Arcadia University Teaching Certification Programs
Arcadia University, a private school outside Philadelphia, is an approved Pennsylvania Department of Education provider at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Options range from a BA in PreK-4 Early Elementary Education to graduate certificates in Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism, and Infant and Toddler Mental Health. Candidates who leave Pennsylvania can pursue reciprocity through the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, though it isn’t automatic.
Sponsored School(s)
Arcadia University’s School of Education built its reputation on a niche most teacher-prep programs skip: certifying specialists for roles that fall outside the standard classroom, like behavior analysts and autism-endorsed teachers, alongside its standard undergraduate and graduate licensure tracks. Arcadia’s online degree and certificate programs are built for candidates who won’t set foot on the Glenside, Pennsylvania campus.
Undergraduate Teaching Certification at Arcadia
Arcadia offers initial teacher certification at the undergraduate level through a Bachelor of Arts in PreK-4 Early Elementary Education. Traditional undergraduates pursue it full-time as their declared major. Transfer students who already hold an associate’s degree can instead enroll part-time through the Early Childhood Working Professionals program, a track built around candidates who are already working while they finish their degree.
Certification Beyond the Standard Classroom Track
Every teacher and school administrator in Pennsylvania needs to be certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for their specific role. That process is straightforward for traditional teaching and leadership jobs. It gets more complicated for special education and behavioral specialist roles, since those positions don’t always fit neatly into the standard endorsement path.
Special Education Certification Areas
Pennsylvania licenses special educators through the same standard licensing track used for general classroom teachers, with certification offered in four content areas:
- Special Education PK-12 (General)
- Special Education, Hearing Impaired PK-12
- Special Education, Speech and Language PK-12
- Special Education, Visually Impaired PK-12
Specialists whose duties fall outside those four tracks, like speech-language pathologists and applied behavior analysts, aren’t covered by the PA Department of Education directly. For those roles, the department defers to other licensing bodies, including the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine.
Graduate Credentials for Specialized Roles
Online Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis
Arcadia’s Online M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis lines up with the coursework requirements for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) exam administered by the BACB, the credential most employers look for in ABA work. It’s approved as a Verified Course Sequence (VCS) by the Association for Behavior Analysis International, though that system is being phased out, and Arcadia’s program is also aligning with the newer ABAI coursework standards taking its place. Coursework covers:
- Concepts and principles of applied behavior analysis
- Functional behavior assessment and behavior change
- ABA training and supervising human service staff
- Positive behavioral approaches
The degree includes a hands-on practicum, with the option to complete it at a candidate’s current workplace. Finishing the M.Ed. doesn’t hand someone a BCBA credential by itself. The BACB separately requires 2,000 supervised fieldwork hours and a passing exam score before anyone can call themselves board certified.
The M.Ed. doesn’t lead directly to a specific Pennsylvania license or endorsement on its own. But because it’s a master’s degree in education, it can count toward several licenses that require an advanced degree, and a short add-on certificate covering the required Educator Preparation Program (EPP) coursework can turn it into new Pennsylvania teaching or administrative credentials.
Graduate Certificates for Educators Who Already Hold a Master’s
Not every path to a BCBA credential requires a second master’s degree. Arcadia’s Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis covers the same required coursework in a one-year program built for candidates who already hold a master’s in another field. Credits transfer into the full M.Ed. in ABA concentration if a candidate later decides to pursue the degree.
Becoming a BCBA isn’t the only route for educators working with students on the autism spectrum, and it isn’t always the necessary one. Arcadia’s Graduate Certificate in Autism, approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as an Autism Endorsement add-on to an existing teaching certificate, takes twelve to eighteen months and covers:
- The social, language, and sensory characteristics of students with ASD
- Factors affecting their success at school and at home
- Research-based teaching strategies for ASD students
- Foundational behavior analysis skills
For educators working in early childhood settings, the Graduate Certificate in Infant and Toddler Mental Health covers a narrower, harder-to-navigate field: the intersection of learning, nutrition, and welfare in the earliest years of development. Coursework includes:
- The developmental needs of infants and toddlers
- Conducting mental health assessments for very young children
- Strategies for supporting social and emotional health in early childhood settings
- Discussing sensitive mental health topics with parents and caregivers
A Newer Option: AI in Education Certificate
Arcadia also offers an online AI in Education Certificate, a shorter credential aimed at teachers and administrators who want to integrate artificial intelligence tools into instruction and school operations responsibly. It isn’t a path to a Pennsylvania teaching license or endorsement on its own, but it’s worth knowing about if you’re weighing continuing-education options alongside a certification track.
Certification Outside Pennsylvania
Arcadia’s programs lead to Pennsylvania Department of Education certification specifically. The university has not determined whether its curriculum meets certification requirements in other states or U.S. territories. Pennsylvania has signed the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, which provides for accepting state-approved educator preparation programs between participating states to make it easier for teachers to move. Candidates planning to teach outside Pennsylvania typically pursue reciprocity through that agreement, administered by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification. Reciprocity isn’t automatic. Each receiving state reviews the candidate’s Pennsylvania certification against its own requirements, so it’s worth checking the destination state’s rules before assuming a PA credential transfers as-is.
Frequently Asked Questions
What undergraduate teaching certification does Arcadia University offer?
Arcadia offers a Bachelor of Arts in PreK-4 Early Elementary Education for initial certification at the undergraduate level. Traditional students pursue it full-time, while transfer students with an associate’s degree can enroll part-time through the Early Childhood Working Professionals program.
Can I earn Pennsylvania special education certification at Arcadia?
Yes. Arcadia certifies special educators through the standard PA licensing track, with options in Special Education PK-12 General, Hearing Impaired, Speech and Language, and Visually Impaired.
Does Arcadia’s Online M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis make you a BCBA?
Not by itself. The degree covers the coursework the BACB requires for BCBA eligibility, but candidates still need to separately complete 2,000 supervised fieldwork hours and pass the BCBA exam before they’re board-certified.
Does an Arcadia University teaching certification transfer to another state?
Not automatically. Arcadia’s programs lead to Pennsylvania certification, and candidates seeking to teach elsewhere typically apply for reciprocity through the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, which each receiving state reviews individually.
Can I add an Autism Endorsement to an existing Pennsylvania certificate at Arcadia?
Yes. Arcadia’s Graduate Certificate in Autism is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as an Autism Endorsement, and it typically takes twelve to eighteen months to complete.
- Two entry points, one department — Arcadia certifies teachers at both the undergraduate (BA in PreK-4 Early Elementary Education) and graduate levels, all through the same PA Department of Education-approved School of Education.
- BCBA is the centerpiece credential — both the Online M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis and its standalone Graduate Certificate cover BACB-aligned coursework, but board certification itself still requires 2,000 supervised fieldwork hours and a passing exam score after the degree.
- Autism Endorsement is a fast add-on — Arcadia’s Graduate Certificate in Autism takes twelve to eighteen months and adds a PA Autism Endorsement to an existing certificate.
- Reciprocity isn’t automatic — candidates planning to teach outside Pennsylvania need to apply through the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, and the receiving state makes the final call.
Compare Arcadia’s certification and graduate certificate options against other accredited teacher preparation programs before you apply.
