Visually Impaired, Birth-Grade 12 Endorsement
Endorsement Information
Overview: The Visually Impaired, Birth- Grade 12 Endorsement authorizes the holder to teach students who are blind or visually impaired in a Birth-Grade 12 classroom. Requirements may be subject to change and are fully referenced in the Arizona Revised Statutes and Administrative Code: R7-2-601, R7-2-607. R7-2- 615.01(E); R7-2-621.
Out-of-state certificate or National Board Teaching Certificate: If you hold a valid, comparable out-of-state educator certificate/license that is in good standing, follow this link for information and steps to apply under reciprocity.
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 hold a valid Arizona Standard Professional Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, Secondary, Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Moderate/Severe Disabilities, Early Childhood Special Education, Specialized Special Education, Cross-Categorical Special Education, or Visually Impaired Certificate.
- Application: A completed Application for Certification.
- Fee: The fee for this endorsement 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 all applicable coursework. Electronic official transcripts must be sent directly by the college or university to [email protected]. Paper official transcripts must be mailed to the Arizona Department of Education - Certification Unit.
- 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" list.
- Teaching Experience: Verification of three years of full-time teaching experience in PreK-Grade 12. Please 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.
- Verification of Practicum Hours: A letter from a college or university department chair or designee verifying that your coursework included at least 90 clock hours of practicum in a visually impaired, birth-Grade 12 classroom.
- Braille Proficiency: Verification of proficiency in Braille (see Requirements for the Visually Impaired, Birth-Grade 12 Endorsement for options to meet this requirement).
The full endorsement will automatically renew with the certificate on which it is attached.
Applicants must meet all requirements.
- Prerequisite Certificate: A valid Arizona Standard Professional Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, Secondary, Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Moderate/Severe Disabilities, Early Childhood Special Education, Specialized Special Education, Cross-Categorical Special Education, or Visually Impaired Certificate.
- Teaching Experience: Three years of full-time teaching experience in PreK-Grade 12.
- Special Education Coursework: Completion of six (6) semester hours of special education coursework to include the following:
- Special education assessment and individualized education program planning;
- Behavior management for students with disabilities;
- The use of instructional and assistive technologies in the classroom.
- Visually Impaired Courses: Completion of fifteen(15) semester hours of visually impaired special education courses that adheres to a guidance document approved by the Board and include all of the following:
- Instructional approaches for teaching students who have vision impairments;
- Methods for facilitating literacy development in children who are blind or low vision;
- Assistive technologies for students with vision impairments;
- Assessment of students with vision impairment;
- Early intervention and parental involvement to enhance the early skills of students with vision impairment;
- Anatomy and physiology of the eye;
- Methods for teaching orientation and mobility to students who have visual impairments.
- Methods for teaching students who have visual impairments with multiple disabilities, including deaf-blindness.
- Practicum: Completion of at least 90 clock hours of supervised practicum in teaching students who have visual impairments, which may be included in the courses listed above.
- Braille Proficiency: Verification of proficiency in Braille through one of the following:
- A certificate verifying a passing score on the National Library of Congress Literary Braille Transcriber exam; -OR-
- A certificate verifying a passing score on the National Certification in Unified Braille exam; -OR-
- A letter from the appropriate department chair or designee verifying a passing score on braille test developed in the program in visual impairment at the University of Arizona.
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.
- Verification of Teaching Experience: Please forward the Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience form to your school/district human resources office with a request to verify your experience. The form must be submitted by school/district human resources to [email protected].
Accepted Photocopies from the Applicant
- AZDPS IVP Card: Submit a photocopy of the Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance card.
- Practicum: Completion of 90 clock hours of practicum teaching students with visual impairments through an accredited college or university. Practicum hours may be embedded in the courses listed above.
- If practicum hours are included in your coursework listed above, submit official transcripts as identified above; -AND-
- A letter on official letterhead signed by a college/university administrator verifying completion of the required practicum hours; -OR-
- A course description from the college catalog verifying that the required practicum hours were included in one or more special education courses listed on the official transcript.
- If practicum hours are included in your coursework listed above, submit official transcripts as identified above; -AND-
- Proficiency in Braille: Submit a copy of the appropriate certificate or verification letter documenting proficiency in Braille.
