Educator Certification: Deficiency Removal

Allowable deficiencies must be corrected by the due date identified on your certificate(s). If the deficiency is not corrected by the due date, your Arizona Educator Certificate will be placed on a non-disciplinary suspension until the deficiency has been corrected. 

To determine the exact deficiency for your certificate, please refer to your certificate, or log into My Certification Portal, or search the Arizona Department of Education Public Portal Search. 

Once you have met the requirement for your specific deficiency you will need to apply to remove the deficiency. You now may apply online at My Certification Portal, or by completing the Application to Remove a Deficiency and mail it to the address on the form along with a $20 (check or money order).

If the requirements have been met, an updated certificate will be mailed to you. If additional information is needed you will be notified by mail. 

Certificate holders have 2 options to correct the AZ/U.S. Constitution deficiency. 

  • Pass the exam: "Constitutions of the United States and Arizona" (AZ033) and request that the results be submitted to the Arizona Department of Education. Please visit the Testing Information page for additional information. OR
  • Take the appropriate course(s) through an accredited institution. Upon completion of the course, request that your university/college submit official transcripts to [email protected] or submit transcripts via Parchment. 

Those holding a Subject Matter Expert OR a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Certificate and need to correct the Professional Knowledge Exam - Secondary Education deficiency may meet this requirement with one of the options below. 

Select Option A, B, C, or D:

  • Option A: Take and pass the NES or AEPA Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Secondary exam. Please visit Testing Information for additional information. 
  • Option B: Submit an official score report documenting that you passed a substantially similar Professional Knowledge Secondary examination from another state or agency. Please visit Testing Information for a list of out-of-state equivalent exams. 
  • Option C: Hold a valid, comparable certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Submit a photocopy of the certificate.
  • Option D: Three years of full-time teaching experience in any state, including Arizona, in grades 6-12. Submit a Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience form signed and completed by the District Superintendent or Personnel/HR Director to verify teaching experience. Teaching experience in a foreign school or substitute teaching does not meet this requirement. Have the HR Department submit the form via our Certification Contact Form or to [email protected].

Those holding a Career and Technical Education Certificate OR a School Counselor Certificate must take the appropriate course work through an accredited institution or complete approved professional development (CTE holders only). 

 CTE Certificate holders:

Up to fifteen (15) semester hours of courses in professional knowledge in career and technical education, to include any of the following areas: principles/philosophy of career and technical education; developmentally appropriate instructional delivery, facilitation, and methodologies; instructional technology; instructional design, and lesson planning to include modifications and accommodations, assessing, monitoring, and reporting progress; the learning environment to include classroom management; teaching students with exceptionalities; or professional responsibility and ethical conduct. 

  • Fifteen semester hours may be obtained through Board or Department-CTE approved professional development. Fifteen clock hours of approved professional development equals one semester hour. Note: Professional Development provided by your district may not meet this requirement.  For information on Department-CTE approved trainings that may be used to satisfy this deficiency, please see the Arizona Department of Education CTE  approved Teacher PD for Certification Credit.

Counselor Certificate holders:

If you are deficient in Phonics, Reading Intervention, and/or Ethics the following will be accepted: 

Standard Professional Early Childhood and Standard Professional Elementary Certificates: 

  • Science of Reading (Phonics): Three (3) semester hours of college coursework, or 45 clock hours of approved training, in research-based science of reading, including systematic phonics.
  • Reading Intervention (Dyslexia): Three (3) semester hours of college coursework, or 45 clock hours of approved training, in research-based instructional strategies for delivering differentiated reading instruction, assessment, intervention, and remediation to support readers of varying ages and ability levels, including students with dyslexia. 
    • Follow the link for a list of approved Science of Reading (Phonics) and Reading Intervention (Dyslexia) trainings. 

Standard Professional Middle Grade, Secondary, and all Special Education Teaching Certificates:

  • Phonics: A college course or approved training in research-based systematic phonics.
  • Dyslexia: A college course or approved training in research-based instructional strategies for delivering differentiated reading instruction, assessment, intervention, and remediation to support readers of varying ages and ability levels, including students with dyslexia.
    • Follow this link for a list of approved Phonics and Dyslexia trainings. 

Standard Professional Teaching Certificates (All)

  • Ethics: A college course or Board-approved training in professional responsibility and ethical conduct.
    • The Board has approved the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Prevention and Correction: Overview Training to meet the Ethics deficiency. Click here for more information: Ethics Training. 

Subject Matter Expert Certificates

  • SME-Ethics: Completion of a Board-approved training in professionalism and ethics. 
    • The Board has approved the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Prevention and Correction: Overview Training to meet the Ethics deficiency. Click here for more information: Ethics Training.