Section 12-1216 - Evaluation of applications for certification(a) All applications for certification shall be evaluated in their entirety. The Department of Education shall notify the applicant if the application is incomplete and include a listing of all materials or information needed to complete the application. The applicant's pending application shall remain open for one year following the date of such notification. No letter of denial of certification shall be issued unless all deficiencies in the application are stated in the letter of denial.(b) The grade point average used by the department in evaluating the grade point average requirements for certification pursuant to 22 Pa. Code § 354.24 (relating to academic performance) shall be as follows: (1) For applicants whose initial preparation culminated in a bachelor's degree or higher prior to October 7, 2000, the grade point average in effect on the date of application for certification.(2) For applicants whose initial preparation culminates in a bachelor's degree or higher on or after October 7, 2000, the grade point average in effect on the date of graduation.(c) A teacher preparation program approved by the Department of Education shall recommend applicants for certification who meet either of the standards for grade point average set forth in 22 Pa. Code § 354.33(5) or (6) (relating to professional competency).(d)(1) A teacher preparation program approved by the Department of Education shall not require a student enrolled in the program to obtain a passing score on an assessment administered pursuant to 22 Pa. Code § 49.18 (relating to assessment) as a condition of program completion or graduation or include the student's score on the assessment as a component of a student's grade in any course, provided that the observational assessment of professional knowledge and practice may be included as a component of a student's student teaching grade.(2) Subject to section 1207.3(a), a teacher preparation program approved by the Department of Education shall not include a student's score on the assessment of basic skills administered pursuant to 22 Pa. Code § 49.18 as a component of a student's grade in any course. (3) For purposes of this paragraph: (i) "Assessment" shall include the assessment of general knowledge, the assessment of professional knowledge and practice or the assessment of subject matter as such terms are defined in 22 Pa. Code § 49.1 (relating to definitions).(ii) "Assessment of basic skills" shall have the meaning given in 22 Pa. Code § 49.1.(iii) "Assessment of professional knowledge and practice" shall have the meaning given in 22 Pa. Code § 49.1. Amended by P.L. TBD 2017 No. 55, § 7, eff. 11/6/2017.1949, March 10, P.L. 30, No. 14, § 1216, added 2005, July 13, P.L. 226, No. 46, § 3, effective in 60 days [9/12/2005].