICK NEXT (top right)

13. Carefully complete this section.
Proofread all of your entries.
Click NEXT to Continue.

14. CLICK ADD NEW

15. Search for and Select Saint Joseph’s University.
If you did your BA at another school, search for & select that school.

16. Select Joseph Cifelli from the pull down menu It will fill in my information.
DO NOT select Contact Official Details if you did your BA at another university.

17. If you received a BA answer YES
If you received a BA answer YES. Note: you can not proceed with your application if you have a future date to receive your BA degree. More on this on Next Slide.
If you answer NO, you will not be able to proceed with this application.

18. Fill in the information regarding your degree
Fill in the information regarding your degree. Note: You can not enter a future Date Conferred.
Fall Graduate-Enter 01/YYYY, Spring Graduate Enter 05/YYYY, Summer Graduate Enter 09/YYYY
Then select your major subject area(s) from the choices provided.

19. After you have added your major(s), answer the next question YES, unless
You are a graduate student who received your BA at another institution. In that case answer NO.
You will have to add another education record for SJU, then answer YES to this question for SJU.
If you answered YES then select your Program. It will come up based on your application. See next slide.

20. Complete this pop up box and click add
Spring Grad enter 05/YYYY
Summer Grad enter 09/YYY
Fall Grad enter 01/YYYY
Note: As such, You can not submit your applications until the first day of May, September or January in the year in which you will be graduated or will have completed the program.

21. After you add Educator Prep Program, it should look like this…
Click Save…...
This is how it should look now ....
If you are a Graduate student after you add your Bachelor’s, add SJU by clicking ADD NEW and repeat process .
When completed click NEXT at top right.

22. Answer the questions above.

23. Skip this section unless you hold previous certification(s) which have not been listed.
Click NEXT

24. Proofread that everything entered is Correct!

25. Proof Items Details tells you what PDE has not received yet.
Basic Skills Testing is ONLY required for Undergraduate Students. Graduate students ignore the reference to PAPA Basic Skills testing.
Undergraduates: If you used SAT or ACT for basic skills testing, we will report your scores to PDE.
IF you recently took the PECT or Praxis tests, the scores may not have reached PDE yet.

26. Note. The fee is now $200 per application
Be sure to check off the Code of Conduct statements.
Click Proceed to submit if you have completed your program, having taken the required tests and you are ready to pay and submit your application.

27. After you pay you will get a success greeting from PDE.
Your application status will change from Incomplete to Awaiting Verification form IHE.
After we verify & endorse your application the status will change to Awaiting Evaluation. It can take 10+ weeks from that point until your status changes to Approved.
After it is approved, you can print out your certificate.
Generally, there is nothing to send in after you submit your application.
If you have any problems or questions, contact Dr. Cifelli at
SEE NEXT SLIDE REGARDING ADDING ON INSTRUCTIONAL AREAS….....

28. Effective January 1, 2017, in-state applicants may submit one application for the subject area(s) that they have completed approved preparation program(s) and may be issued one additional credential from the list below at no additional cost:
-  Instructional Add On Subject*
-  Program Specialist ESL*
-  Endorsement Subject Areas*
* must meet all requirements Instructions for Applying in TIMS
 The applicant must only apply for the subject area(s) the approved program provider will recommend for certification.
-  The approved program provider must enter a note in the comments section simply alerting PDE staff that the applicant wants to add an area to the in-state application:
If the area being added is a test only Add-On, the note only needs to state that they qualify for the Add-On. If the area being added is for ESL or an Endorsement, the note must contain a full statement recommending the applicant for that credential subject area.
The required test must be on file or PDE will not approve the Add-On subject area and a separate application and fee must be submitted once the test is on file.
SO, you must notify Dr. Cifelli if you wish to have such a note added to your application.

29. How to contact Dr. Cifelli
SJU Office Phone:
Cell Phone:
Mailing Address:
Joseph K. Cifelli, Ed.D.
Saint Joseph’s University-MH 225
5600 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131