Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS)

PA Keys to Professional Development has implemented a system for certifying individuals who provide instruction and technical assistance to early childhood and school-age professionals in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) maintains a registry of approved Professional Development Instructors (PDIs) to help ensure that professional development activities meet quality standards. Any Instructor who wants to deliver professional development to early childhood and school-age professionals should apply to PQAS for approval.  Please note Instructors who were certified through the PA Pathways TQAS system are automatically PQAS certified Professional Development Instructors until date of renewal. PQAS instructors are approved for five years.


Renewal Application - To Renew your PQAS Approval
 Click here to download the renewal application.


Certified Instructor, Affiliate Instructor and Specialty Discipline Instructors

Policies and Applications
PQAS FAQ document 
PQAS Reference Guide
Application for Professional Development Instructors

Higher Education Faculty - For faculty at institutions of higher education only
Sample Modules

Scoring Instruments - This is the scoring instrument used by the reviewers when reviewing an individual's PQAS application.  (For Certified & Affiliate applicants submitting original modules).

Topic Code Worksheet


Director Instructors - For directors to instruct their staff on Observation, Mind In the Making & Early Learning Standards 

** Please Note:  If you are already approved as a Director Instructor in one of the areas listed above and would like to add another area, please use the PQAS Director Instructor UPDATE form. **
 PQAS Director Instructor Application Policies
PQAS Director Instructor Application
PQAS Director Instructor Update Form


PQAS Orientation

The PQAS Orientation is required for all individual applicants.  It consists of three online courses: Core Body of Knowledge/Professional Development Record, Adult Learning Principles, and Introduction to the Professional Development online calendar.  To take these courses, please log into the Intranet Zone and click on PQAS.


Organizational PQAS Approval Policies and Applications

Policies for Organizational Approval
Application for Organizational Approval

Policies for Specialty Discipline Organizational Approval
Application for Specialty Discipline Organizational Approval


Temporary PQAS Approval Policies and Applications

  • Conference/Special Event Application - This application may be used to approve a conference or special event. Applications must be received at least 1 week prior to event.
  • Interim PQAS Application  - This application may be used for instructors awaiting their full PQAS approval.  It is limited to two approvals per instructor.  Applications must be received at least 1 week prior to event.

** Some exclusions may apply including but not limited to
the Specialty Discipline topics of Fire Safety, Pediatric First Aid and Mandated Reporting.***

Mandated Reporting - If you are applying for an interim approval for an instructor conducting mandated reporter training, the application must be received 1 month prior to the date of the event and detailed course content and learning objectives must be included.

Other Specialty Discipline Topics - If you are applying for an interim approval for an instructor conducting fire safety, pediatric first aid, or similar topic, documentation must be included that shows the instructors approval by a recognized organization or similar credentials. (e.g. Instructor card from American Red Cross, Fire professional credentials, etc.).