Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-614 - Other Teaching Certificates

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

B. Substitute Certificate - PreK through 12

1. The certificate is valid for six years and renewable by reapplication.

2. The certificate entitles the holder to substitute in the temporary absence of a regular contract teacher. A person holding only a substitute certificate shall not be assigned a contract teaching position.

3. An individual who holds a valid teaching or administrator certificate shall not be required to hold a substitute certificate to be employed as a substitute teacher.

4. A person holding only a substitute certificate shall be limited to teaching 120 days in the same school each school year.

5. 4. The requirements for issuance are:

a. A bachelor's degree, and

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

6. 5. Substitute certificates previously issued as valid for life under this Section shall remain valid for life.

7. A person holding only a substitute certificate may be exempt from the limit on teaching 120 days in the same school each school year if the school district superintendent has provided verification to the Department of Education that the position is continuously advertised on a statewide basis at a minimum of three sites with at least one being a higher education institution and that a highly qualified and employable candidate was not found. An exemption from teaching 120 days shall not be granted to the same individual more than three times.

C. Emergency Substitute Certificate - PreK through 12

1. The certificate is valid for two school years or part thereof. The expiration date shall be July 1 in the year of expiration.

2. The certificate entitles the holder to substitute only in the district that has a verified emergency employment situation.

3. The certificate entitles the holder to substitute in the temporary absence of a regular contract teacher. A person holding only an emergency substitute certificate shall not be assigned a contract teaching position.

4. The holder of an emergency substitute certificate shall be limited to 120 days of substitute teaching in the same school each school year. A person holding an emergency substitute certificate may be exempt from the limit on teaching 120 days in the same school each school year if the school district superintendent provides verification to the Department that the position has been continuously advertised on a statewide basis at a minimum of three sites with at least one being a higher education institution and that an employable candidate was not found. An exemption from teaching 120 days shall not be granted to the same individual more than three times.

5. The requirements for initial issuance are:

a. A high school diploma, General Education diploma, or associate's degree;

b. Verification from the school district superintendent that an emergency employment situation exists; and

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

6. The requirements for each reissuance are:

a. Two semester hours of academic courses completed since the last issuance of the Emergency Substitute Certificate. District in-service programs designed for professional development may substitute for academic courses. Fifteen clock hours of inservice is equivalent to one semester hour. In-service hours shall be verified by the district superintendent or personnel director. Academic courses and in-service programs completed pursuant to this section may include classroom management and professionalism and ethics. Individuals who have earned 30 or more semester hours are exempt from this requirement,

b. Verification from the school district superintendent that an emergency employment situation exists, and

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

D. Emergency Teaching Certificate - birth through grade 12

1. The emergency teaching certificate is valid one school year or part thereof. The expiration date shall be the following July 1. Excluding an emergency teaching certificate issued under subsection (D)(6), an emergency teaching certificate shall not be issued more than three times to an individual.

2. The emergency teaching certificate entitles the holder to enter into a teaching contract.

3. Emergency teaching certificates shall be issued for early childhood, elementary and secondary certificates required by A.R.S. § 15-502(B) and required endorsements.

4. The emergency teaching certificate entitles the holder to teach only in the district or charter school that verifies that an emergency employment situation exists.

5. The requirements for initial issuance are:

a. A bachelor's degree,

b. Verification from the school district superintendent or charter school administrator that an emergency employment situation exists, and

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

6. Notwithstanding this subsection, an emergency teaching certificate entitling the holder to teach in any Arizona school district or charter school may be issued for early childhood, elementary, middle grades, secondary, special education, and PreK through 12 teaching certificates for applicants who meet the following requirements:

a. A bachelor's degree,

b. Completion of a teacher preparation program in the certification area, as described in R7-2-608, R7-2-609, R7-2-609.01, R7-2-610, R7-2-611 and R7-2-613, from a Board-approved educator preparation program or from an accredited institution offering substantially similar training,

c. Verification that the applicant was unable to take one or all portions of the proficiency assessments required for the requested certificate as the result of a public health emergency declared by the governor or a public health official, and

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

7. Emergency teaching certificates issued pursuant to subsection (D)(6) shall not be renewed or re-issued.

E. Alternative Teaching Certificate - PreK through 12

1. The certificate is valid for two years from the date of initial issuance and may be extended yearly for no more than two consecutive years at no cost to the applicant if the provisions in subsection (E)(5) are met.

2. The alternative teaching certificate entitles the holder to enter into a teaching contract while completing the requirements for an Arizona teaching certificate. During the valid period of the alternative teaching certificate the holder may teach in a Structured English Immersion classroom, or in any subject area in which the holder has passed the appropriate Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment. Alternative Teaching certificate holders who teach in a Structured English Immersion classroom shall hold a valid Provisional or full Structured English Immersion Endorsement, an English as a Second Language Endorsement, or a Bilingual Endorsement, if applicable. The candidate shall be enrolled in a Board authorized alternative path to certification program or a Board approved teacher educator preparation program.

3. An individual is not eligible to hold the alternative teaching certificate more than once in a five year period.

4. The requirements for initial issuance of the alternative teaching certificate are:

a. A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution;

b. Verification of enrollment in a Board approved alternative path to certification program, or a Board approved educator preparation program; and

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

5. The requirements for the extension of the alternative teaching certificate are:

a. The alternative teaching certificate outlined in subsection (E)(4),

b. Verification from the educator preparation program in which the alternative teaching certificate holder is enrolled, that the certificate holder has made adequate progress toward completion of the program,

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

6. The holder of the alternative teaching certificate may apply for a Standard teaching certificate upon completion of the following:

a. Successful completion of a Board authorized alternative path to certification program or a Board-approved educator preparation program.

b. A passing score on the professional knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment as applicable;

c. A passing score on one or more subject knowledge portions of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment that corresponds to the Board approved alternative path to certification program in which the applicant is enrolled, unless the applicant has a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in the corresponding content area;

d. The submission of an application for a Standard teaching certificate to the Department;

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

7. Placement decisions of alternative teaching certificate holders shall only be based on agreements between the educator preparation provider, the provider's partner organizations and the local education agency except as otherwise provided in this subsection.

F. Standard Adult Education Certificate

1. The holder is qualified to teach Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, English Language Acquisition for Adults, or Citizenship.

2. The requirements are:

a. A valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and

b. A bachelor's degree.

3. The renewal requirements are completion of a professional development program, described in R7-2-619.

G. Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Teaching Certificate - grades nine through 12

1. The standard certificate is valid at any local education agency which conducts an approved Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program of the Air Force, Army, Navy, or Marine Corps.

2. The requirements are:

a. Verification by the district of an approved Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program of instruction in which the applicant will be teaching,

b. Verification by the district that the applicant meets the work experience required by the respective military service, and

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

H. Athletic coaching certificate - grades seven through 12

1. The standard certificate entitles the holder to perform coaching duties in interscholastic and extracurricular athletic activities. It is not required for teachers who hold a valid elementary, secondary or special education certificate.

2. The requirements are:

a. Valid certification in first aid and Coronary and Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR);

b. Completion of courses, Board-approved or accredited seminars or modules of study which shall include the following:

i. Methods of coaching,

ii. Anatomy and physiology,

iii. Sports psychology,

iv. Adolescent psychology,

v. The prevention and treatment of athletic injuries; and

vi. Signs of physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, bullying, hazing and cyberbullying.

c. Two hundred fifty hours of verified coaching experience in the sport to be coached. Coaching experience may include experience as a head coach or assistant coach in a school program or in an organized athletic league; and

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

4. Renewal requirements are:

a. Completion of a professional development program described in R7-2-619,

b. Valid certification in first aid and CPR.

I. International Teaching Certificate

1. The International Teaching certificate is issued to teachers from foreign countries who are contracted through the foreign teacher program as authorized by federal statutes enacted by the Congress of the United States or other foreign teacher recruitment programs approved by the United States Department of State or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

2. This certificate is valid for the length of the certificate holder's visa, not to exceed 12 years.

3. The requirements are:

a. Verification that the applicant has completed teacher preparation in the home country or country of legal residence that is comparable to the requirements to qualify for an Arizona teaching certificate as provided in R7-2-608, R7-2-609, R7-2-610, R7-2-610.01, R7-2-610.02, R7-2-611 and R7-2-613.

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

c. A valid non-immigrating visa issued by the United States Department of State or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for international teachers.

d. Verification that the applicant has been contracted by an Arizona school through a foreign teacher program.

4. An individual with an international teaching certificate may qualify for a certificate to instruct students in a language other than English with submission of a letter from a department chair or dean of an accredited institution in another country or in the United States verifying that the applicant is proficient in the language.

5. The international teaching certificate may be extended with the following:

a. Verification of an extended visa issued by the United State Department of State or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for international teachers. The certificate may be extended to the new expiration date of the visa not to exceed 12 years.

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

J. Native American Language Certificate

1. The standard certificate is optional and issued to individuals to teach only a Native American language in grades PreK through 12.

2. The requirements are:

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

b. Language proficiency in a Native American Language. Proficiency shall be verified on official letterhead by a person, persons, or entity designated by the appropriate tribe.

3. The certificate may be renewed upon completion of professional development, as prescribed in R7-2-619.

K. Student Teaching Intern Certificate - PreK through 12

1. The student teaching intern certificate is optional and is not a requirement for participation in a student teaching capstone experience.

2. The certificate entitles the holder to perform teaching duties under the supervision of a program supervisor as defined in R7-2-604(14) and is only valid in the school district or charter school requesting the certificate.

3. The certificate is valid for one year from date of initial issuance and may be extended for one year at no cost to the applicant if the provisions in subsection (K)(4) are met.

4. The requirements are:

a. Verification of enrollment in the culminating student teaching capstone experience of a Board approved educator preparation program pursuant to R7-2-604.01,

b. Verification documenting completed coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent,

c. A passing score on the professional knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment that corresponds to the teaching certificate the student teaching intern is pursuing,

d. A passing score on the subject knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment that corresponds to the teaching certificate the student teaching intern is pursuing,

e. A request for issuance of the student teaching intern certificate from the district superintendent or charter school superintendent and the educator preparation program.

f. Verification from the educator preparation provider that a written supervision plan, approved by the Board, includes the following:

i. The educator preparation provider's roles and responsibilities for the Program Supervisor, and

ii. The onsite mentorship and induction provided by the Local Education Agency.

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

5. Placement decisions of student teaching intern certificate holders shall only be based on collaborative agreements between the Board approved educator preparation provider and the local education agency. Notwithstanding any other provision, a student teaching intern certificate holder may not teach in a special education classroom unless the certificate holder has a bachelor's degree.

6. The holder of the student teaching certificate may apply for an Arizona Teaching Certificate upon completion of the following:

a. Successful completion of a Board approved educator preparation program.

b. The submission of an application, and all required documentation including an institutional recommendation, for the Arizona teaching certificate to the Department.

L. Classroom-Based Standard Teaching Certificate

1. The requirements are:

a. A bachelor's degree;

b. Successful completion of a Board-approved Classroom-Based Alternative Preparation Program;

c. Verification of satisfactory progress and achievement with students;

d. Demonstration of subject knowledge proficiency with:

i. Verification of teaching courses relevant to a content area or subject matter for the last two consecutive years, and for a total of at least three years at one or more accredited postsecondary institutions; or

ii. A bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from an accredited institution in the applicable subject area; or

iii. Verification of a minimum of five years of work experience in the applicable subject area of certification; or

iv. Three years of verified teaching experience in the same area of certification in which the individual is applying for certification; or

v. A passing score on the applicable subject knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment;

e. Demonstration of professional knowledge proficiency with:

i. Three years of verified teaching experience in the same area of certification in which the individual is applying for certification; or

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

f. An individual seeking certification who was teaching courses or subjects tested by the statewide assessment must also provide:

i. Verified evidence of two years of full-time teaching; and

ii. Verified evidence that the individual's students performed at grade level; or

iii. Verified evidence that the individual's students achieved at least one year of academic growth at a rate equivalent to the state average for the students' associated peer groups;

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

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-614

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 R7-2-614 amended by emergency rulemaking under A.R.S. § 41-1026 at 8 A.A.R. 3739, effective August 5, 2002 for a period of 180 days (Supp. 02-3). Emergency rulemaking renewed under A.R.S. § 41-1026 at 9 A.A.R. 522, effective January 31, 2003 for a period of 180 days (Supp. 03-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 9 A.A.R. 1605, effective May 5, 2003 (Supp. 03-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 15 A.A.R. 1304, effective June 26, 2006 (Supp. 09-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 15 A.A.R. 1898, effective April 28, 2008 (Supp. 09-2). Former R7-2-614 recodified to R7-2-615; new R7-2-614 recodified from R7-2-613 at 15 A.A.R. 2146, effective August 25, 2008 (Supp. 09-4). Former R7-2-614 recodified to R7-2-615; new R7-2-614 recodified from R7-2-613at 16 A.A.R. 68, effective December 8, 2008 (Supp. 10-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 52, effective December 8, 2008 (Supp. 10-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 63, effective June 22, 2009 (Supp. 10-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 728, effective March 22, 2010 (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 21 A.A.R. 2009, effective 8/27/2012. Amended by exempt rulemaking at 21 A.A.R. 2009, effective 6/24/2013. Amended by exempt rulemaking at 21 A.A.R. 2009, effective 1/26/2015. Amended by exempt rulemaking at 22 A.A.R. 667, effective 1/25/2016. Amended by exempt rulemaking at 22 A.A.R. 2617, effective 8/22/2016. Amended by exempt rulemaking at 23 A.A.R. 725, effective 1/23/2017. 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 26 A.A.R. 1311, effective 5/18/2020. Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 28 A.A.R. 366, effective 1/24/2022.