Supervisor, PreK-12

Certificate Information

Overview: Except for individuals who hold a valid Arizona Principal or Superintendent certificate, the Supervisor certificate is required for all personnel, whose primary responsibility is administering instructional programs, supervising certified personnel, or similar administrative duties. The certificate is valid for 12 years and is renewable. Requirements may be subject to change and are fully referenced in the Arizona Revised Statutes and Administrative Code R7-2-601, R7-2-606; R7-2-607; R7-2-616 (B), and  R7-2-621.

Out-of-state certificate Certificate Holders: If you hold a valid, comparable out-of-state educator certificate/license that is in good standing in another state, follow this link for information and steps to apply under reciprocity. 

To qualify for this certificate, applicants must meet the coursework, experience, and Administrator exam requirements.  

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.

  • Prerequisite Certificate: You must hold a valid Arizona early childhood, elementary, secondary, special education, CTE, School Counselor, School Psychologist, School Social Worker, Speech-Language Pathologist, or Speech-Language Technician certificate to qualify for the Standard Professional Supervisor, PreK-12 certificate.
  • 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.
  • Official Transcripts: Official Transcripts documenting a Master's or more advanced degree and all applicable coursework.
    • 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.
  • Exam: A passing score on the appropriate AEPA Administrator exam or appropriate documentation to qualify for an exam waiver..
  • Verification of Experience: Verification of three years of full-time teaching experience or related education services experience in grades PreK through 12.  If you are you are using teaching experience have your district/school human resources office complete and submit the "Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience" form.  If you are using related education services experience (e.g., school counseling, school social work), please have your district/school human resources office email a letter signed by a superintendent or human resources administrator to [email protected].
  • Other Verification (if needed): If you are using administrative experience in lieu of the practicum or exam requirement, please have your district/school human resources office complete and submit the "Verification of Leadership & Professional Non-Teaching Experience" form to [email protected].

Master's degree, coursework, experience, and exam

  • Official Transcripts: A Master's or more advanced degree from an accredited institution; -AND-
  • Teaching Experience: Verification of three (3) years of full-time teaching or related education services experience in grades Prekindergarten–12; -AND-
  • Official Transcripts: Official transcripts documenting completion of a program in educational administration, including at least 18 graduate semester hours of educational administration courses teaching the knowledge and skills described in the Professional Administrative Standards (R7-2-603) to include three semester hours in school law and three semester hours in school finance; -AND-
  • Administrative Practicum or Experience: Submit one of the following:
    • Practicum: Official transcript from an accredited institution documenting a practicum in educational administration; -OR-
    • Administrative Experience: Two years of experience as an educational administrator in grades Prekindergarten–12.

One of the following: 

  • Administrator Exam: A passing score on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) Supervisor, Principal, or Superintendent Subtest I and II exam; -OR-
  • Verification of Administrative Experience: Verification of three years of full-time experience as an administrator in any state, including Arizona. Submit a letter on official letterhead, completed and signed by a superintendent or personnel director, verifying your administrator experience.
    • Note: Experience as an administrator in a foreign school will not be accepted; -OR-
  • Comparable Exam: Passing score on a similar administrative exam from another state. Submit an official score report and have reporting state complete and submit Verification of Out of State Exams.
    • Note: If you took a Praxis exam, request that your scores be reported to the state of Arizona 8517, in place of the Verification of Out of State Exam form.

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.
  • 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 [email protected]. 
  • Verification of Administrative Experience: Verification of three years of full-time experience as an administrator in any state, including Arizona. Request your district/school human resources office complete and submit the "Verification of Leadership & Professional Non-Teaching Experience" form to [email protected].

Accepted Photocopies from the Applicant

  • AZDPS IVP Card: Submit a photocopy of the Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance card. 
  • Arizona Educator Exams:  Submit a photocopy of the official score report documenting a passing score on the Arizona educator exam(s) (AEPA/NES).  

    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.