PA Act 48 in 60 Days: 6 Graduate Credits That Cover All 180 Hours (PDE-Approved)
PDE counts 1 graduate semester credit as 30 Act 48 hours. Six credits closes the full 180-hour requirement in one summer — CSUP-accredited, transcripts in 5–10 days, $225–$425 per course.
The Act 48 Math, Without the Runaround
Pennsylvania educators with a Level I, Level II, Instructional, Educational Specialist, or Administrative certificate owe PDE 180 hours of continuing professional education every 5 years — that’s Act 48. Miss it and your certificate goes to inactive status, and you can’t legally teach until you’re back in compliance.
- 6 semester credits of collegiate study from an accredited institution = full 180 hours, or
- 6 PDE-approved CPE credits, or
- 180 hours of PDE-approved continuing professional education programs, or
- Any combination of the above
Conversion rate: 1 graduate semester credit = 30 Act 48 hours. 1 quarter credit = 20 Act 48 hours.
Translation: 2 graduate credits = 60 hours, 3 credits = 90 hours, 6 credits = the full 180. Most PA teachers we work with run two 3-credit courses (6 credits total, $850 all-in), finish in 4–8 weeks, and close their Act 48 cycle cleanly.
Pricing — Act 48 Hours Per Tier
| Credits | Price | Act 48 Hours Earned |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Credit | $225 | 30 Act 48 hours — covers about 1/6 of the requirement |
| 2 Credits | $325 | 60 Act 48 hours — covers a third |
| 3 Credits | $425 | 90 Act 48 hours per course — two of these = full 180 hours = compliance closed |
Courses That Count for Act 48
Pennsylvania-Specific FAQ
How do my graduate credits actually show up in PERMS?
Act 48 hours are uploaded to PDE’s Professional Education Record Management System (PERMS) by your provider, not by you. PDE’s guidance is that providers submit within 30 days of course completion.
Does “collegiate study” mean it has to be PA state university credit?
No. PDE’s rule is “collegiate study from an accredited college or university” — meaning regionally or nationally accredited graduate-level coursework. CSUP-accredited graduate credits qualify.
My Act 48 deadline is in 60 days. Can I actually finish 6 credits in time?
Realistically — 6 credits in 60 days is doable if you commit to roughly 8–12 focused hours per week. Most teachers do this as two back-to-back 3-credit courses.