Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-616 - Standard Professional Administrative Certificates

A. All certificates are subject to the general certification provisions in R7-2-607 and the renewal requirements in R7-2-619.

B. Standard Professional Supervisor Certificate - grades PreK through 12

1. Except for individuals who hold a valid Arizona principal or superintendent certificate, the supervisor certificate is required for all personnel, except for superintendents pursuant to R7-2-616(D), whose primary responsibility is administering instructional programs, supervising certified personnel, or similar administrative duties.

2. The requirements are:

a. A valid Arizona Standard Professional teaching certificate, Career and Technical Education certificate, Classroom-Based Standard Teaching Certificate, Subject Matter Expert Standard Teaching Certificate, or Specialized Secondary Teaching Certificate or an other professional certificate established in R7-2-617 issued by the Department;

b. A master's or more advanced degree;

c. Three years of verified full-time teaching experience or related education services experience in a PreK through 12 setting;

d. Completion of a program in educational administration which shall consist of a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours of educational administration courses which teach the knowledge and skills described in R7-2-603 to include three semester hours in school law and three semester hours in school finance;

e. A practicum in educational administration or two years of verified educational administrative experience in grades PreK through 12;

f. A passing score on the Supervisor, Principal, or Superintendent portion of the Arizona Administrator Proficiency Assessment; and

g. An SEI endorsement or an ESL endorsement or a Bilingual Endorsement; and

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

C. Standard Professional Principal Certificate - grades PreK through 12

1. The principal certificate is required for all personnel who hold the title of principal, assistant principal, or perform the duties of principal or assistant principal as delineated in A.R.S. Title 15.

2. The requirements are:

a. A master's or more advanced degree,

b. Three years of verified teaching experience in grades PreK through 12,

c. Completion of a program in educational administration for principals including at least 30 graduate semester hours of educational administration courses teaching the knowledge and skills described in R7-2-603 to include three semester hours in school law and three semester hours in school finance,

d. A practicum as a principal or two years of verified experience as a principal or assistant principal under the supervision of a certified principal in grades PreK through 12,

e. A passing score on either the Principal or Superintendent portion of the Arizona Administrator Proficiency Assessment; and

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

D. Standard Professional Superintendent Certificate - grades PreK through 12

1. The superintendent certificate is optional, but may be required by local governing boards for individuals who hold the title or perform the duties of a superintendent, assistant superintendent or associate superintendent and who perform duties directly relevant to curriculum, instruction, certified employee evaluations, and instructional supervision.

2. The requirements are:

a. A master's or more advanced degree including at least 60 graduate semester hours;

b. Completion of a program in educational administration for superintendents, including at least 36 graduate semester hours of educational administrative courses which teach the standards described in R7-2-603 to include three semester hours in school law and three semester hours in school finance;

c. Three years of verified full-time teaching experience or related education services experience in a PreK through 12 setting;

d. A practicum as a superintendent or two years verified experience as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, or associate superintendent in grades PreK through 12;

e. A passing score on the Superintendent portion of the Arizona Administrator Proficiency Assessment; and

f. An SEI endorsement or an ESL endorsement or a Bilingual endorsement; and

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

E. Interim Supervisor Certificate - grades PreK through 12

1. Except as noted, the administrative interim certificate is subject to the general certification provisions in R7-2-607.

2. The certificate is valid for one year 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 (F)(6) are met.

3. The administrative interim certificate entitles the holder to perform the duties described in subsection (B)(1). The candidate shall be enrolled in a Board approved alternative path to certification program, or a Board authorized administrative preparation program.

4. An individual is not eligible to hold the administrative interim certificate more than once in a five year period.

5. The requirements for initial issuance of the administrative interim certificate are:

a. A valid Arizona early childhood, elementary, secondary, special education, CTE certificate, PreK through 12 Arts, or other professional certificate issued by the Department;

b A bachelor's degree or higher in education from an accredited institution;

c. Three years of verified full-time teaching experience or related education services experience in a PreK through 12 setting;

d. Verification of enrollment in a Board approved alternative path to administrator certification program, or a Board approved administrator preparation program;

e. Verification the holder of the interim certificate shall be under the direct supervision of an Arizona certified district administrator or the appropriate county school superintendent; and

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

6. The requirements for the extension of the administrative interim certificate are:

a. Qualification for the initial issuance of the administrative interim certificate outlined in subsection (F)(5),

b. Official transcripts documenting the completion of required coursework,

c. Verification the holder of the interim certificate shall be under the direct supervision of an Arizona certified district administrator, and

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

7. The holder of the administrative interim certificate may apply for an Arizona Standard Professional Supervisor Certificate upon completion of the following:

a. Successful completion of a Board approved alternative path to administrator certification program or a Board approved administrator preparation program. This shall include satisfactory completion of a field experience or capstone experience of no less than one full academic year. The field experience or capstone experience shall include performance evaluations in a manner that is consistent with policies for the applicable alternative professional preparation program;

b. A passing score on the Arizona Administrator Proficiency Assessment;

c. The submission of an application for the Standard Professional Supervisor certificate to the Department; and

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

F. Interim Principal Certificate - grades PreK through 12

1. Except as noted, the administrative interim certificate is subject to the general certification provisions in R7-2-607.

2. The certificate is valid for one year 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 (G)(6) are met.

3. The administrative interim certificate entitles the holder to perform the duties described in subsection (C)(1). The candidate shall be enrolled in a Board approved alternative path to certification program, or a Board authorized administrative preparation program.

4. An individual is not eligible to hold the administrative interim certificate more than once in a five year period.

5. The requirements for initial issuance of the administrative interim certificate are:

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

b. Three years of verified full-time teaching experience in grades PreK through 12;

c. Verification of enrollment in a Board approved alternative path to administrator certification program, or a Board approved administrator preparation program;

d. Verification the holder of the interim certificate shall be under the direct supervision of an Arizona certified district principal or superintendent or the appropriate county school superintendent; and

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

6. The requirements for the extension of the administrative interim certificate are:

a. Qualification for the initial issuance of the administrative interim certificate outlined in subsection (G)(5),

b. Official transcripts documenting the completion of required coursework,

c. Verification the holder of the interim certificate shall be under the direct supervision of an Arizona certified district principal or superintendent, and

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

7. The holder of the administrative interim certificate may apply for an Arizona Principal Certificate upon completion of the following:

a. Successful completion of a Board approved alternative path to administrator certification program or a Board approved administrator preparation program. This shall include satisfactory completion of a field experience or capstone experience of no less than one full academic year. The field experience or capstone experience shall include performance evaluations in a manner that is consistent with policies for the applicable alternative professional preparation program;

b. A passing score on either the Principal or Superintendent portion of the Arizona Administrator Proficiency Assessment;

c. The submission of an application for the Principal certificate to the Department; and

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

G. Interim Superintendent Certificate - grades PreK through 12

1. Except as noted, the administrative interim certificate is subject to the general certification provisions in R7-2-607.

2. The certificate is valid for one year 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 (H)(6) are met.

3. The administrative interim certificate entitles the holder to perform the duties described in subsection (D)(1). The candidate shall be enrolled in a Board approved alternative path to certification program, or a Board authorized administrative preparation program.

4. An individual is not eligible to hold the administrative interim certificate more than once in a five year period.

5. The requirements for initial issuance of the administrative interim certificate are:

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

b. Three years of verified full-time teaching experience or related education services experience in a PreK through 12 setting;

c. Verification of enrollment in a Board approved alternative path to administrator certification program, or a Board approved administrator preparation program;

d. Verification the holder of the interim certificate shall be under the direct supervision of an Arizona certified district superintendent or the appropriate county school superintendent; and

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

6. The requirements for the extension of the administrative interim certificate are:

a. Qualification for the initial issuance of the administrative interim certificate outlined in subsection (H)(5),

b. Official transcripts documenting the completion of required coursework,

c. Verification the holder of the interim certificate shall be under the direct supervision of an Arizona certified district superintendent or the appropriate county school superintendent, and

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

7. The holder of the administrative interim certificate may apply for an Arizona Superintendent Certificate upon completion of the following:

a. Successful completion of a Board approved alternative path to administrator certification program or a Board approved administrator preparation program. This shall include satisfactory completion of a field experience or capstone experience of no less than one full academic year. The field experience or capstone experience shall include performance evaluations in a manner that is consistent with policies for the applicable alternative professional preparation program;

b. A passing score on the Superintendent portion of the Arizona Administrator Proficiency Assessment;

c. The submission of an application for the Superintendent certificate to the Department; and

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

H. Interim Administrative Certificates - Public Health Emergency

1. Notwithstanding this Section, an Interim Administrative Certificate entitling the holder to serve as a supervisor, principal, or superintendent may be issued to an applicant who meets the following requirements:

a. Completion of all requirements for the Standard Professional Supervisor, Standard Professional Principal, or Standard Professional Superintendent certificate, as described in subsection (B)(2), (C)(2), and (D)(2), with the exception of a passing score on the Arizona Administrator Proficiency Assessment.

b. Verification that the applicant was unable to take the Arizona Administrator Proficiency Assessment required for the Standard Professional Administrative certificate as the result of a public health emergency declared by the governor or a public health official.

2. A certificate issued pursuant to this subsection shall be issued for one year and shall not be renewed or extended.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-616

Adopted effective December 4, 1998 (Supp. 98-4). Former R7-2-616 recodified to R7-2-617; new R7-2-616 recodified from R7-2-615 at 15 A.A.R. 2146, effective August 25, 2008 (Supp. 09-4). Former R7-2-616 recodified to R7-2-617; new R7-2-616 recodified from R7-2-615at 16 A.A.R. 68, effective December 8, 2008 (Supp. 10-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 326, effective January 25, 2010 (Supp. 10-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 1249, effective May 24, 2010 (Supp. 10-4). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 2034, effective October 1, 2010 (Supp. 11-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 22 A.A.R. 227, effective 6/23/2014. Amended by exempt rulemaking at 22 A.A.R. 219, effective 5/4/2015. Amended by exempt rulemaking at 24 A.A.R. 195, effective 8/9/2017. Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 26 A.A.R. 1311, effective 5/18/2020. Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 29 A.A.R. 183, effective 12/9/2022.