Early Childhood Education, Birth-Grade 3 Endorsement
Overview: The Early Childhood Education, Birth-Grade 3 endorsement authorizes the holder to teach all subjects in a Birth - grade 3 or age 8 classroom. When added to an Arizona Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Moderate/Severe Disabilities, Cross-Categorical Special Education, or Specialized Special Education (ID, ED, LD, or OHI) teaching certificate the endorsement also authorizes the holder to teach in an early childhood special education, birth-grade 3 classroom. Requirements for certification are subject to change and fully referenced in the Arizona Revised Statutes and State Board of Education Rules.
Out-of-State Certificate Holders: If you hold a valid, comparable educator certificate or endorsement in another state, please see the Certification Reciprocity Requirements for information on applying under reciprocity rules.
A formal review is required to verify that all requirements have been met. Please visit "How to Submit Official Documents" below for the proper submission of the required documents. Failure to submit documents as described could cause a delay in the processing of the application.
- Prerequisite Certificate: You hold a valid Arizona Elementary or Special Education teaching certificate to apply for this endorsement.
- Application and Fee: Submit the Application for Certification and required fee. The fee for this endorsement is $60. Fees are non-refundable. .
- AZDPS IVP Card: Verify through the ADE Educator Portal that your valid Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) IVP fingerprint clearance card is on file with ADE or include a photocopy of the AZDPS IVP card with your application.
- Exam(s): Submit a copy of the passing score on the required Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment or appropriate documentation to meet exam requirement(s).
- Official Transcripts (if applicable): Have your college or university send official transcript(s) documenting all applicable coursework.
- Note: If you completed your degree and applicable coursework at an institution outside of the United States, you must submit a course-by-course evaluation from a Department approved foreign credential evaluation agency. Please see the "Approved Foreign Credential Evaluation" list.
- Teaching Experience (if applicable): If you are using teaching experience to meet endorsement requirements, please have your school/school human resources office complete and submit the Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience form.
The Provisional Early Childhood, Birth-Age 8 or Grade 3 endorsement is valid for three years and is not renewable. The requirements are:
- Prerequisite Certificate: A valid Arizona Elementary or Special Education teaching certificate;
-AND-
- Subject Knowledge Exam - Proof that you meet the Subject Knowledge Early Childhood Education exam requirement with one of the following:
- Arizona Exam: A passing score on the AEPA Subject Knowledge Early Childhood Education (AZ036) exam; -OR-
- Out-of-State Exam: A passing score on a similar Subject Knowledge Exam from another state or agency; -OR-
- Degree: A Bachelor’s, Master's, or Doctorate degree from an accredited institution in Early Childhood Education; -OR-
- Teaching Experience: Three years of full-time teaching experience in any state, including Arizona, in a self-contained early childhood classroom, grades PreK through 3.
- Note: Teaching experience in a foreign country or substitute teaching does not meet the requirement.
The full Early Childhood Education, Birth-Age 8 or Grade 3 endorsement is automatically renewed with the certificate on which it is posted. The requirements are:
- Prerequisite Certificate: A valid Arizona Elementary or Special Education teaching certificate
-AND-
- Subject Knowledge Proficiency - Proof that you meet the Subject Knowledge Early Childhood Education exam requirement with one of the following:
- Arizona Exam: A passing score on the AEPA Subject Knowledge Early Childhood Education (AZ036) exam; -OR-
- Out-of-State Exam: A passing score on a similar Subject Knowledge Early Childhood Education examination from another state or agency; -OR-
- Degree: A Bachelor’s, Master's, or Doctorate degree from an accredited institution in Early Childhood Education; -OR-
- Teaching Experience: Three years of full-time teaching experience in any state, including Arizona, in a self-contained early childhood classroom, grades PreK through 3.
- Note: Teaching experience in a foreign country or substitute teaching does not meet the requirement.
-AND-
One of the following: Option A, B, or C
Option A: Coursework and Practicums/Experience
- Coursework: Completion of 21 semester hours of early childhood education courses to include all of the following areas of study:
- Foundations of early childhood education;
- Child guidance and classroom management;
- Characteristics and quality practices for typical and atypical behaviors of young children;
- Child growth and development, including health, safety, and nutrition;
- Child, family, cultural and community relationships;
- Developmentally appropriate instructional methodologies for teaching language, math, science, social studies and the arts;
- Early language and literacy development;
- Assessing, monitoring, and reporting the progress of young children; -AND-
- Practicums/Experience: A minimum of eight semester hours of practicum to include:
- Four semester hours of a supervised field experience, practicum, internship, or student teaching setting serving children from birth through preschool. -OR- One year of verified, full-time teaching experience with children from birth through preschool. -AND-
- Four semester hours of student teaching in kindergarten through grade 3. -OR- One year of verified, full-time teaching experience with children in kindergarten through grade 3.
Option B: Professional Knowledge Exam and Practicum/Experience
- Professional Knowledge Exam. One of the following:
- Arizona Exam: A passing score on the AEPA Professional Knowledge Early Childhood (AZ093) exam.
- Out-of-State Exam: A passing score on a similar Professional Knowledge Early Childhood examination from another state or agency.
- Practicums/Experience: Eight semester hours of practicum, including:
- Four semester hours of a supervised field experience, practicum, internship, or student teaching setting serving children from birth through preschool -OR- One year of verified, full-time teaching experience with children from birth through preschool. -AND-
- Four semester hours of student teaching in kindergarten through grade 3 -OR- One year of verified, full-time teaching experience with children in kindergarten through grade 3.
Option C: Teaching Experience:
- Three years of full-time teaching experience in any state, including Arizona, in a Birth - Grade 3 classroom.
Documents Requiring Submission by the Verifying Authority
- Official Transcripts: Transcripts that are uploaded through the educator portal or emailed by the applicant are not official and will not be accepted. Official transcripts and foreign credential evaluations must be submitted as follows:
- Electronic official transcripts must be submitted directly by the college or university to [email protected] or through Parchment.
- Paper official transcripts must be in a sealed envelope and mailed by the college or university to the Arizona Department of Education - Certification Unit; PO Box 6490, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6490.
- Foreign credential evaluations must be sent directly by the approved foreign credential evaluation agency to [email protected] or mailed to the Arizona Department of Education - Certification Unit.
- Out-of-State Exam Score Reports: If you are using out-of-state exams, include a copy of the out-of-state score report with your application and have exams verified as follows:
- Forward the Verification of Out-of-State Exams form to the state agency that accepted the exam. This form must be completed and submitted by an official with the state agency.
- If you are using Praxis exam(s), have your scores reported by ETS to the Arizona Department of Education (8517).
- Verification of Teaching Experience: If submitting teaching experience in place of the practicum or subject knowledge exam requirement, please forward the Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience form to your school/district human resources office with a request to verify your experience. The form must be submitted by school/district human resources to our online Contact Form.
Accepted Photocopies from the Applicant
- AZDPS IVP Card: Submit a photocopy of the Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance card.
- Arizona Exam: Submit a photocopy of the official score report.
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Pursuant to section 41-1093.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, an agency shall limit all occupational regulations to regulations that are demonstrated to be necessary to specifically fulfill a public health, safety, or welfare concern. Pursuant to sections 41-1093.02 and 41-1093.03, Arizona Revised Statutes, you have the right to petition this agency to repeal or modify the occupational regulation or bring an action in a court of general jurisdiction to challenge the occupational regulation and to ensure compliance with section 41-1093.01, Arizona Revised Statutes.
