Educator Certification

Arizona Department of Education – Tucson Office

Beginning February 2020, the Certification office in Tucson will be officially closed. We are asking that you please communicate this with your staff and remind them of the other options for applying for initial certificates and renewing of current certificates. Please click here for additional information.

1. Teachers may apply online through the AzEDCert Portal. This is for renewing certificates and applying for initial certificates, endorsements and/or approved areas.
2. Currently the following services are available only by mail or in person: Certificate extensions, transfers, deficiency removals, name change, and requests for duplicate copy of certificates.
3. You may also provide the hotline number for individuals to call for support: 602-542-4367.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Phoenix Certification office and we will be happy to assist you.

Please click on the links below for fliers that are available for you to send to your staff.

Adult Education Assessments Pilot

Adult Education Teachers are needed to participate in the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment pilot testing.

Please see the PDF flyer for more information about participating in the pilot testing of these assessments.

Office Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Please note that ADE offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 20, 2020.

Normal Certification hours will be resumed on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.

2019 Arizona Education Job Fairs

The Arizona Department of Education would like to announce the 2019 Southern Arizona Education Job Fair on March 2, 2019, and the 2019 Arizona Statewide Education Job Fair on March 9, 2019.  Please go to the free participation registration page to complete our registration. These annual fairs are held exclusively for K-12 Districts and Charter School in support of their recruitment efforts.

These events are designed to help schools fill certified and non-certified positions and potential candidates to connect with community partners.  The following community partners are already registered to attend our Arizona Education Job Fairs; they will be there to provide information about programs and resources:

Teachers/Educators are reminded to bring copies of their resume to the Arizona Job Fairs. Districts and charters from Arizona will be interviewing candidates and collecting resumes for at least the following open positions: teachers, paraprofessionals, administrative assistants, bus drivers, maintenance, and administrators.

2019 Arizona Job Fair Flyer

Certification Updates – October 2018

International Exchange Teachers

House Bill 2253 removed the two-year limitation on the employment of foreign teachers who are participating in a teacher exchange program and working under a J-1 or Q-1 visa.  In response to this new legislation, the Board approved the following changes to the Standard Foreign Teaching Certificate:

• The name of the certificate has been changed from Standard Foreign Teaching Certificate to International Teaching Certificate.
• The International Teaching Certificate will be issued to the length of the certificate holder’s J-1 or Q-1 visa and may be extended if the J-1 or Q-1 visa is extended.
• The English proficiency examination requirement has been removed.

Teachers who are currently certified with a Standard Foreign Teaching certificate may continue to use the certificate until its expiration.   Standard Foreign Teaching certificate holders may apply for the new International Teaching Certificate if they are continuing to participate in a teacher exchange program.

Special Education Exam Requirements

The Board approved changes to the exam requirements for the Standard Professional Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Moderate/Severe Disabilities, and Early Childhood Special Education certificates.  A transition period was also approved which will allow applicants to use either the previous exams or the new exams if their application is submitted on or before October 1, 2019.   The table below illustrates the new exam requirements.

School Counselor Certificate

The Board approved the following changes to the Guidance Counselor Certificate:

• The name of the certificate has been changed from “Standard Guidance Counselor, PreK-12” to “Standard School Counselor, PreK-12”.
• The rule allows school counselors to use continuing education in the area of college and career readiness to recognize that school counselors have different professional development needs than that of other certified educators.

ADE Launches AzEDCert Educator Portal for Online Certification

(Phoenix, Ariz., March 14, 2018) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas today proudly announced the launch of the Arizona Department of Education’s (ADE’s) AzEDCert Educator Portal. The new online tool will allow teachers six months away from having their certifications expire, as well as those whose certifications have lapsed within the last year, to apply for renewal from the comfort of their homes.

“I am delighted that our hardworking certified teachers and administrators will no longer have to make the inconvenient trek to Phoenix to renew their certifications,” Superintendent Douglas said. “We should do whatever we can to simplify the administrative processes of becoming an educator, while keeping our standards for educators as high as possible. I am extremely proud of our Certification Unit and our IT (Information Technology) Division for making this portal a reality for our educators.”

There are currently over 15,000 educators with active certificates who would be eligible to apply for renewal utilizing this new system. Not only would teachers and administrators no longer need to apply in person or via mail for this service, Arizona certified educators can now view their certification information on-line via the portal.

The AzEDCert Educator Portal also boasts many other features. The system will send e-mail reminders to educators who are eligible to renew prior to their certificates expiring, as well as provide e-mail alerts that update them on the status of their application throughout the process.

The cost for renewals will remain at $20 per certificate, but a $2 online convenience fee will be added per application submitted via the portal. In addition, ADE’s Certification Unit will continue to accept applications in-person and by mail.

The on-line system will not only add convenience for educators applying for renewal, but also increase the Department’s efficiency in processing applications. Additional services and features that provide further convenience with applications and other services to educators are also forthcoming.

More information about the AzEDCert Educator portal can be found on the Certification Unit’s webpage at http://www.azed.gov/educator-certification/.

Certification Updates – August 2017

Certification Rule Changes – Effective August 9, 2017

A number of significant Certification rule changes are now in effect due to the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 1042, SB 1057, and amendments to Board of Education Certification rules.  This document provides a summary of the changes to Certification rules and requirements that are in effect as of August 9, 2017.

Senate Bill 1042 Certification Changes

Certification Timeframes

Unless otherwise specified, all educator certificates will be issued and renewed for twelve years.

Provisional Teaching Certificates

Applicants who meet all applicable teacher preparation and exam requirements may now qualify for a twelve-year Standard teaching certificate.  Two years of full-time teaching experience during the valid term of a Provisional certificate will no longer be required.

Subject Matter Expert Standard Teaching Certificate (grades 6-12)

SB 1042 establishes a new Subject Matter Expert Standard Teaching certificate for grades 6-12.  The Subject Matter Expert Standard certificate requires a valid Arizona Department of Public Safety IVP fingerprint clearance card and one of the following:

• Verification of teaching experience in the applicable subject area of certification for the past two consecutive years, and for a total of at least three years, at one or more nationally or regionally accredited  postsecondary institution; or
• Official transcripts documenting a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree in the applicable subject area of certification; or
• Verification of at least five years of work experience that is relevant to the applicable subject area of certification.  “Work experience” means work experience identified in the submission of a resume verified by a hiring superintendent or personnel director at the public school or the Department of Education which demonstrates knowledge or skills relevant to a subject area.

Individuals who qualify for a Subject Matter Expert Standard certificate are exempt from the Subject Knowledge exam, Arizona Constitution, and U.S. Constitution requirements.  The Subject Matter Expert Standard certificate does require a passing score on the Professional Knowledge Secondary exam within two years from date of issuance, unless the applicant qualifies for the certificate with three years of postsecondary teaching experience.

Certification Exam Waivers

SB 1042 provides new options for Certification applicants to meet Arizona Educator Proficiency Requirements.   The new options to meet the Professional Knowledge, Subject Knowledge and Administrator exam requirements are outlined below.

Professional Knowledge Exam Waiver

Applicants may now qualify for a waiver of a Professional Knowledge exam requirement with one of the following:

• Verification of three years of full-time teaching in any state, including Arizona, in the same area of certification or endorsement in which the person is applying for certification in this state.
• A passing score on a substantially similar Professional Knowledge exam from another state.

Subject Knowledge Exam Waiver

Applicants may now qualify for a waiver a Subject Knowledge exam requirement with one of the following:

• Verification of three years of full-time teaching in any state, including Arizona, in the same subject area of certification that the applicant is applying for in this state.
• A passing score on a substantially similar Subject Knowledge exam from another state.
• A Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree in the subject area of certification.
• Verification that the applicant taught the subject area for the past two consecutive years, and for a total of three years, in an accredited college or university.
• Demonstration of expertise in the subject area through verification of at least five years of work experience in a field that is relevant to the subject area.  “Work experience” means work experience identified in the submission of a resume verified by a hiring superintendent or personnel director at the public school or the Department of Education which demonstrates knowledge or skills relevant to a subject area.
• Individuals who are applying for a Secondary certificate in a Science or Mathematics subject area may waive the Subject Knowledge exam requirement with the following:
  • Verification of five years of work experience in a Science Technology Engineering or Mathematics field; and
  • Official transcripts documenting a postsecondary degree or 24 semester hours of coursework in the Science or Mathematics subject area.

Administrator Exam Waiver

Applicants may now qualify for a waiver of Administrator exam requirement with one of the following:

• Verification of three years of full-time administrative experience in any state, including Arizona, in the same administrative area of certification that the applicant is applying for in this state.
• A passing score on a substantially similar administrative exam from another state.

Allowable Deficiency Requirements

Certificates will no longer be subject to earlier expiration due to allowable deficiencies.  Instead, a certificate with allowable deficiencies will be suspended if the certificate holder fails to complete the deficiency requirements within the allowable timeframe.  A suspension for failure to meet deficiency requirements is not a disciplinary action and the certificate holder will be allowed to correct the deficiencies within the remaining timeframe of the certificate.

New Requirements for Specialized Secondary STEM Certificate

The requirements for the Specialized Secondary Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) certificate have changed.  The new requirements for the Specialized Secondary STEM certificate are as follows:

• Demonstration of expertise in a STEM subject matter through one of the following:
  • A Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree and completion of twenty four semester hours of coursework in an academic subject that is specific to science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; or
  • Verification of teaching experience in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics for the past two consecutive years, and for a total of three years, at one or more accredited postsecondary institutions.
• Verification of work experience of five or more years in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
• A valid Arizona Department of Public Safety IVP fingerprint clearance card.

Senate Bill 1057 Certification Changes

Legislation under Senate Bill (SB) 1057 provides a new option for educators to qualify for renewal of a Standard certificate.  Under this new option, Educators who hold a renewable certificate which has expired for at least two years, but not more than ten years may qualify for renewal if they are in good standing and meet the following requirements:

• Verification of at least ten years of experience in Arizona in the same area they are seeking renewed certification; and
• A valid Arizona Department of Public Safety Identity Verified Prints (IVP) fingerprint clearance card.

Additional Certification Rule Changes

The Board adopted additional Certification rule changes related to the Elementary certificate, Emergency Teaching certificates, Teaching Intern certificate, and Certification Reciprocity rules.

Elementary Certificates

The Elementary certificate will now be valid for Kindergarten through grade 8 instead of grades one through eight.  Teachers who hold the Elementary certificate will no longer need an Early Childhood certificate or endorsement to teach kindergarten.

Emergency Teaching Certificates

The Board approved two changes to the Emergency Teaching Certificate rule:

• Emergency Teaching Certificates will no longer be issued for special education teachers.
• Emergency Teaching Certificates will no longer require completion of six semester hours of education coursework to qualify for re-issuance.

Teaching Intern Certificates

A passing score on the appropriate Subject Knowledge exam will no longer be required for applicants to qualify for the Teaching Intern certificate.  Additionally, Teaching Intern certificates will be issued for two years and may be extended yearly for two more consecutive years at no cost to the applicant.

Teaching Intern program graduates will need to pass the appropriate Professional Knowledge and Subject Knowledge exams, or qualify for a waiver of the exam requirements, in order to qualify for a Standard Professional Teaching certificate.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Certificates

Provisional CTE certificates will no longer be issued.   Instead, applicants may qualify for a Standard CTE certificates with the allowable deficiencies of Arizona Constitution, U.S. Constitution, the Professional Knowledge Secondary exam, and the required semester hours of CTE education courses.  Individuals who qualify for a Standard CTE certificate with deficiencies must complete all requirements and remove the allowable deficiencies within three years.  If a Standard CTE certificate holder fails to correct the allowable deficiencies within three years the certificate will be temporarily suspended and will not be valid for employment.  Please note that a suspension for failure to meet the allowable deficiency requirements is not a disciplinary action and the certificate holder may correct the deficiency within the remaining timeframe of the certificate.

Certification Renewal

The Board modified the renewal requirements to allow documentation of a current professional license as a counselor, social worker, psychologist, or speech pathologist to be used in lieu of proof of the required clock hours of professional development activities.  Additionally, the renewal rule has been updated to specify that awareness training regarding human trafficking of children will be accepted toward the required professional development hours for renewal.

Certification Reciprocity

The Certification Reciprocity rule now allows individuals to qualify for a comparable endorsement or Other Professional certificate if they hold a comparable certificate or endorsement from another state and are in good standing with that state.

Click here to view/download this as a PDF.