Visually Impaired Special Education, Birth - Grade 12

Certificate Information

Overview: This certificate authorizes the holder to teach Visually Impaired Special Education, Birth-Grade 12. 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)(L); R7-2-621.

Out-of-State/National Board Teaching Certificate Holders: If you hold a valid, comparable out-of-state educator certificate/license or 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.

  • Application: A completed Application for Certification.
  • Fee: The required $60 fee. Note: Per Board rules, 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 teacher preparation 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.
  • Braille Competency: The official score report, verification letter, or copy of certificate verifying Braille competency. 
  • 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 note that teaching experience does not fulfill all requirements for certification. 

Option A: Teacher Preparation Program

  • Completion of a teacher preparation program in Visual Impairment 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 (student teaching) experience in a visually impaired special education birth through grade twelve classroom.

 

  • 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 in Visually Impaired Special Education, Birth-Grade 12.
  • B-2 - Coursework: Completion of Board-approved or accredited coursework or training which teaches the knowledge and skills described in Arizona Administrative Code R7-2-602 and addresses the following topics:
    • Survey of exceptional students;
    • Teaching methodologies for students with visual impairment;
    • Foundations of instruction of students with visual impairment;
    • Diagnostic and assessment procedures for the visually impaired.

 

  • 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 Professional Knowledge - Elementary Education (NT051).
  • 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 grades K-8 or in  a visually impaired special education, birth through grade 12 classroom.
    • 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

  • Option A - Arizona Exam: A passing score on the AEPA/NES Subject Knowledge: Special Education: Visually Impaired (#032).
  • 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 Visually Impaired 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 visually impaired special education, Birth-Grade 12 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

AND

 

Braille Competency requirement - One of the following

  • Option A: A passing score on the original version of the National Library of Congress certification exam -or-
  • Option B: A valid certificate for a literary Braille transcriber issued by the National Library of Congress -or-
  • Option C: A passing score on the Braille exam developed and administered by the University of Arizona -or-
  • Option D: A passing score on a Braille exam administered by another state.

 

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 science of reading instruction, including 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 shall 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]. 
  • Braille Competency: An official score report, verification letter, or copy of the certificate verifying Braille competency.

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.