Arkansas Teacher Certification
How to Become a Teacher in Arkansas
Arkansas is one state that, in the past decade, has implemented a performance-based certification system. New teachers (all those with less than one year of teaching experience) must follow this route in order to earn an Arkansas teacher certification.
- I want to be a teacher in Arkansas, but don’t have a degree: Earn an Education Degree
- I want to be a teacher and have a degree, but not in education: Learn about Arkansas’ Alternative Certification Process and Programs
- I have a teaching degree and am interested in more education: Learn about Master’s Degree Education Programs or Doctorate Education Programs and Information.
Spotlight School
Popular Programs:
- Master's-Education
- Graduate Certificate-Management of Education Corporation/Corporate Training Divisions
- Graduate Certificate-Education Leadership
- Graduate Certificate-Curriculum Leadership
First, a candidate for becoming a teacher in Arkansas must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in order to qualify for any teaching certificate. They must complete a background check, and complete the Praxis I, Praxis II, and Praxis III. People who complete all of those through an Arkansas approved teacher education program or the Arkansas Non-Traditional Licensure Program may obtain an initial teaching license. The initial teaching license is valid for three years. This three-year period is considered the induction period for new teachers. During the induction period, new teachers are assigned an experienced teacher as a mentor to support them in their teaching practice and professional growth. When the pair decides that the new teacher meets the mentoring requirements, the Praxis III (the capstone experience of the induction period) is scheduled. After the teacher completes the performance assessment successfully, he/she will receive a standard Arkansas teaching certification.
The standard teaching license in Arkansas is valid for five years. Renewal after that is dependent on the teacher’s completion of 60 professional development hours each year.
Arkansas Teacher Education Requirements
The traditional route for acquiring a teaching license in Arkansas is through a state-approved teacher education program from a regionally accredited college or university. These programs typically include a major in elementary education, special education, and secondary education with a particular content focus.
If an applicant wishes to pursue a teaching license in Arkansas through the non-traditional route, he or she must simply have at least a bachelor’s degree in any area, then enroll in the Non-Traditional Licensure Program.
In January 2012, Arkansas’ unemployment rate rose to 8.4%, nearing the national average of 8.5% reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Occupational Supply & Demand System has projected 2,329 annual job openings related to teaching and education through 2018. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 37,162 public school and 3,150 private school teachers employed in Arkansas in 2008 and 2007 respectively. The average starting salary for teachers in Arkansas is $30,525 and the overall average salary ranks 43rd in the nation at $46,500 (NEA 2012). According to the Arkansas Education Association, the largest active union for education professionals in the state, 312 new teachers obtained their national board certifications in 2011, ranking Arkansas 6th in new National Board Certified Teachers for the year. Additionally, the Sunshine Review reports that approximately 34% of Arkansas teachers hold Master’s degrees. With the rise in teacher certifications and an increase in demand for Science, Math and ESL teachers, now is a promising time to research graduate school opportunities and certification options for becoming a teacher in Arkansas.
Arkansas Teacher Testing Requirements
As in many other states, the Praxis Exam Series is required for teacher certification in Arkansas. The Praxis I assessment is a basic skills test in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. These are most often taken at the beginning of a teacher preparation program. The Praxis II assessment is a more advanced test of professional knowledge and subject area content knowledge. These are usually taken toward the end of a teacher preparation program. The Praxis III assessments are performance assessments, which, in Arkansas, are administered by the Office of Teacher Quality. This includes interviews before and after a classroom observation, written descriptions of the teacher’s class and subject matter, and observation of instructional practices by a state-certified performance assessor.
Arkansas Teacher Salary and Jobs
| Type | Number Employed | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 3,690 | $28,220 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | 2,420 | $44,080 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 12,120 | $44,580 |
| Middle School Teachers | 7,130 | $46,450 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 9,720 | $46,710 |
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011.
Profiles of Well Known Schools
Arkansas State University: Arkansas State University is home to the state’s flagship education department which is housed within the College of Education. The College of Education, known as COE, is widely regarded as one of the top teacher preparation programs in the state. The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) as well as the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the Council on Rehabilitative Counseling (CORE). The university’s full-time faculty members are thoroughly engaged in research, but unlike many other academic institutions, they also focus heavily on undergraduate instruction. This ensures undergraduates receive personal instruction from full-time, tenured faculty members that have years of experience and research in the industry. Departments within the COE include the Center for Excellence in Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education, Department of Health and Sports Science, Department of Psychology and Counseling and The Department of Teacher Education.
School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Arkansas
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
Popular Programs:
- MA in Education (Leadership in Early Childhood Education)
- BA in Early Childhood Education
- MA in Educational Leadership and Administration (Tier 1)
- MA in Education with Instructional Technology Emphasis
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- B.S. in Early Childhood Education (Birth - 5 Years)
- M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction: Curriculum & Instruction: Early Childhood Education
- Special Education (Early Childhood/Elementary)
- Educational Administration: (EDD)
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- AA in Education (Non-Licensure)
- M.Ed. - Teaching and Learning
- M.Ed. Teaching and Learning - Elementary Education
- MA in Teaching - Elementary Education
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- Master's-Education
- Graduate Certificate-Management of Education Corporation/Corporate Training Divisions
- Graduate Certificate-Education Leadership
- Graduate Certificate-Curriculum Leadership
Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Arkansas
Arkansas Northeastern College
2501 S Division
Blytheville, AR 72316-1109
(870) 762-1020
Arkansas State University-Beebe
1000 Iowa Street
Beebe, AR 72012-1000
(501) 882-3600
www.asub.edu/admissions/
Arkansas State University-Main Campus
2105 E. Aggie Road
State University, AR 72467
(870) 972-2100
admissions.astate.edu/
Arkansas Tech University
Administration Bldg 200; 1509 N Boulder Ave
Russellville, AR 72801-2222
(479) 968-0389
admissions.atu.edu/
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
183 Hwy 399
De Queen, AR 71832
(870) 584-4471
cccua.edu
East Arkansas Community College
1700 Newcastle Rd
Forrest City, AR 72335
(870) 633-4480
Harding University
915 E. Market Ave.
Searcy, AR 72143
(501) 279-4000
www.harding.edu/admissions/
Henderson State University
1100 Henderson Street
Arkadelphia, AR 71999-0001
(870) 230-5000
www.getreddie.com/
Hot Springs Beauty College
100 Cones Rd
Hot Springs, AR 71901
(501) 624-4258
John Brown University
2000 W University St
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
(479) 524-9500
www.jbu.edu/admissions/
Margarets Hair Academy Inc
305 East Gaines Street
Monticello, AR 71655
(870) 367-5533
Mid-South Community College
2000 W. Broadway
West Memphis, AR 72301-3829
(870) 733-6722
National Park Community College
101 College Dr
Hot Springs, AR 71913
(501) 760-4222
www.npcc.edu
North Arkansas College
1515 Pioneer Dr
Harrison, AR 72601-5508
(870) 743-3000
www.northark.edu/students/student_serv/admissions/index.htm
Ouachita Baptist University
410 Ouachita St
Arkadelphia, AR 71998-0001
(870) 245-5000
Ouachita Technical College
One College Cir
Malvern, AR 72104-0816
(501) 337-5000
Ozarka College
218 College Dr
Melbourne, AR 72556-0010
(870) 368-7371
Pulaski Technical College
3000 W Scenic Dr
North Little Rock, AR 72118-3347
(501) 812-2200
Rich Mountain Community College
1100 College Dr
Mena, AR 71953
(479) 394-7622
South Arkansas Community College
300 S West Ave
El Dorado, AR 71731-7010
(870) 862-8131
www.southark.edu/prospective-students/dynpage.asp?pageID=916
Southeast Arkansas College
1900 Hazel
Pine Bluff, AR 71603
(870) 543-5900
www.seark.edu/student/index.php
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
100 E. University
Magnolia, AR 71753
(870) 235-4000
www.saumag.edu/student_affairs/admissions/
Southern Arkansas University Tech
100 Carr Road
Camden, AR 71701-1906
(870) 574-4500
University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville
2005 White Drive
Batesville, AR 72503-3350
(870) 612-2000
University of Arkansas Community College-Hope
2500 S Main
Hope, AR 71802-0140
(870) 777-5722
University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton
1537 University Blvd.
Morrilton, AR 72110
(501) 977-2000
www.uaccm.edu/Future_Student/Admission_Requirements.htm
University of Arkansas Main Campus
Administration Bldg 425
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-2000
admissions.uark.edu/
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2801 S University Ave
Little Rock, AR 72204
(501) 569-3000
www.ualr.edu/admissions
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Highway 425 South
Monticello, AR 71656
(870) 367-6811
www.uamont.edu/admissions/
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
1200 N University Mail Slot 4789
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
(870) 575-8000
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
5210 Grand Ave
Fort Smith, AR 72913-3649
(479) 788-7000
www.uafortsmith.edu/Future
University of Central Arkansas
201 Donaghey Ave
Conway, AR 72035-0001
(501) 450-5000
www.beabear.com
University of the Ozarks
415 N College Ave
Clarksville, AR 72830
(479) 979-1000
admissions.ozarks.edu
Velvatex College of Beauty Culture
1520 Martin Luther King Dr
Little Rock, AR 72202-5452
(501) 372-9678
www.velvatexcollege.com
Williams Baptist College
60 W Fulbright Avenue
Walnut Ridge, AR 72476
(870) 886-6741
www.wbcoll.edu/admissions/
Page edited by Charles Sipe.
