Elementary Education

Requirements

To teach elementary school in Arizona’s public and most private and charter schools you must have an Elementary Teaching Certificate, which allows you to teach in grades K-8. In order to teach pre-kindergarten through third grade, you must possess an Early Childhood Teaching Certificate or Endorsement . Elementary education requires a potential teacher to have knowledge of child development, how children learn, and appropriate teaching strategies and methodologies for imparting knowledge in a variety of subject areas. In order to attain this certificate, you must 1) have a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an approved teacher education program (including student teaching), 2) pass the Arizona Education Proficiency Assessment, 3) pass the U.S. and Arizona Constitution classes, and 4) be fingerprinted by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. All requirements must be submitted to the Arizona Department of Education as outlined.

A typical Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education includes at least 120 credits of post-secondary coursework. The first 60 credits of lower division courses can be completed at a community college or a university.

The first two years includes 35 hours of general education studies and 25 hours of more specific course work.  The general education coursework, that prepares students to be well-rounded teachers in all content areas, usually includes English, Math, Science, Humanities & Fine Arts, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Literacy and Critical Thinking. All community colleges in the state provide strong academic programs that will prepare students to pass the content portion of the teacher licensure exam. To read more about the general studies component, view AGEC Requirements. The other 25 hours of the first two years of lower division courses are a combination of program requirements, education courses in Theory of Math, Orientation to the Exceptional Child, Cultural Diversity and electives. Most programs also have a field component built into the first two years.

The second two years of upper division courses are filled with professional education courses specific to teaching elementary school children, some electives, and student teaching. Many programs will allow the option to specialize in areas (i.e. multilingual/multicultural education) to meet the needs of the changing population around Arizona.

The Arizona Department of Education also requires forty-five clock hours or 3 semester hours of instruction in research-based systematic phonics before they will grant a teaching certificate.

View this checksheet as an example of program specific coursework. Each college and university will have their own version of a checksheet to help students plan the appropriate courses to fit a specific degree.

Programs

There are many programs available in the state of Arizona to achieve a Bachelor’s degree in education and many avenues to accomplish this. All community colleges around the state offer lower division courses or an Associate degree, which can include beginning courses in education. Most community colleges also offer Transfer Partnership degrees that allow students to smoothly transfer to a university. Universities offer both lower division and upper division courses.

Visit the website of the Community College or University closest to you.

Testing

The Arizona Department of Education requires all potential teachers to pass the Arizona Educators Proficiency Assessment (AEPA). The AEPA test objectives are broad, conceptual statements written in language that reflects the skills, knowledge, and understanding that an entry-level educator needs to practice effectively in Arizona schools, and are based on Arizona’s Professional Teacher Standards (pdf)

The AEPA consists of a subject knowledge test and a professional knowledge test. The subject knowledge portion tests the potential candidate’s competency in the content area he or she may teach. The professional knowledge portion tests the potential candidates competencies in the professional skills required to be a teacher.

Certification

The following institutions have State Board Approved Professional Teacher Preparation Programs: Arizona State University, Arizona Teacher’s Institute, Capella University, Grand Canyon University, Northern Arizona University, Ottawa University, Pima Community College, Prescott College, Rio Salado College, Scottsdale Community College, Southwestern College, University of Arizona and University of Phoenix.

Once you have completed your coursework, passed both sections of the AEPA and obtained a fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, you can apply for a Teaching Certificate. A potential teacher must acquire a provisional certificate first, which is valid for two years and not renewable.  After holding a provision teaching certificate for two years, a standard teaching certificate must be obtained.  The standard certificate is valid for six years and renewable.

As of August 31, 2006, a Structured English Immersion, Bilingual Education or English as a Second Language Endorsement will also be required of all classroom teachers in Arizona.

Emergency Certificates: May be offered in extreme circumstances if a school district requests the certificate.  There are specific requirements and it is valid for one year.

Reciprocal Provisional Teaching Certificate: Arizona reciprocates with every state that offers a comparable certificate. Applicants have one year to complete the required AEPA proficiency exams, and waivers are offered for those teachers who meet specific criteria. Applicants must also obtain a fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, or submit information verifying a valid fingerprint card from an approved state.

Substitute Certificate: Requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. It is valid for 6 years and is renewable. A substitute teacher is limited to teaching 120 days in the same school each school year, and may not be assigned a contract position. A person holding a valid Arizona Teaching or Administrative Certificate is not required to hold a Substitute Certificate to be employed as a substitute teacher.