Prepare and Submit an Application
The following steps outlined below are designed to assist the applicant through the application process. By following these steps, you are helping to ensure that your application for certification is submitted correctly and processed in a timely manner. If the required documents are not submitted as outlined below, your application for certification may be delayed. As a reminder, per Board rule R7-2-618 (C): certification fees are non-refundable.
- Before submitting an application, please review the requirement document for the certificate(s) and/or other services you are seeking to ensure you have met the requirements and have the required documentation.
Requirements for Certification
Requirements to add an Endorsement
Requirements to add an Approved Area
All teachers and individuals that work in the classroom are required to have an Identify Verified Print (IVP) fingerprint clearance card per Arizona Revised Statute 15-506.
- To apply:
- Visit the Arizona Department of Public Safety and click the link to create an account to make an appointment to have your fingerprints taken and apply for the AZDPS IVP card; or
- Call DPS at (602) 223-2279 and order an IVP fingerprint packet.
- Be sure to indicate that your application is for teacher certification and include your SSN.
- These 2 steps will authorize DPS to submit your IVP fingerprint information to ADE.
- Once your fingerprints are cleared, you will receive a plastic card that shows an “IVP” number at the bottom.
- Please note: If you have an AZDPS fingerprint card that does not show an “IVP” number, you will need to contact AZDPS at 602-223-2279 and apply for the IVP card.
For specific questions about obtaining, processing time, or renewing your IVP fingerprint clearance card please call the Arizona Department of Public Safety at 602-223-2279. The DPS establishes the procedures for applying for an IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.
If the service you are requesting requires official transcripts, and you have not submitted official transcripts with previous applications you will need to request that official transcripts be submitted by your university/college. These are required in order to begin the evaluation process for the service(s) you are requesting.
- Official Transcripts: Request that your university/college submit electronic official transcripts documenting a Bachelor’s or more advanced degree, directly to [email protected], or by mail to Arizona Department of Education – Certification Unit, P.O. Box 6490, Phoenix, AZ 85005.
- We are unable to accept uploaded transcripts or transcripts sent via email from the applicant as official.
- Foreign Transcripts: Request a course-by-course evaluation to be completed by an approved Foreign Credential Evaluation Agency to identify the equivalent degree in the United States. Request the Agency submit the evaluation directly to [email protected].
- We are unable to accept uploaded transcripts or transcripts sent via email from the applicant as official.
Some documents may be accepted by the applicant, however, there are some documents that must be submitted by the verifying authority. If the documents are not submitted as required, the processing of your application may be delayed.
Documents that may be uploaded or submitted with the application
The following documents below may be uploaded with the online application or submitted with the paper application. Please prepare a photocopy or scan and save the document as a PDF, GIF, or PNG for submission when applying online.
- Name Change: If your transcripts or other documents are under a former name, submit a copy of legal documentation of your name change.
- Out-of-State Educator Certificate: A copy of your valid, comparable out-of-state educator certificate or license.
- Arizona Educator Exams (AEPA/NES): A copy of the official passing score report for required AEPA/NES exams. Please visit www.aepa.nesinc.com for further information on exams.
- Verification of Professional Development: Certificates of training or verification of clock hours of professional development
Documents that must be submitted by the verifying authority
The documents listed below must be submitted directly by the verifying authority to [email protected]. The ADE Certification Unit will not accept these documents if they are submitted by the applicant.
- Teaching Experience: If you are submitting teaching experience, forward the Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience form to your school's human resources office for completion and submission to [email protected].
- We are unable to accept verification of teaching experience from the applicant.
- Out-of-state Exams. If you are using a substantially similar out-of-state exam(s), forward the Verification of Out-of-State Exams form to the state licensure office that accepted the exams.
- If you are using a Praxis exam, you must have your scores reported by ETS to the Arizona Department of Education and include a copy of the score report with your application.
The above list does not include all documents that may be needed to qualify for a certification service. Please see the Certificates & Requirements page for additional information and additional documents that may be required.
Once you have completed steps 1-4 you are now ready to submit your application for certification.
Visa or Mastercard Payment Only | Apply By Mail Send application, payment, and all materials to: Check or money order payment only. |
Applying for certification online is the quickest and easiest way to apply. You may apply online to renew your certificate, for all initial certificates, approved areas, and endorsements including:
- All initial certificates (Substitute, Standard Professional, CTE, STEM, Subject Matter Expert, Emergency, etc).
- All approved areas (Content area designations added to appropriate certificates).
- All endorsements (Specialization - content and student groups - added to appropriate certificates).
- All certificate renewals.
- All deficiency removals.
Services not available via the online portal include certificate extensions, name changes, and duplicate copy requests. Visit the Frequent Requests Page for information about applying for these services.
In the My Certification Portal, you may view the status of your current credentials as well as the status of your application that you have submitted online.
- Please allow 3-4 weeks of processing time during the months of September- April. Please allow 4-8 weeks of processing time during the months of May-August.
- If additional information is needed, you will be contacted via regular mail. If the requested documents/information are not received within the allowed timeframe identified in the letter, your application will be closed and you will need to restart the application process and repay the fees.
