International Teachers

The Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work and study-based exchange visitor programs. Participants are integral to the success of the program. Here you can learn more about obtaining the J-1 Visa and other relevant visas.

In Arizona, the International Teaching Certificate is valid for the length of the holder’s J-1 or Q-1 visa and may be extended to align with the date of an extended J-1 or Q-1 visa, not to exceed 12 years.  Requirements may be subject to change and are fully referenced in the Arizona Revised Statutes and Administrative Code  R-2-601, R7-2-607, and R7-2-614 (I).

The Arizona Department of Education does not assist with obtaining a J-1 or Q-1 visa, please work with a State Department-Designated sponsor. We are here to assist with certification once the appropriate visa is obtained. 

The J-1 Visa provides countless opportunities for international candidates looking to travel and gain experience in the United States. The multifaceted programs enable foreign nationals to come to the U.S. to teach, study, conduct research, demonstrate special skills, or receive on-the-job training for periods ranging from a few weeks to several years.

Only State Department-designated sponsors are authorized to issue the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status (Form DS-2019), which is the basic document to support an application for an exchange visitor visa (J-1 Visa). Sponsors screen and select prospective exchange visitors based on the criteria set forth in the governing regulations (22 CFR Part 62).

Helping an International Teacher Apply for Certification in Arizona?

Please download the Instructions and Checklist, this will help ensure that your applicants have all the documentation needed to complete the certification process. 

Sponsors are required to:

  • Screen and select qualified foreign teachers based on qualifications and also based on who can make a contribution to the education of students in the United States and who want to learn U.S. teaching methods;
  • Verify each teacher applicant’s English language proficiency through recognized language tests or interviews;
  • Monitor the exchange teachers’ stay in the United States to ensure that they are satisfactorily performing their teaching responsibilities, and;
  • Ensure each exchange teacher completes a cultural activity component annually, which includes two requirements:
    • First, each exchange teacher must complete, within the United States and during each year of program participation, an activity for the teacher’s classroom, larger host school or host school district population, or the community at large that gives an overview of a cultural aspect of the teacher’s home country.
    • Second, an activity that involves U.S. student dialogue with schools or students in another country, preferably the teacher’s home country.

 

Sponsors must provide participants with the following information:

  • The duration and location(s) of the participants’ program;
  • A summary of the significant components of the program, including fees and costs of the program, a written statement of the teaching requirements and related professional obligations; and
  • A written statement that clearly indicates the compensation package to be provided to the exchange visitor teacher and any other financial arrangements relevant to the program.

Hosts/employers are required to:

  • Involve exchange teachers in school and community cultural activities; and
  • Monitor the performance of exchange teachers in the classroom and in carrying out official responsibilities.

 

Extension of J-1 & Q-1 Visas:

  • The base period for a teacher exchange is three years. However, host schools may apply to the sponsor for a one or two-year extension of the exchange (the extension must be for whole years, not fractions of years). Extension requests are not automatic, but there is no limit on the number of extensions that the State Department can grant.
  • Sponsors must submit extension requests they approve and any supporting documentation to support the extension to the State Department no later than three months prior to the beginning of the desired extension period for the teacher.

 

Employing LEAs must provide the following:

Verification of Teaching Placement: A letter signed by an Arizona school personnel director or superintendent verifying that the applicant has been placed in a contracted teaching position through a foreign teacher program.

 

Related International Certification Information: 

International Teaching Certification Requirements to teach in Arizona

  • Ready to apply?   My Certification Portal or use the Application for the International Teaching Certificate.
  • Need to extend?  Use the Application to Extend an International Teaching Certificate, this is not used to extend an individual's visa.
  • Need to update your SSN? Use the Application to update/change your SSN on your educator file. 
  • Need to change your district/charter school? Use the Application to Amend a Certificate.

In Arizona, the International Teaching certificate is issued to teachers from foreign countries who are contracted through a teacher exchange program authorized by federal statute and who are authorized to work in the United States under a J-1 or Q-1 visa, any other visa type will not be accepted.

To qualify for the International Exchange program teachers must:

  • Meet the qualifications for teaching in primary or secondary schools in their country of nationality or last legal residence;
  • Be working as a teacher in the home country or country of legal residence at the time of application, or, if not working as a teacher, otherwise, meet the eligibility qualifications and (a) have recently (within 12 months of application) completed an advanced degree and (b) have two years of full-time teaching experience within the past eight years;
  • Have a degree-equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree in either education or the academic subject field in which they intend to teach;
  • Have a minimum of two years (24 months) of teaching or related professional experience;
  • Satisfy the standards of the U.S. state in which they will teach;
  • Be of good reputation and character;
  • Be seeking to enter the United States for the purpose of full-time teaching as a teacher of record at a primary (including pre-kindergarten) or secondary accredited educational institution in the United States (pre-kindergarten teachers must teach full-time, and at the pre-kindergarten level, may teach only language immersion at an accredited host school);
  • Possess sufficient proficiency in the English language.
  • Request a course-by-course transcript evaluation by an approved foreign transcript evaluation agency to identify equivalent coursework and degree here in the United States. 

 

International Teaching Certification Requirements to teach in Arizona

Other International Teaching-Related Information

  • Ready to apply?   My Certification Portal or use the Application for the International Teaching Certificate.
  • Need to extend?  Use the Application to Extend an International Teaching Certificate.
  • Need to update your SSN? Use the Application to update/change your SSN on your educator file. 
  • Need to change your district/charter school? Use the Application to Amend a Certificate.

 

The information below is a general overview of resources to support the arriving international teacher. It is advised that the international teacher work closely with their sponsor and highering district for detailed information and to answer specific questions. 

  • A great place to find additional information, BridgeUSA.
  • Official Identification Documents
    • Arizona Identity Verified Print Fingerprint (IVP) Card: Arizona requires all educators to obtain an IVP Fingerprint card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
    • Social Security Number:  A SSN is required for payroll and taxes in the United States. Upon arrival, the individual will need to work with their sponsor so their record can be validated with SEVIS system. Without validation of an arrival record, the individual will NOT be able to apply for the SSN. If the individual already has a SSN, there is no need to apply again.  Social Security Office
    • Driver’s license: It is highly recommended to know how to drive in the U.S. The individual should bring their home country’s driver’s license and obtain an International Driver’s License. Once the individual has received their social security number, they will be able to apply for an Arizona Driver’s license with the Arizona Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Division. 
    • Bank Account: Most Arizona schools require employees to submit bank account information for direct deposit of their payroll. A bank direct deposit form can be requested at the bank and given to the Payroll Staff in the school. A bank account will be needed to write a check to pay for bills, such as utilities bills, house rent…etc.
    • Expenses: Expenses to consider as an individual prepares and arrives in the United States, first month's rent and a deposit, utilities, furniture, transportation, auto insurance (this is required in Arizona if you own a vehicle), phone, food, and travel/entertainment.