Interim Superintendent, PreK-12

Certificate Information

Overview: Individuals who hold the title of Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, or Associate Superintendent and who perform duties directly relevant to curriculum, instruction, certified employee evaluations, and instructional supervision may obtain a Superintendent certificate. The Interim Superintendent certificate is valid for one year from the date of issuance and may be extended yearly for no more than two consecutive years.

The candidate must be enrolled in an Arizona State Board-approved alternative path to the administrator certification program, or an Arizona State Board-approved administrator preparation program.

An individual is not eligible to hold the interim administrative certificate more than once in a five-year period. 

Requirements may be subject to change and are fully referenced in the Arizona Revised Statutes and Administrative Code R7-2-606; R7-2-621; R7-2-607; R-2-601.01; R7-2-616 (A)(G).

To qualify for this certificate applicants must meet the requirements under the Initial Application Checklist.

A formal review is required to verify that all requirements have been met. Please visit the "How to Submit Official Documents" below for the proper submission of the required documents. Failure to submit documents as described could cause a delay in the processing of the application.

Submit the following:

  • Application: A completed Application for Certification. 
  • Fee: The fee for this certificate is $60. Per Board rule, certification fees are non-refundable. 
  • AZDPS IVP Card: A valid Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.
  • Masters Degree: Official Transcripts documenting a masters or more advanced degree.
    • Note: If you completed your degree and applicable coursework at an institution outside of the United States, you must submit an evaluation from a Department approved foreign credential evaluation agency.  Please see the "Approved Foreign Credential Evaluation Agencies" list.
  • Educator Experience: Verification of three (3) years of full-time teaching or related education services experience in a PreK through grade 12 setting.  Please have your district or charter school human resources office complete and submit a  Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience form or a Verification of PreK-12 Leadership and Professional Non-Teaching Experience form documenting the required experience.
  • Program Verification Letter: Letter of verification, signed by the dean or department chair of a college of education, indicating enrollment in an Arizona State Board-approved alternative path to the administrator certification program, or an Arizona State Board-approved administrator preparation program.
  • District Verification Letter: Verification that the holder of the interim certificate shall be employed as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, or associate superintendent and working under the direct supervision of an Arizona-certified superintendent or the appropriate county school superintendent;

The Interim Superintendent, PreK-12 Certificate may be extended yearly for no more than two consecutive years.  There is no fee to apply for an extension of the Interim Principal certificate.

Submit the following:

  • Application: A completed Application to Extend an Interim Administrative Certificate. This application may only be submitted by mail to:
    Arizona Department of Education – Certification Unit
    PO Box 6490
    Phoenix, AZ 85005-6490.  
  • AZDPS IVP Card: Submit a photocopy of your valid Arizona Department of Public Safety Identity Verified Prints (IVP) fingerprint card, (not the paper copy), with your application.
  • Initial Issuance: Qualification for the initial issuance of the Interim Principal certificate.
  • Program Verification Letter: Letter of verification, signed by the dean or department chair of a college of education, indicating the certificate holder is making adequate progress in the Arizona State Board-approved alternative path to the administrator certification program, or an Arizona State Board-approved administrator preparation program.
  • District Verification Letter: Letter of verification, signed by a District Superintendent or Personnel Director, indicating the holder of the interim certificate will be under the direct supervision of an Arizona-certified district superintendent or the county school superintendent.

Documents Requiring Submission by the Verifying Authority

  • Official Transcripts: Transcripts that are uploaded through the educator portal or emailed by the applicant are not official and will not be accepted. Official transcripts and foreign credential evaluations must be submitted as follows:
    • Electronic official transcripts must be submitted directly by the college or university to [email protected].
    • Paper official transcripts must be in a sealed envelope and mailed by the college or university to:
      Arizona Department of Education - Certification Unit
      PO Box 6490 
      Phoenix, AZ  85005-6490.
    • Foreign credential evaluations must be sent directly by the approved foreign credential evaluation agency to [email protected] or mailed to the Arizona Department of Education - Certification Unit.
  • District Verification Letter: Letter of verification, signed by a District Superintendent or Personnel Director, indicating the holder of the interim certificate will be under the direct supervision of an Arizona-certified district superintendent or the county school superintendent. Submit to [email protected]. 

Accepted Photocopies from the Applicant

  • AZDPS IVP Card: Submit a photocopy of the Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance card. 
  • Program Verification Letter: A letter verifying enrollment in an Arizona State Board-approved alternative path to the administrator certification program, or an Arizona State Board-approved administrator preparation program.
    • The letter must be signed by the appropriate designee from the administrator preparation program and may be submitted with the application.

    Ready to apply - click here for step-by-step directions

    Pursuant to section 41-1093.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, an agency shall limit all occupational regulations to regulations that are demonstrated to be necessary to specifically fulfill a public health, safety, or welfare concern. Pursuant to sections 41-1093.02 and 41-1093.03, Arizona Revised Statutes, you have the right to petition this agency to repeal or modify the occupational regulation or bring an action in a court of general jurisdiction to challenge the occupational regulation and to ensure compliance with section 41-1093.01, Arizona Revised Statutes.