The full Early Childhood Education, Birth-Age 8 or Grade 3 endorsement is automatically renewed with the certificate on which it is posted. The requirements are:
- Prerequisite Certificate: A valid Arizona Elementary or Special Education teaching certificate
-AND-
- Subject Knowledge Proficiency - Proof that you meet the Subject Knowledge Early Childhood Education exam requirement with one of the following:
- Arizona Exam: A passing score on the AEPA Subject Knowledge Early Childhood Education (AZ036) exam; -OR-
- Out-of-State Exam: A passing score on a similar Subject Knowledge Early Childhood Education examination from another state or agency; -OR-
- Degree: A Bachelor’s, Master's, or Doctorate degree from an accredited institution in Early Childhood Education; -OR-
- Teaching Experience: Three years of full-time teaching experience in any state, including Arizona, in a self-contained early childhood classroom, grades PreK through 3.
- Note: Teaching experience in a foreign country or substitute teaching does not meet the requirement.
Other Exam Options
-AND-
One of the following: Option A, B, or C
Option A: Coursework and Practicums/Experience
- Coursework: Completion of 21 semester hours of early childhood education courses to include all of the following areas of study:
- Foundations of early childhood education;
- Child guidance and classroom management;
- Characteristics and quality practices for typical and atypical behaviors of young children;
- Child growth and development, including health, safety, and nutrition;
- Child, family, cultural and community relationships;
- Developmentally appropriate instructional methodologies for teaching language, math, science, social studies and the arts;
- Early language and literacy development;
- Assessing, monitoring, and reporting the progress of young children; -AND-
- Practicums/Experience: A minimum of eight semester hours of practicum to include:
- Four semester hours of a supervised field experience, practicum, internship, or student teaching setting serving children from birth through preschool. -OR- One year of verified, full-time teaching experience with children from birth through preschool. -AND-
- Four semester hours of student teaching in kindergarten through grade 3. -OR- One year of verified, full-time teaching experience with children in kindergarten through grade 3.
Option B: Professional Knowledge Exam and Practicum/Experience
- Professional Knowledge Exam. One of the following:
- Arizona Exam: A passing score on the AEPA Professional Knowledge Early Childhood (AZ093) exam.
- Out-of-State Exam: A passing score on a similar Professional Knowledge Early Childhood examination from another state or agency.
- Practicums/Experience: Eight semester hours of practicum, including:
- Four semester hours of a supervised field experience, practicum, internship, or student teaching setting serving children from birth through preschool -OR- One year of verified, full-time teaching experience with children from birth through preschool. -AND-
- Four semester hours of student teaching in kindergarten through grade 3 -OR- One year of verified, full-time teaching experience with children in kindergarten through grade 3.
Option C: Teaching Experience:
- Three years of full-time teaching experience in any state, including Arizona, in a Birth - Grade 3 classroom.