Education

HB 1404 amends Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules to create new pathways for career-changers and technical educators. It establishes a "Career and Technical Second Career Certificate" valid for up to five years while completing 18 semester hours in an approved program, and adds "Career and Technical Intern" and "Career and Technical Instructional" certificates for those with occupational experience. The bill replaces outdated regulations (22 Pa. Code Ch. 49) and requires postbaccalaureate programs to offer flexible training for candidates with bachelor's degrees in relevant fields. These changes directly affect individuals seeking teaching roles in career and technical education programs who lack traditional teaching credentials.

HB 1402 reduces the maximum fee for reviewing teacher certification applications under Pennsylvania's Public School Code to $50. It also creates a special exemption for military service members, veterans, and their spouses, requiring them to pay no more than $10 for certification fees and $25 for professional discipline fees. These changes directly affect educators seeking or maintaining teaching credentials in Pennsylvania public schools. The bill modifies existing sections of the 1949 Public School Code to implement these specific fee caps and exemptions.