Special Education Moderate/Severe Disabilities, K-12

Certificate Information

Overview: This Certificate authorizes the holder to teach students in kindergarten through grade 12 with moderate/severe disabilities as documented by student needs in the individualized education program and the following categories, including: autism, moderate/severe intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injury, emotional disability, specific learning disability, orthopedic impairments, developmental delay and/or other health impairments. Approved areas and endorsements may be added to this certificate. This 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 R7-2-606; R7-2-607; R-2-601.01; R7-2-611 (A)(B)(H); R7-2-621.

Out-of-state/National Board Teaching Certificate Holders: If you hold a valid, comparable out-of-state educator certificate/license, or a valid, comparable National Board Teaching Certificate, please follow this link for information and steps to apply under reciprocity. 

To qualify for this certificate applicants must meet Option A or B under Required Coursework/Training and meet the Professional and Subject Knowledge Exam requirements under Required Exams.  

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.

All of the following are required to apply for this certificate:

  • Application: A completed Application for Certification.
  • Fee: The required $60 fee. Note: Per Board rule, certification fees are non-refundable.
  • AZDPS IVP Card: A valid Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.
  • Official transcript(s): Official Transcripts documenting a Bachelor'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.
  • Exams: A passing score on the required Arizona Professional Knowledge and Subject Knowledge Exams, or appropriate documentation to meet exam requirements.
  • Teaching Experience (if applicable): If you are using teaching experience to meet certification requirements, have your district/school human resources office complete and submit the "Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience" form.
    • Please not that teaching experience does not fulfill all requirements for certification. 

Option A: Teacher Preparation Program

  • Completion of a teacher preparation program in Moderate/Severe Disabilities Education from a Board-approved educator preparation program, or from an accredited college or university offering substantially similar training, which includes the coursework outlined under Option B, Requirement B-2, and at least 12 weeks of a capstone experience (student teaching) in special education in moderate to severe moderate/severe disabilities grades K through 12.  For individuals seeking dual certification, any capstone experience requirements may be met through separate eight-week capstone experiences in each of the certification areas sought. 

 

  • This option has allowable deficiencies, please see the "Allowable Deficiencies" tab below.

 

OR

 

Option B: Teaching Experience and Coursework/Training

Both B-1 & B-2 are required

  • B-1 - Teaching Experience: Two (2) years of full-time teaching experience serving children in a Moderate/Severe Special Education, K-12 classroom.
  • B-2 - Coursework: Completion of Board-approved or accredited coursework or training that teaches the knowledge and skills described in Arizona Administrative Code R7-2-602 and addresses the following topics:
    • Instructional design and lesson planning, including specially designed instruction;
    • The learning environment, including classroom and individual behavioral management;
    • Instructional delivery, facilitation, and methodologies for teaching research-based instruction in Math and English language Arts;
    • Legal aspects of special education, including individualized education programs and transition planning;
    • Effective collaboration and communication practices, including modifications and accommodations;
    • Adaptive communication, including language development and disorders;
    • Assessment and eligibility, including monitoring and reporting requirements.

 

  • This option has allowable deficiencies, please see the "Allowable Deficiencies" tab below. 

Professional Knowledge Exam Requirement - One of the following

  • Option A - Arizona Exam: A passing score on the AEPA/NES Special Education: Severely and Profoundly Disabled (AZ030).
  • Option B - Out-of-State Exam: A passing score on a similar professional knowledge exam from another state.
  • Option C - Teaching Experience: Three years of full-time teaching experience in any state, including Arizona, in Moderate/Severe Disabilities Special Education K-12.
    • Experience teaching in a foreign school does not meet this requirement.
    • Experience as a substitute does not meet this requirement.

Subject Knowledge Exam Requirement - One of the following

Below are the most common options for meeting the subject knowledge exam requirement.  

  • Option A - Arizona Exam: A passing score on the AEPA/NES Subject Knowledge: Elementary Education Subtest I & II (NT102 & NT 103). 
  • Option B - Out-of-State Exam: A passing score on a similar subject knowledge exam from another state.
  • Option C - Degree in the Subject: A Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate degree in Moderate/Severe Disabilities Special Education or Elementary Education from an accredited institution.
  • Option D - Teaching Experience: Verification of three years of full-time teaching experience in any state, including Arizona, in a Moderate/Severe Disabilities Special Education or in a self-contained K-8 classroom.
    • Experience teaching in a foreign school does not meet this requirement.
    • Experience as a substitute teacher does not meet this requirement.

Other Subject Knowledge Exam Options

This certificate allows for the following deficiencies and will be due within 3-years of the issuance of the certificate. 

  • Phonics: A college/university course or Board-approved training in research-based systematic phonics.
  • Reading Intervention (Dyslexia): A college/university course or Board-approved training in research-based instructional strategies for delivering differentiated reading instruction, assessment, intervention, and remediation to support readers of varying ages and ability levels, including students with dyslexia
  • Ethics: A college/university course or Board-approved training in professional responsibility and ethical conduct.
  • U.S. Constitution: A college/university course OR a passing score on the approved exam covering United States Constitution.
    • If you add the approved area to the certificate of History, Social Studies, or Political Science/American Government at the time of issuance you will have 1 year to meet this requirement.
  • AZ Constitution: A college/university course OR a passing score on the approved exam covering Arizona Constitution. 
    • If you add the approved area to the certificate of History, Social Studies, or Political Science/American Government at the time of issuance you will have 1 year to meet this requirement.

 

Applicants will have 3 years to complete the above allowable deficiency requirements.  If an applicant fails to meet these requirements within the allowable timeframe, the certificate will be placed on a non-disciplinary suspension until the deficiencies are corrected.  For additional information and resources for meeting these deficiencies please visit the Deficiency Removal page.

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 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 [email protected]. 

Photocopies from the Applicant accepted

  • 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.