Skip to agency navigation
Skip to main content

Official Website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means its official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Act 5 of 2006 or see information below:

    Act 5 of 2006 amends Act 48 Professional Development Requirements for Retirees.

    This pertains to all current and future Pennsylvania professional public school retirees (annuitants) and employing school entities with responsibilities for continuing professional requirements.

    Act 5 provides as follows:

    1. Department of Education online continuing professional education courses will be made available at no charge to all professional educators.
    2. Act 48 requirements will be suspended for all annuitants who do not return to school service.
    3. All annuitants' certificates will be considered active during the suspension of Act 48 requirements.
    4. A professional educator annuitant who returns to school service in a full-time position or in a day-to-day or long-term substitute position and continues in school service for more than 180 days, cumulatively, must fulfill the requirements of Act 48 beginning with the 181st day of the annuitant's return to school service.
    5. In accordance with the Regulatory Review Act, the Department will issue a standard requiring the tracking and reporting of active service of annuitants.

    ​Whenever you remove any or all your retirement funds or transfer the funds to another agency as reported by PSERS or SERS, your educator status is considered retired at the PDE. 

    TIMS provides the public with access to view educator records by entering the Professional Personnel ID (PPID) OR by searching with first name and last name.

    If Retired, it is listed beside Educator Status on the profile. 

    Yes. However, contact PSERS/your retirement agency whenever returning to PA public school service in any capacity to confirm if an exception applies. If an exception does not apply you must remove retired status and restart your Act 48 period.

    Please see "How can I tell if an exception applies" and "How do I restart my Act 48 requirements" for more information.

    Educators are considered active while under retired status and may return to PA public school employ in any capacity at any time. However, it is recommended that educators contact the Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS)  or their individual retirement agency whenever returning to PA public school service in any capacity.

    Please see "How can I tell if an exception applies" and "How do I restart my Act 48 requirements" for more information. 

    Contact PSERS/your retirement agency whenever returning to PA public school service in any capacity to confirm if an exception applies.

    If no exception applies, a professional educator annuitant who returns to school service in a full-time position or in a day-to-day or long-term substitute position and continues in school service for more than 180 days, cumulatively, cannot remain retired and must fulfill the requirements of Act 48 beginning with the 181st day of the annuitant's return to school service.

    ​Review PSERS' Working After Retirement page and the PSERS Return to Service Exceptions publication that can be found on that page. Contact the Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) directly if you have further questions or concerns. 

    ​Educators may be subject to the same rules and exceptions. However, please contact your respective retirement agency and follow their guidance regarding working after retirement. 

    To Remove retired status in PERMS and re-start your Act 48 requirement we require the following:

    1. Ensure your district submits a completed "Retirees Returning to Service" form (PSRS-1299) to PSERS, available on PSERS' website
    2. Complete 180 days of employment in PA public schools
    3. The Act 48 Office requires documentation from the school district(s) confirming these 3 dates:
      1. The start date of educator's original retirement (MM/DD/YYYY)
      2. The date of return to PA public school employment (MM/DD/YYYY)
      3. The date of 180 days completed after return to PA public school employment (MM/DD/YYYY)

    Send these three dates (in MM/DD/YYYY format) via email to: RA-EDACT48@PA.GOV

    The new Act 48 period will be determined using the three dates sent to our office.

    Once retired status has been removed, the Act 48 period will be updated and can be found in PERMS (Professional Educator Record Management System).

    ​For any other questions on retirement or your retirement funds contact the Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) or your individual retirement agency.