How To Become a Teacher in Arizona 2025

Teaching can be an extremely rewarding profession. If you live in Arizona and are interested in learning how to become a teacher, it's important to understand the various steps you'll need to take on this career path.

That's where we come in. Throughout this article, we'll talk about the requirements to become a teacher in Arizona, including education, student teaching, and teacher certification and licensure standards. We'll provide a step-by-step process you can follow to pursue your teaching career dreams.

Steps To Become a Teacher in Arizona

To become a teacher in Arizona, you'll need to complete a teacher preparation program, gain teaching experience, and meet all certification requirements. Whether you're looking to complete the process in a traditional timeframe or are interested in the fastest way to become a teacher, keep reading as we explore each of the steps below.

Step 1: Decide What Subject and Grade Level You Want To Teach

Teachers work at a variety of grade levels, and the education requirements can vary depending on the specific subjects and grade levels you want to teach. For example, a student hoping to become a kindergarten teacher would likely complete a different education degree and student teaching experience than someone planning to teach high school math or science classes.

Let's take a brief look at the basic requirements for elementary, middle, and high school teachers. We'll compare them side by side to see how the requirements are similar and how they differ.

Becoming an Elementary School Teacher

Prospective teachers hoping to work with elementary students will most likely earn a degree in early childhood education or elementary education. They will complete educator preparation programs with student teaching experiences in elementary schools. They must also complete the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments, which will evaluate their ability to teach a variety of subjects and basic skills.

Becoming a Middle School Teacher

Middle school teacher educational requirements may include completing a middle school education degree or a subject-specific degree in the field you hope to teach. You will gain hands-on experience by completing student teaching hours in middle schools or junior high schools. And you'll gain your teaching credentials by completing the National Evaluation Series Assessment of Professional Knowledge.

Becoming a High School Teacher

High school teacher educational requirements are similar to middle school requirements. Students will likely pursue a degree in secondary education or the specific subject they hope to teach. Their teacher education program will include student teaching experiences in high schools; they will earn a teaching license after successfully passing the necessary certification exams through the National Evaluation Series Assessment of Professional Knowledge.

Step 2: Choose Your Major

If you decide early which type of teaching career you want to pursue, it will make choosing your major much easier. For example, if you know you want to teach elementary children, you can choose a degree in elementary education. If you want to teach English at the high school level, you could major in English and complete a short-term teaching program (e.g., a post-baccalaureate certificate), or you could major in secondary education.

If you're not sure which subject or grade level you want to teach, or if you're interested in teaching at multiple levels, you could complete a generic education or teaching major. This type of program will help you keep your options open and enable you to gain experience working with different age groups.

Step 3: Earn Your Bachelor's Degree

All Arizona teachers must hold at least a bachelor's degree. The degree can be in any field, but education programs provide the most direct path for anyone just starting out in college.

Education degrees are often known as teacher preparation programs and are designed to help students meet all licensure requirements during their time in school. Coursework can vary depending on the specific program but may cover topics such as classroom management, teaching philosophies, and subject-specific information.

Teacher preparation programs typically include student teaching experiences and exam preparation. If you are enrolled in a degree program that does not encompass these components (such as a subject-specific program like English or biology), you'll need to ensure you meet all requirements on your own. Contact your local school district about gaining student teaching experiences, or enroll in a teaching certificate program that will help you meet the necessary requirements.

Step 4: Consider a Master's Degree

Having a master's degree is not a requirement to work as a teacher in Arizona. That said, some schools and districts prefer candidates who hold master's degrees, and those with advanced degrees may qualify for higher salaries and advanced positions.

If you earned a bachelor's degree in a specific subject area, getting your master's degree in education can help you meet Arizona teaching requirements so you can earn your license. If you earned a bachelor's degree in education, you could pursue a master's degree in a specific subject you would like to teach.

Finally, earning a master's degree can help you transition from one type of teaching career to another. For example, if you've been working as an elementary teacher, earning a master's degree in special education can help you transition to a career as a special education teacher.

Step 5: Pass Arizona Teaching Exams and Gain Licensure

Once you've graduated from your teacher preparation program, you're ready to pursue licensure. Depending on the grade level and subject matter you want to teach, you'll need to complete either the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments or the National Evaluation Series Assessment for Professional Knowledge.

These exams cover both professional and subject knowledge proficiency. Different specific exams may be required depending on the subjects you plan to teach. Generally speaking, each exam features 100 multiple-choice questions, a case study, and a written test.

Upon passing the necessary exams, candidates must pass a background check and obtain fingerprint cards. They can then apply for a three-year provisional teaching certification through the Arizona Department of Education.

Step 6: Apply for Teaching Jobs

You can begin applying for teaching positions as soon as you receive your state teaching certification. Consider applying with your local school district or with any district where you worked during your student teaching assignments.

You can also apply at private schools to begin gaining teaching experience. Explore any open positions at private schools in your area, or look at online job boards and attend hiring events to learn about openings.

How To Choose the Right Teaching Degree Program

Technically, you can begin your teaching career in Arizona with any bachelor's degree. You can apply for a teaching intern certificate that allows you to begin working as a teacher immediately — even if you're still in the process of earning all of your teaching credentials.

That said, if you're just starting out in college and trying to decide on which degree to pursue, it's best to choose a program that closely aligns with your career goals. If you want to teach elementary school, consider majoring in education. If you want to teach high school mathematics, consider majoring in secondary education or mathematics. If you want to teach special education, consider majoring in special education.

Again, if you're not sure, it's okay to choose a general teaching or education degree. Keep in mind, though, that certain positions may require specific degrees, so the earlier you focus your career goals, the better.

FAQs About Becoming a Teacher in Arizona

If you still have questions about becoming a teacher in Arizona, you're not alone. Let's look at some answers to frequently asked questions you may be wondering about.

What Requirements Are Needed To Be a Teacher in Arizona?

Generally speaking, you'll need to complete a teacher preparation program and earn a bachelor's degree in any field to become a teacher in Arizona. You'll also need to complete the necessary student teaching experiences and certification exams, pass a background check, and earn state certification through the Arizona Department of Education.

How Do You Become a High School Teacher in Arizona?

High school teachers in Arizona typically hold a degree in secondary education or in the specific subject they plan to teach. They may also hold an advanced degree in their field. Before earning their license, prospective high school teachers must pass professional and subject knowledge exams as part of the National Evaluation Series Assessment of Professional Knowledge.

How Fast Can You Become a Certified Teacher in Arizona?

If you already hold a bachelor's degree, you can begin teaching as soon as you receive a teaching intern certificate from the state of Arizona. This intermediate certificate allows you to work full-time while completing the necessary requirements for a provisional certificate. If you're just starting college and following a more traditional pathway, you can become a certified teacher in as little as four to five years.

Do Requirements Differ at Private Schools and Public Schools?

School districts provide the requirements that govern public school teachers; meanwhile, each private school in the state determines its own standards. Therefore, teaching requirements at public and private schools can vary widely. If you'd like to teach at a specific private school, it's important to understand the requirements ahead of time to ensure you meet them.

Earn Your Teaching Certificate

If you're ready to begin your teaching career in Arizona, explore the schools featured here on Learn.org. Reach out to any of the colleges you're interested in to find out more about their educator preparation programs and choose the right option for you.