Arizona Teacher Certification Renewal
Arizona teacher certification renewal requires completing 15 clock hours of professional development for each year of the certificate term, either 120 hours for an eight-year Standard Teaching Certificate or 180 hours for a twelve-year certificate. Renewal is done online through the My Certification Portal or by mail with the Arizona Department of Education.
This guide covers Arizona teacher certification renewal and reinstatement, including current professional development hours, fees, and submission options through the Arizona Department of Education (ADE).
Teaching Certification Renewal
Within two months of the expiration of your three-year Arizona Provisional Teaching Certificate, you must apply to have it converted to a Standard Teaching Certificate. Requirements include completion of the Application to Convert, which is to be mailed along with a photocopy of your fingerprint card, application fee, verification of two years of full-time teaching experience, and any additional education requirements of your certification class (including additional required SEI Training). Send this information to the Phoenix or Tucson office of the Arizona Department of Education-Certification Unit.
Once you hold a Standard Teaching Certificate, its term depends on when it was issued: certificates issued in 2016 or 2017 run for eight years, while certificates issued since August 2017 run for twelve years. Renewal requires 15 clock hours of professional development for each year of the certificate term, which works out to 120 hours over an eight-year term or 180 hours over a twelve-year term. One semester hour of college coursework counts as 15 clock hours, so the hours and coursework credit can be mixed and matched to reach the total.
You can renew electronically through the My Certification Portal, or submit a paper Application for Renewal of Certificate by mail. You may apply for renewal up to six months before your certificate’s expiration date. Along with your completed application, you’ll need:
- A valid Arizona DPS Identity Verified Prints (IVP) fingerprint clearance card
- Documentation of professional development hours, verified by your district’s human resources office through the AZEDCert LEA portal, or official transcripts sent directly by your college or university
- Proof of an approved license or credential instead of PD hours, if applicable (for example, a valid National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certificate)
Mail paper applications and transcripts to the Arizona Department of Education, Certification Unit, P.O. Box 6490, Phoenix, AZ 85005, or submit them in person at the Phoenix or Tucson Certification Customer Service Counter.
Reinstatement of Certification
A lapsed, renewable Arizona certificate with no outstanding deficiencies, including Standard Teaching, Administrative, School Counselor, and several other renewable credentials, can be renewed up to ten years after it expires under the state’s Returning Educator rules. If your certificate lapsed at least two years ago but less than ten years, you’ll submit a completed Application for Renewal along with a $20 fee per certificate, payable to the Arizona Department of Education, plus a valid IVP fingerprint clearance card. No additional professional development hours are required under this returning-educator path.
If your certificate has expired for more than ten years, ADE requires you to reapply for certification from scratch and meet the qualifications currently in effect, rather than the ones that applied when you first earned your certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an Arizona Standard Teaching Certificate valid?
It depends on when ADE issued it. Certificates issued in 2016 or 2017 run for eight years, and certificates issued since August 2017 run for twelve years. Both require 15 clock hours of professional development per year of the term.
How do I renew my Arizona teaching certificate online?
Log in to the My Certification Portal at mycert.azed.gov and submit your renewal electronically. You can also mail a paper Application for Renewal of Certificate to the ADE Certification Unit if you’d rather not renew online.
What happens if my Arizona certificate expired two or more years ago?
If it lapsed between two and ten years ago, you can still renew under the Returning Educator rules with a completed application, a $20 fee per certificate, and a valid fingerprint clearance card. If it lapsed less than two years ago, you follow the regular renewal process instead. Certificates that expired more than ten years ago require a full reapplication under current requirements.
Do I need a new fingerprint clearance card to renew?
You need a valid Arizona DPS Identity Verified Prints (IVP) fingerprint clearance card on file for both regular renewals and returning-educator renewals. If yours has expired, you’ll need to renew it through the Arizona Department of Public Safety before ADE can process your certificate renewal.
How much does it cost to renew or reinstate an Arizona teaching certificate?
Returning educators renewing a lapsed certificate pay $20 per certificate. Educators renewing on the regular schedule submit the standard renewal application and required documentation. Check the current fee schedule on the application itself, since ADE periodically adjusts fees.
- Certificate term depends on issue date. Certificates issued in 2016 or 2017 run eight years, and certificates issued since August 2017 run twelve years, each requiring 15 clock hours of professional development per year of the term.
- Renewal has a wide window. You can renew up to six months before expiration, and lapsed certificates can still be renewed up to ten years after they expire under the Returning Educator rules.
- A fingerprint clearance card is required for these renewal pathways. A valid Arizona DPS IVP card is needed for both regular renewals and returning-educator reinstatement.
- Certificates lapsed more than ten years ago require a full reapplication. ADE will not renew these. You must reapply under the qualifications currently in effect.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in Arizona, including coursework that can count toward your renewal hours and next certification step.
