Certification Requirements
Current Certification Requirements
The information below details the necessary requirements for each type of educator certification. Find more information on Testing (AEPA & NES) and Educator Preparation Programs in Arizona.
Failure to submit your documents as required can lead to a delay in processing your application. Please check this page regularly, as requirements may change.
- Early Childhood Education, Birth – Age 8 or Grade 3
- Elementary Education, K-8
- Middle Grades Education, 5-9
- Secondary Education, 6-12
- Physical Education, PreK-12
- Athletic Coaching, 7-12
- Native American Language, PreK-12
- Specialized Secondary Certificate STEM 6-12
- Subject Matter Expert Certificate 6-12
- Early Childhood Special Education, Birth through Grade 3
- Mild/Moderate Disabilities, K-12
- Moderate/Severe Disabilities, K-12
- Hearing Impaired Special Education, Birth-Grade 12
- Visually Impaired Special Education, Birth-Grade 12
Teaching Certificates Related Information
- Ready to apply? My Certification Portal or use the Certification Application Form.
- Need to renew your certificate? Look at our renewal information.
- Do you need to verify full-time PreK-12 teaching experience? Use the Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience form.
- Do you have a valid out-of-state certificate? Look at our reciprocity information.
Substitute and JROTC Certificates Related Information
- Ready to apply? My Certification Portal or use the Certification Application Form.
- Need to renew your certificate? Look at our renewal information.
Alternative Teaching-Related Information
- Ready to apply? My Certification Portal or use the Application for the Alternative Teaching Certificate.
- Need to extend? Use the Application to Extend an Alternative Teaching Certificate.
- Need to change your EPP Provider? Use the Application to Amend a Certificate.
- Looking for a Board-approved Educator Prep Program? Follow this link.
Adult Education-Related Information
- Ready to apply? My Certification Portal or use the Certification Application Form.
- Need to renew your certificate? Look at our renewal information.
International Teaching-Related Information
- Ready to apply? My Certification Portal or use the Application for the International Teaching Certificate.
- Need to extend? Use the Application to Extend an International Teaching Certificate.
- Need to change your district/charter school? Use the Application to Amend a Certificate.
Career and Technical Education Certificate Requirements, K-12
CTE Certificates Related Information
- CTE Application Checklist: Use this form to guide and assist you with identifying and submitting the correct documents.
- Ready to apply? Apply online or use the Certification Application Form.
- Need to renew your certificate? Look at our renewal information.
- Need to verify experience for CTE certificates? Use the Verification of CTE Work Experience form.
- CTE Guidance Document [PDF]
- Do you have a valid out-of-state certificate? Look at our reciprocity information.
Administrative Certificates Related Information
- Ready to apply? My Certification Portal or use the Certification Application Form.
- Interim Application: Application for Interim Administrative Certificate.
- Need to renew your certificate? Look at our renewal information.
- Do you need to verify full-time PreK-12 teaching experience? Use the Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience form.
- Do you need to verify full-time Leadership experience? Use the Verification of Leadership and Professional Non-Teaching form.
- Do you have a valid out-of-state certificate? Look at our reciprocity information.
- Need to extend your interim administrative certificate? Use the Application to Extend Interim Administrative Certificate.
- Need to change your EPP Provider or District? Use the Application to Amend a Certificate.
- School Counselor, PreK-12
- School Psychologist, PreK-12
- School Social Worker, PreK-12
- Speech-Language Pathologist, PreK-12
Professional Non-Teaching Certificates Related Information
- Ready to apply? My Certification Portal or use the Certification Application Form.
- Need to renew your certificate? Look at our renewal information.
- Do you need to verify Professional Non-Teaching experience? Use the Verification of Leadership and Professional Non-Teaching Experience form.
To review information and requirements for the Emergency Teaching or Emergency Substitute Certificates, please review the Emergency Certificates page.
- Endorsement information and requirements: A list of endorsements and their requirements.
- Approved area information and requirements: The requirements for adding an approved area and a list of approved areas.
- Application to Change My Contact Information
- Application to Change My Name
- Deficiency Removal Form: Used to apply to have deficiencies removed from a valid certificate.
- Explanation of Incident Form: Used by applicants who answer “Yes” to any Criminal History or Background Questions.
- Foreign Credential Evaluation Agencies: A list of foreign credentialing agencies for applicants using coursework or degrees from a foreign college or university to meet certification requirements.
- Request for a Duplicate Copy of Certificate: Used to request a duplicate copy of a certificate.
- Request for Initial Certification Fee Waiver - Family Income: Used for those whose family income does not exceed 200% of the current federal poverty guidelines.
- Request for Initial Certification Fee Waiver - Military Eligibility: Used for active military and spouses and those who have been honorably discharged within the last 2 years.
- Subject Matter Expert Social Media and Phone Use Attestation: Submit a signed form with the Subject Matter Expert application.
- Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience: Used to verify full-time teaching experience.
- Verification of PreK-12 Leadership & Professional Non-Teaching Experience: Used to verify administrative and professional non-teaching experience, (School Counselor, School Social Worker, School Psychologist, or School Speech-Language Pathologist.)
- Verification of Experience for CTE Form: Used to verify work experience for CTE applicants.
- Verification of Computer Science Endorsement Form
Ready to apply - click here for step-by-step directions