Alternative Teaching Certification in Arizona
Arizona’s alternative teaching certification lets bachelor’s degree holders start teaching while completing licensure requirements. The Arizona Department of Education issues an Alternative Teaching Certificate valid for one year, renewable annually for up to two additional years. Candidates must enroll in a state-approved preparation program and pass the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment in their subject area.
Arizona lets candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree start teaching before finishing traditional coursework and student teaching. The Arizona State Board of Education oversees this alternative path through approved educator preparation programs, and candidates work under an Alternative Teaching Certificate while completing the rest of the requirements. This guide covers what the alternative pathway requires, how it compares to the traditional route, and what to expect from application through full certification.
Interested in learning about the traditional approach? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Arizona.
Use the links below to jump to alternative certification requirements, how the path compares to traditional certification, and what to expect during the application process.
- Alternative Certification Requirements
- Alternative vs. Traditional Certification
- Applying for Your Alternative Teaching Certificate
- Criminal History Background Check
- Contact Information
Alternative Certification Requirements
Education Requirements
To qualify for Arizona’s alternative pathway to teaching certification, you must:
- Hold at least a bachelor’s degree
- Enroll in a two-year Arizona State Board-approved teacher preparation program
- Complete 3 semester hours or 45 clock hours of state-approved Structured English Immersion training for either the provisional or full SEI endorsement
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway
Candidates without a bachelor’s degree aren’t automatically shut out of an Arizona classroom. Those with a high school diploma and at least 6,000 clock hours of verified work experience in their instructional area may qualify to teach career and technical education (CTE) subjects through a separate set of requirements set by the Arizona Department of Education. Check the ADE’s CTE certification guidance for the specific experience and coursework thresholds tied to your subject area.
Examinations
You must pass an Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment in your chosen subject knowledge area. Arizona administers these subject and professional knowledge exams jointly with the National Evaluation Series (NES), so you may see them referred to as AEPA/NES exams. Most candidates also sit for the Professional Knowledge exam that matches their grade band, elementary or secondary.
Alternative vs. Traditional Certification
Both paths lead to the same Arizona teaching certificate, but they differ in when you start teaching and how your coursework fits around it.
| Requirement | Traditional Certification | Alternative Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Bachelor’s in education or an approved teaching major | Bachelor’s in any field, plus enrollment in an approved alternative program |
| Classroom start | After completing student teaching | While teaching under an Alternative Teaching Certificate |
| Coursework timing | Completed before certification | Completed while already employed as a teacher |
| Exams required | AEPA subject and professional knowledge exams before certification | Same AEPA exams, tied to the certification area you’re seeking |
Applying for Your Alternative Teaching Certificate
Once you meet the education and Structured English Immersion requirements above and enroll in a State Board-approved teacher preparation program, the Arizona Department of Education issues an Alternative Teaching Certificate. This certificate is valid for one year and can be extended yearly for up to two additional years while you finish your preparation program, for a maximum of three years on the alternative pathway. Arizona doesn’t allow candidates to hold the Alternative Teaching Certificate more than once in any five-year period, so plan your coursework timeline with that limit in mind.
While you hold the Alternative Teaching Certificate, you can work as the teacher of record in an Arizona public school, with the same pay and benefits as any other contracted teacher. A list of all Arizona public school districts is available on the ADE website, and you can review typical Arizona teacher salaries and benefits before you commit to a district.
Before your Alternative Teaching Certificate expires, you must pass the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment in your subject knowledge area. After meeting every requirement, you can apply for a Standard Teaching Certificate with an institutional recommendation from your preparation program confirming you completed the alternative pathway. Once you hold that certificate, you’ll follow the same process for renewing your Arizona teaching certificate as any other Arizona teacher.
Criminal History Background Check
Arizona requires all applicants for teaching certification to submit to a criminal background check, which includes fingerprinting. Call the Arizona Department of Public Safety at (602) 223-2279 and request an Identity Verified Prints (IVP) Fingerprint Card. You’ll get instructions on where to go to complete this process. Submit a photocopy of your valid IVP card with your Application for Certification.
Contact Information
For more information about Arizona’s alternative teacher certification pathway, contact the ADE Certification Unit directly at (602) 542-4367 or visit their website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Alternative Teaching Certificate in Arizona?
It’s a temporary certificate that the Arizona Department of Education issues to bachelor’s degree holders who are enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program. It lets you work as the teacher of record while you finish the coursework needed for a Standard Teaching Certificate.
How long is the Alternative Teaching Certificate valid?
It’s valid for one year and can be extended yearly for up to two additional years, for a maximum of three years total. You can’t hold the certificate more than once in any five-year period.
Do I need a bachelor’s degree for alternative certification in Arizona?
Yes, for most subject areas. The main exception is career and technical education, where significant industry experience can substitute for a bachelor’s degree under a separate set of ADE requirements.
What exams do I need to pass for Arizona alternative certification?
You’ll need a passing score on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment in your subject knowledge area, and most candidates also take the Professional Knowledge exam for their grade band. Arizona delivers these through the National Evaluation Series (NES), so you may see them called AEPA/NES exams.
Can I teach in Arizona without a bachelor’s degree?
Generally, no, except through the CTE pathway. Candidates without a bachelor’s degree but with substantial industry experience in a technical field may qualify to teach CTE subjects under Arizona’s separate CTE certification requirements.
- Bachelor’s degree holders can start teaching sooner. The Alternative Teaching Certificate lets you enter the classroom while finishing your preparation program, rather than completing everything beforehand.
- The certificate has a hard time limit. It’s valid for one year, extendable for up to two more, and you can’t hold it more than once in a five-year period.
- The same AEPA exams apply either way. Traditional and alternative candidates both need to pass subject and professional knowledge scores.
- CTE offers a path without a bachelor’s degree. Industry experience can qualify you to teach career and technical education subjects.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in Arizona, including application requirements and licensing timelines for your certification path.
