Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-609 - Elementary Teaching Certificate

A. Except as noted, all certificates are subject to the general certification provisions in R7-2-607 and the renewal requirements in R7-2-619 .

B. Standard Professional Elementary Certificate - grades K through eight. The requirements are:

1. A bachelor's degree,

2. One of the following:

a. Completion of a teacher preparation program in elementary education from an accredited institution or a Board-approved teacher preparation program, described in R7-2-604 ; or

b. Forty-five semester hours of education courses which teach the knowledge and skills described in R7-2-602, including at least eight semester hours of practicum in grades K through eight. Two years of verified teaching experience in grades Prekindergarten through eight may be substituted for the eight semester hours of practicum; or

c. A valid elementary certificate from another state.

3. A passing score on the professional knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment;

4. A passing score on the subject knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment unless the applicant has a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in a relevant content area or otherwise qualifies for a waiver of the subject knowledge assessment;

5. A valid fingerprint card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety; and

6. Forty-five hours or three semester hours of instruction in research-based systematic phonics. An accredited institution or other provider may provide this instruction.

C. Standard Professional Elementary Certificate - grades kindergarten through eight.

1. The requirements include all of the following:

a. A bachelor's degree;

b. Completion of a teacher preparation program in elementary education from a Board-approved educator preparation program or from an accredited institution offering substantially similar training, addressing the following topics and any others as required by law:

i. At least forty-five classroom hours of Department-approved training or three semester hours of college-level coursework, or the equivalent, in research-based science of reading systematic phonics;

ii. At least forty-five classroom hours of Department-approved training or three semester hours of college coursework, or the equivalent, in research-based reading instruction, including training on assessments, instructional practices and interventions to improve student reading proficiency. Instruction provided must meet the requirements for dyslexia training prescribed in A.R.S. § 15-219;

iii. Developmentally appropriate instructional delivery, facilitation and methodologies for teaching language, math, science, social studies and the arts;

iv. Instructional design and lesson planning, including modifications, and accommodations;

v. The learning environment, including classroom management;

vi. Assessing, monitoring and reporting progress;

vii. Teaching students with exceptionalities;

viii. Professional responsibility and ethical conduct; and

ix. Twelve weeks of capstone experience as described in R7-2-604 in grades kindergarten through eight, which may be completed during the valid period of an alternative teaching or student teaching intern certificate. One year of verified full-time teaching experience in grades kindergarten through eight may be substituted for the capstone experience requirement. 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.

c. A passing score on the professional knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment;

d. A passing score on the subject knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment, unless the applicant qualifies for a waiver of the subject knowledge assessment pursuant to the general certification provisions in R7-2-607 ; and

e. A valid fingerprint card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

2. Applicants may meet the requirements in subsection (C)(1)(b) with the submission of an application for the Standard Professional Elementary certificate that includes evidence of two years of verified full-time teaching experience in grades kindergarten through eight, and Board-approved or accredited training or coursework which teaches the knowledge and skills described in R7-2-602 and subsections (C)(1)(b)(i) through (viii).

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-609

Adopted effective December 4, 1998 (Supp. 98-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 1132, effective March 10, 2000 (Supp. 00-1). Section R7-2-609 amended by emergency rulemaking under A.R.S. § 41-1026 at 8 A.A.R. 2562, effective May 23, 2002 for a period of 180 days (Supp. 02-2). May 23, 2002 emergency rulemaking renewed under A.R.S. § 41-1026 at 8 A.A.R. 5132, effective November 19, 2002 (Supp. 02-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 9 A.A.R. 1605, effective May 5, 2003 (Supp. 03-2). Former R7-2-609 recodified to R7-2-610 ; new R7-2-609 recodified from R7-2-608 at 16 A.A.R. 68, effective December 8, 2008 (Supp. 10-1). R7-2-609"Prekindergarten" corrected to "PreK" at request of the Board, Office File No. M09-444, filed November 24, 2009 (Supp. 10-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 235, effective December 7, 2009 (Supp. 10-3). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 1249, effective May 24, 2010 (Supp. 10-4). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 24 A.A.R. 195, effective 8/9/2017. Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 24 A.A.R. 2947, effective 9/24/2018. Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 30 A.A.R. 2547, effective 7/24/2024.