Music, PreK-12 Endorsement
Overview: The Music, PreK-12 endorsement authorizes the holder to teach Music in a preschool through grade 12 classroom. The endorsement will automatically renew with the certificate on which it is attached. Requirements for certification are subject to change and fully referenced in the Arizona Revised Statutes and State Board of Education Rules.
Out-of-State Certificate Holders: If you hold a valid, comparable educator certificate or endorsement in another state, please see the Certification Reciprocity Requirements for information on applying under reciprocity rules.
- Prerequisite Certificate: You must hold a valid Arizona Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, Secondary or Special Education teaching certificate to add this endorsement.
- Application and Fee: Submit the Application for Certification and required fee. The fee for this endorsement is $60. Certification fees are non-refundable.
- AZDPS IVP Card: Verify through the ADE Educator Portal that your valid Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) IVP fingerprint clearance card is on file with ADE or include a photocopy of the AZDPS IVP card with your application.
- Official Transcripts: Official transcripts documenting all applicable coursework.
- Note: If you completed your degree and applicable coursework at an institution outside of the United States, you must submit a course-by-course evaluation from a Department approved foreign credential evaluation agency. Please see the "Approved Foreign Credential Evaluation Agencies" list.
- Subject Knowledge Proficiency: A copy of your score report documenting you passed the appropriate AEPA/NES Subject Knowledge Exam, or other appropriate documentation to meet the Subject Knowledge Proficiency requirements. Please see the requirements for the Music, PreK-12 endorsement below for details.
Applicants must have both the prerequisite certificate and the coursework.
- Prerequisite Certificate: A valid Arizona Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, Secondary or Special Education Certificate.
-AND-
- Teaching Methods Coursework. Completion of both of the following:
- One course in the methods of teaching Music at the elementary level; -and-
- One course in the methods of teaching Music at the secondary level.
-AND-
- Subject Knowledge Proficiency. One of the following:
- Coursework: A minimum of 30 semester hours of courses in Music, which may include the required methods of teaching the subject courses.
- Arizona Exam: A passing score on the AEPA/NES Subject Knowledge Music (NT504) exam.
- Out-of-State Exam: A passing score on a similar Subject Knowledge Exam from another state.
- Degree in the Subject: A Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate degree in Music from an accredited institution.
- Teaching Experience: Three years of full-time teaching experience in any state, including Arizona, in Music in grades PreK-12.
- Experience teaching in a foreign school does not meet this requirement.
- Experience as a substitute teacher does not meet this requirement.
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] or through Parchment.
- Paper official transcripts must be in a sealed envelope and mailed by the college or university to the 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.
- Out-of-State Exam Score Reports: If you are using out-of-state exams, include a copy of the out-of-state score report with your application and have exams verified as follows:
- Forward the "Verification of Out-of-State Exams" form to the state agency that accepted the exam. This form must be completed and submitted by an official with the state agency.
- If you are using Praxis exam(s), have your scores reported by ETS to the Arizona Department of Education (8517).
- Verification of Teaching Experience: If you are using teaching experience to meet Certification requirements, request that the district/school human resources office complete and submit the Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience form directly to our online Contact Form.
Accepted Photocopies from the Applicant
- AZDPS IVP Card: Submit a photocopy of the Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance card.
- Arizona Exams: Submit a photocopy of the official score report documenting a passing score on the Arizona educator exam(s) (AEPA/NES).
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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.
