What are Alternative Pathways to Certification
Teaching Interns: 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 "Elementary Secondary Education Act" (ESEA) requirements and "appropriately certified" as per Arizona Certification requirements. Participants will be able to teach upon receiving a Teaching Intern Certificate and a teaching contract. They receive full teaching salary and benefits, which ensures no loss of income for participants. Support is received from a trained, building level mentor with extensive teaching experience, district/school administration, and a college/university supervisor.
Paraprofessionals: Participate in a district "Grow Your Own" paraprofessional program that leads to completing a teacher preparation program & obtaining a teaching certificate. Check with your district for additional information.
Paraprofessionals will receive support through tutoring and college/university advisors. The "GYO" program is supported by the district, college/university and the Transition to Teaching grant for participating school districts.
Program Partners and Other Links
Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments
As part of obtaining their Teaching Intern Certificate, Intern prospects will be required to take and pass the Subject Knowledge portion of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment. During year two they must pass the Professional Knowledge portion. This link will provide you with scheduling and fee information.
Arizona Rural Schools Association
ARSA provides a listing of current job openings in small and rural Arizona districts for teachers, administrators, teaching interns and support staff, who are looking for open positions throughout the state.
College Funding Opportunities
This link provides a list of funding grants, resources and tools to assist students who intend to teach in a public
elementary or secondary school.
New Teacher Center
The New Teacher Center is nationally recognized for providing beginning teacher induction services. Mentors will be trained by the New Teacher Center to provide support for all beginning teachers in the program.
Arizona Teaching Fellows
Arizona Teaching Fellows seeks outstanding professionals and recent college graduates who wish to build a career
making a difference in the lives of Arizona’s children. This highly-selective program is designed to recruit and train socially-driven individuals who want to give back to the community by becoming teachers in high-need elementary
and K-8 public schools.
Teach For America
Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates and professionals of all academic majors and career interests who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity.
Troops to Teachers
Troops to Teachers provides counseling and referral services to military personnel interested in beginning a second career in public education as a teacher. The DANTES Troops to Teachers office will help applicants identify teacher certification requirements, programs leading to certification and employment opportunities. If you think a transition to teaching as a second career might be in your future, click on the above link to see how you can get started.
Contact Information
Academic Achievement Division
Highly Qualified Professionals Unit
Jan Amator, Deputy Associate Superintendent
Arizona Department of Education
1535 West Jefferson Street, Bin 45
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
