Arizona Teacher Certification

How to Become a Teacher in Arizona

In order to teach in Arizona, prospective teachers must seek Arizona teacher certification. In Arizona, teaching certificates are offered in early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education, special education, arts education Pre K-12 (art, drama, dramatic arts, music), and career and technical education. The initial teacher certificate is a provisional one, which is good for three years, and then renewable for another three years. After holding the provisional certificate, teachers may apply for a standard Arizona teaching certification.

Spotlight School

There are several items that applicants must submit in order to pursue Arizona teaching certification. First, applicants must acquire an Arizona Identity Verified Prints Fingerprint Card, which is issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Applicants must submit official transcripts from an accredited college or university. They must also complete an application for certification and submit it with an application fee to the Arizona Department of Education.

Arizona Teacher Education Requirements

The most popular teaching certification areas are elementary education, secondary education, and special education. For all of these, the education requirements are similar. Applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. One way to qualify for certification is to complete a teacher education program in their selected area from an accredited institution or a state board approved teacher preparation program. Another way to qualify for certification is to have completed 45 semester hours of education courses from an accredited institution. In the case of elementary education, 18 of those hours must be in practicum settings in grades K-8. For secondary certification, 30 semester hours of education courses must be completed, including at least 8 semester hours of practicum in grades 7-12. For special education, 45 semester hours of education courses must be completed, with 21 of them in practicum settings serving students with disabilities. A third way to obtain certification is to have a valid education certificate in the same field from another state.

Arizona Teacher Testing Requirements

In addition to the testing requirements for each certification area described below, applicants must submit verification of one semester hour or fifteen clock hours of Structured English Immersion training or three semester hours or 45 clocks hours of SEI training. In addition, applicants must show that they have had college coursework or an appropriate examination in the Arizona Constitution and the United States Constitution.

For elementary education, applicants must submit a passing score on the Professional Knowledge: Elementary portion and the Subject Knowledge: Elementary portion of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment. Alternatively, they may submit passing scores of comparable exams from another state or agency.

For secondary education, applicants must submit a passing score on the Professional Knowledge: Secondary portion and the Subject Knowledge: Secondary portion of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment or another comparable exam from another state or agency.

For special education, there are several certification areas and several tests that may be taken to meet requirements. Applicants must submit passing scores on the Professional Knowledge and Subject Knowledge exams in their desired certification in special education.

Arizona Teacher Salary and Jobs

Type	Number Employed	Average Annual Salary
Preschool Teachers	6,580	$27,390
Kindergarten Teachers	3,420	$41,490
Elementary School Teachers	23,450	$42,500
Middle School Teachers	9,640	$42,480
Secondary School Teachers	21,430	$42,920

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011.

Profiles of Well Known Schools

University of Arizona: The University of Arizona, located in Tucson, is home to the state’s first College of Education. The first class consisted of 145 students who enrolled in the teacher preparation program in 1922. The college focuses on preparing classroom teachers, special educators, counselors, principals and superintendents for the K-12 system as well as higher education. The UA College of Education is one of the largest schools on campus and is home to 60 full-time faculty members and 30 adjunct professors all holding doctoral degrees in related subjects in which they teach. The College features programs that specialize in educating rehabilitation counselors as well as educators that work with the deaf and blind – both programs are unique to the state. Joan Ganz Cooney, creator and founder of Sesame Street, graduated from the University Of Arizona College Of Education.

Arizona State University: Arizona State University is known for its highly regarded teacher preparation programs offered at all of the university’s locations in Phoenix, downtown Phoenix, online, and Tempe. The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College prepares educators at all levels from undergraduate to doctoral. The College’s graduate offerings in particular are typically very highly ranked in the annual edition of US News & World Report ranking publication and have made the list for 12 consecutive years. The College’s master degree offerings are known for their rigor, innovation and flexibility. They are designed for full-time working professionals who teach during the day and attend college in the evening or online. Many of the master’s degrees can be completed in as little as 18 months. Majors include Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Physical Education and Special Education.

Arizona Teacher Interview

Interview with Chyleen Lauritzen, President of the Arizona State Music Teachers Association

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Arizona

Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools

Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a Teacher in Arizona

Question: How do you become a substitute teacher in Arizona?

Answer: To become a substitute teacher in Arizona, you need to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university of college. You must also pass a background check and then apply for the state’s substitute certificate. Once you have the certificate, you can apply to individual districts. http://www.azed.gov/educator-certification/files/2011/09/substitute-certificate.pdf?20121127

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Arizona

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287
(480) 965-9011
students.asu.edu/admission

Cochise College
4190 W Highway 80
Douglas, AZ 85607-9724
(520) 515-0500
www.cochise.edu/information/students/admissions/index.asp

Eastern Arizona College
615 N. Stadium Ave.
Thatcher, AZ 85552-0769
(928) 428-8322

GateWay Community College
108 N. 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
(602) 392-5000

Glendale Community College-Glendale
6000 W Olive Ave
Glendale, AZ 85302
(623) 845-3000

Grand Canyon University
3300 W Camelback Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85017
(800) 800-9776

International Academy of Hair Design-Chandler
3350 N Arizona Ave Ste 4
Chandler, AZ 85225-7198
(480) 820-9422

Mesa Community College
1833 W Southern Ave
Mesa, AZ 85202
(602) 461-7000

Mohave Community College
1971 Jagerson Ave
Kingman, AZ 86409-1238
(928) 757-4331

Northern Arizona University
Knoles Drive
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4132
(928) 523-9011
home.nau.edu/admissions/undergrad.asp

Northland Pioneer College
2251 E. Navajo Blvd.
Holbrook, AZ 86025-0610
(928) 524-7600

Ottawa University-Phoenix
10020 North 25th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85021
(602) 371-1188

Pima Community College
401 North Bonita Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85709-5000
(520) 206-4500
www.pima.edu/admissions/index.shtml

Prescott College
220 Grove Ave
Prescott, AZ 86301
(877) 350-2100
www.prescott.edu/admissions/index.html

Scottsdale Community College
9000 E Chaparral Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85256
(480) 423-6000

Southwestern College-Phoenix
2625 E Cactus Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85032-7097
(602) 489-5300
www.swcaz.edu

Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Scottsdale
7201 E. Camelback #100
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 994-4222

University of Arizona
1401 E University
Tucson, AZ 85721-0066
(520) 621-2211
admissions.arizona.edu

University of Phoenix-Phoenix-Hohokam Campus
4635 East Elwood Street
Phoenix, AZ 85040-1958
(800) 776-4867

Page edited by Charles Sipe.