Certification Updates March 2020

On February 24, 2020, the Board of Education adopted new special education endorsements for teachers of students with mild/moderate and moderate/severe disabilities.   The new endorsements will enable certified, experienced teachers to become qualified to teach special education without completing an additional teacher preparation program.

Certified teachers may apply for either a three-year, non-renewable provisional endorsement or a full endorsement in mild/moderate or moderate/severe disabilities special education.

The requirements for the provisional special education endorsements are:

• A valid Arizona Standard Professional Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, Secondary, or Special Education teaching certificate; and
• Verification of three years of full-time teaching experience in preschool through grade twelve; and
• Six semester hours of specified special education courses; and
• Verification of 15 clock hours of special education practicum, which may be embedded in the six semester hours of courses.

The requirements for the full special education endorsements are:

• A valid Arizona Standard Professional Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, Secondary, or Special Education teaching certificate; and
• Verification of three years of full-time teaching experience in preschool through grade twelve; and
• Fifteen (15) semester hours of specified special education courses; and
• Verification of 45 clock hours of special education practicum, which may be embedded in the 15 semester hours of courses.

Please click here to review the  requirements for the Mild/Moderate Disabilities and Moderate/Severe Disabilities endorsements for detailed information on these new endorsements.

Experienced Educator Renewal Option Reminder

Under the “experienced educator” option for renewal, an individual who holds an educator certificate which has expired for at least two years, but not more than ten years, may qualify for renewal with the following:

• Verification of ten years of experience in the area of certification and in Arizona; and
• A valid Arizona DPS IVP fingerprint clearance card; and
• The educator is in good standing.

Please note that educators may only submit an online renewal application if their certificate is within the renewal time-frame, which is six months before to up to one year after expiration. Therefore, individuals who are applying under the experienced educator option must submit a paper renewal application.

Please call the Certification hotline for specific questions, 602-542-4367 or click here for the renewal application and requirements. Thank you for all you do to help ensure our teachers are ready for the classroom.