|
| Post-Baccalaureate Programs |
|
In order to be admitted into a post-baccalaureate program, a student must hold a bachelor’s degree in any area. Post-baccalaureate degree programs are offered in early childhood, elementary education, secondary education, and special education.
The Arizona Department of Education’s (ADE) Alternative Pathways to Certification Program provides an accelerated pathway to teacher certification for mid-career professionals and recent college graduates interested in teaching. In pursuing teacher certification, participants will teach under the “Teaching Intern” certificate. Upon following the Teaching Intern guidelines, participants will be “highly qualified” as per No Child Left Behind requirements and “appropriately certified” as per Arizona Certification requirements. Participants will be able to teach immediately following the pre-service training program and receive full teaching salary and benefits, which ensures no loss of income for participants. Upon successful completion of the two-year teacher preparation program at a participating college or university, and a passing score on the Professional Knowledge Exam of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment, participants receive an institutional recommendation for their provisional teaching certificate.
|
| • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • |
|
Scottsdale Community College (SCC) offers a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program in collaboration with local elementary and middle schools that is approved by the Arizona State Board of Education. The Scottsdale Teacher Education Partnership (STEP) program is a field-based immersion program where student interns learn through direct experiences in classrooms with children. The ten-month, full-time, teacher-in-training model allows students to spend 14 hours per week in classrooms and two afternoons per week in methods courses at the SCC campus. This fast-track program fulfills the requirements for Elementary Teacher Certification (K-8) and Provisional English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement. |
| • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • |
|
Rio Salado College offers an Arizona State Board of Education approved teacher certification program with four major components: online coursework, site-based practicum, nine weeks of student teaching, and Master Teacher seminars. This program enables you to obtain a teaching certificate in elementary, secondary, early childhood or special education. The online teacher education course work begins every two weeks for easy scheduling and can be completed in 14 weeks or as few as six weeks with instructor approval. |
| • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • |
|
The Arizona Department of Education requires all potential teachers to pass the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) in order to become certified. 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.
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. |
| • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • |
|
Once you have completed your coursework, passed 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.
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.
Arizona reciprocates with every state that offers a comparable certificate. Applicants apply for a Reciprocal Provisional Teaching Certificate and have one year to complete the required AEPA, 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 Certificates require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. They are valid for six years and are 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. |
|
