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September 2022 Certification Updates
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Updates to Certification Rules
Subject Matter Expert Certificate, 6-12
Certificate Information
Overview: This certificate authorizes the holder to teach the approved area indicated on the certificate in grades 6-12. Additional approved areas or endorsements may not be added to this certificate EXCEPT the full SEI, full ESL, or the full Bilingual endorsements. The certificate is valid for 12 years and is renewable. Requirements may be subject to change and are fully referenced in the Arizona Revised Statutes and Administrative Code R7-2-601, R7-2-607, and R7-2-610.02.
To qualify for this certificate, applicants must have a bachelor's or more advanced degree and meet the Subject Knowledge Expertise Requirement (Option A, B, or C).
A formal review is required to verify that all requirements have been met. Please visit the "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.
- Application: A completed application for certification.
- Fee: The fee for this certificate is $60. Per Board-rule, certification fees are non-refundable.
- Attestation: A completed Social Media and Cellphone Use Attestation form, all pages.
- AZDPS IP Card: A valid Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.
- Official Transcripts: Official Transcripts documenting a Bachelor's degree and all applicable coursework.
- Note: If you completed your degree and applicable coursework at an institution outside of the United States, you must submit an evaluation from a Department approved foreign credential evaluation agency. Please see the "Approved Foreign Credential Evaluation Agencies" list.
- Verification Letter (if applicable): If applicable, please have the appropriate authority email a letter verifying your postsecondary teaching or work experience to [email protected] . Please see the Subject Knowledge Expertise Requirement (Option A or C) for further information.
The Subject Matter Expert Standard, Grades 6-12 certificate requires a bachelor's degree and one of the following:
Option A: Postsecondary Teaching Experience:
- Verification from a college or university department chair or dean that you have taught courses in the applicable subject area for the last two consecutive years, and a total of at least three years, at one or more regionally or nationally accredited postsecondary institutions.
This option has allowable deficiencies, please see the "Allowable Deficiencies" tab below.
OR
Option B: Degree in Subject Area
- Degree in Subject Area: • A Bachelor’s, Master's, or Doctoral degree from an accredited institution in the requested subject area. Please see the Degree Matrix for degrees that have been reviewed by the Board for the Subject Matter Expert certificate.
This option has allowable deficiencies, please see the "Allowable Deficiencies" tab below.
OR
Option C: Work Experience:
- Verification of five years of work experience in the applicable subject area of certification. One of the following is required:
- Option 1: District/Charter School Letter. A letter, on official letterhead, from a superintendent or personnel director verifying that the applicant demonstrates knowledge or skill in the subject area that is comparable to holding a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctoral degree in that subject area through five years of work experience, as identified in a resume; or
- Option 2: District/Charter/Private School Letter. A letter, on official letterhead, from a public or private school superintendent or personnel director in this state or in another state, verifying that the applicant has five years of experience teaching the most advanced Arizona academic standards, or comparable out-of-state standards, in the subject area sought; or
- Option 3: Employer Letter. If you are unable to obtain a letter from the superintendent or personnel director to meet Option 1 or 2, you may submit a letter (on official business letterhead) from a current or former supervisor detailing your work experience for review by the Department. The Department will review the letter to determine if it shows proof of five years of work experience that demonstrates knowledge or skills in the requested subject area that is comparable to holding a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctoral degree in that subject area.
Note: If needed, please inform your district/school human resources office that they may request a letter template to verify that you meet Option 1 or 2 by emailing [email protected].
This option has allowable deficiencies, please see the "Allowable Deficiencies" tab below.
This certificate allows for the following deficiencies and will be due within 2-years of the issuance of the certificate.
- Professional Knowledge Exam: (The exam is not required for those who qualify under Option A).
- Option A: A passing score on the APEA/NES Assessment of Professional Knowledge - Secondary Education (NT052) Exam OR
- Option B: Out-of-State Exam - a passing score on a similar professional knowledge exam from another state OR
- Option C: Teaching Experience: Three years of full-time teaching experience in any state, including Arizona, in grades 6-12. Please have the district/school email a completed Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience form to [email protected] .
- Experience teaching in a foreign school or substitute experience does not meet this requirement.
- Ethics: Completion of Board-approved training in professionalism and ethics.
Applicants will have 2 years to complete the above allowable deficiency requirements. If the deficiencies are not met within the allowable timeframe, the certificate will be placed on non-disciplinary suspension until the deficiencies are corrected. For additional information and resources for meeting these deficiencies please visit the Deficiency Removal page.
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].
- Paper official transcripts must be in a sealed envelope and mailed by the college or university to 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.
- Verification of Experience. If applicable, please have the appropriate verifying authority email a letter (on official letterhead) verifying postsecondary teaching or work experience to [email protected].
Accepted Photocopies from the Applicant
- AZDPS IVP Card. Submit a photocopy of the Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance card.
Ready to apply - click here for step-by-step directions
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.
