Reading Specialist Certification

Program Coordinators, Dr. Craig Cleland and Dr. Nanci Werner-Burke
Retan Center, (570) 662-4563; (570) 662-4577

Mansfield University offers a 21 semester hour sequence of courses leading to recommendation to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for K-12 added certification as a reading specialist. With careful graduate advisement, the 21 semester hour sequence can be applied to a minimum 33 semester hour Master’s degree program (see the Track II section M.Ed., Elementary Education degree and/or M.S. in Education degree). It may be possible to transfer a maximum of six semester hours into the program. In order to be recommended to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for added reading specialist certification, candidates must hold some other current Pennsylvania teaching certificate (e.g., elementary, secondary, special education, etc.), complete all required courses in the reading specialist sequence, and successfully pass the state-mandated Praxis reading specialist test.

Reading specialists perform a wide variety of roles in both public and private settings. Many reading specialists work as diagnostic-prescriptive teachers, offer in-classroom assistance for readers experiencing difficulties, and/or serve as resource consultants to school faculties. The courses in the Mansfield University reading specialist program are designed to prepare students for such a wide variety of professional settings and responsibilities. *Some courses are offered summers only.