Arkansas Teacher Certification Renewal
Learn how to renew a Professional Educator Certification or reinstate a Professional Educator Certification in Arkansas
Teaching Certification Renewal
After receiving your Initial Teaching License, you will work under the supervision of a mentor for at least a year, but not more than three years. During this induction period, your mentor will coach you in the general education area, not in your specific content area. When you mentor feels that you are ready, he or she will administer the Praxis III exam, testing your performance in the general education area. Once passed, you will be granted a Standard Teaching License.
The Standard Teaching License is valid for five years, after which time it must be renewed. In order to renew your license, you must show documentation of completing 60 professional development hours per year for that five-year period. Your school district is responsible for maintaining verification of your professional development and reporting it to the Arkansas Department of Education.
Professional development hours may be earned in a variety of ways, including through college courses, conferences, mentoring and independent study. Review these Rules Governing Professional Development for details.
Your Standard Teaching License will automatically be renewed by the Arkansas Department of Education in the fall of its last effective year if you meet the following requirements:
- Hold a valid Standard Teaching License
- Teach in an Arkansas public school during the year in which the license expires
- Have clearance of the criminal background check by the Arkansas State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation on file
- Have clearance of the Child Maltreatment Central Registry check on file
- Pay the renewal fee of $100
- Show verification of completion of 60 hours of Professional Development annually
Your renewed Standard Teaching License will be mailed to your school district if you meet the requirements.
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Reinstatement of Certification
You may use the above renewal procedures to renew your Standard Teaching License if it has been expired for less than one year. If your Standard Teaching License expired a year or more ago and you previously passed the Praxis II exam in at least one specialty area, you must meet the following requirements to have it reinstated:
- Complete the renewal application (you may use the Arkansas Educators License Application)
- Have clearance of the criminal background check by the Arkansas State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation on file
- Have clearance of the Child Maltreatment Central Registry check on file
- Show verification of completion of six hours of coursework taken in your professional specialty area of license within the past five years, or
- Show verification of passing the specialty exam in at least one licensure area
- Show verification of completion of 60 hours of professional development in the previous year
- Pay a $100 renewal fee
If your license expired a year or more ago and you have not completed the Praxis II exam in a specialty area, you must:
- Complete the renewal application (you may use the Arkansas Educators License Application)
- Have clearance of the criminal background check by the Arkansas State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation on file
- Have clearance of the Child Maltreatment Central Registry check on file
- Show verification of passing the Praxis II specialty exam in at least one licensure area and the pedagogy assessment at your level of licensure
- Show verification of completion of 60 hours of professional development in the previous year
- Pay a $100 renewal fee
