(a) The Secretary of Education may grant a certificate under this section to every person who presents to the Department of Education satisfactory evidence of good moral character and who has completed such work in career and technical education as may be required by the standards of the State Board of Education.

(b) In addition to other requirements promulgated by the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall require an applicant to present evidence of at least four (4) years of wage-earning experience in the occupation to be taught in order for the Secretary of Education to grant the applicant a Career and Technical Intern Certificate under 22 Pa. Code § 49.151 (relating to eligibility and criteria).

(c) Notwithstanding any other requirement promulgated by the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall not require an applicant to have completed more than eighteen (18) credit hours in an approved program of career and technical teacher education in order for the Secretary of Education to grant the applicant a Career and Technical Instructional I Certificate under 22 Pa. Code § 49.142 (relating to Vocational Instructional I), which certificate shall entitle the individual to teach for eight (8) annual school terms.

(d) Notwithstanding any other requirement promulgated by the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall not require an applicant to have completed more than sixty (60) total credit hours in an approved program of career and technical teacher education in order for the Secretary of Education to grant the applicant a Career and Technical Instructional II Certificate under 22 Pa. Code § 49.143 (relating to Vocational Instructional II). Credit hours in an approved program of career and technical teacher education completed by the applicant toward the fulfillment of the requirements for a Career and Technical Instructional I Certificate shall be counted toward the total credit hours required for a Career and Technical Instructional II Certificate.

(e) The Department of Education shall form a professional advisory committee for the purposes of reviewing career and technical instructional certification program guidelines every five (5) years to ensure that the requirements for program design and delivery pertain to the professional responsibilities of a career and technical educator. The professional advisory committee shall, at a minimum, include representatives whose primary responsibility is teaching occupational skills in State-approved career and technical education programs.