Requirements to Become a Preschool Teacher in Arizona
Learn about the steps required to become a preschool teacher in Arizona. Read to get the facts on education requirements, mandatory examinations, and pathways to certification in the state.
Career Info
The state of Arizona has one teaching certificate covering all early childhood teachers with students from birth to grade 3 (or age 8). This certificate is known as the Standard Professional Early Childhood Education Certificate, and can be used by both preschool and kindergarten teachers in the state. The table below is an overview of the relevant requirements and salary expectations for Arizona preschool teachers.
<table border="1"><tr><td> Education Required </td><td> Bachelor's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td> Exam Requirements </td><td> Professional and subject knowledge required examinations</td></tr>
<tr><td> Certification </td><td> Standard Professional Early Childhood Education Certificate</td></tr>
<tr><td> Certification Renewal Period </td><td> 12 years</td></tr>
<tr><td> Average Salary (2018) </td><td> $31,010 (for all Arizona preschool teachers)*</td></tr>
<tr><td> Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td> 10% growth (for all preschool teachers nationwide)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
</i></p><h3 id="section---Step1SelectTheAppropriatePathwayToCertification">Step 1: Select the Appropriate Pathway to Certification</h3><p>The state of Arizona has three main pathways to the Standard Professional Early Childhood Education Certificate. Students who emerged from one of the state-approved teacher preparation programs in early childhood education are allowed to begin the certification process with a copy of their official transcript. Those who did not complete a teacher preparation program must have at least two years of teaching experience with students in this age group (from birth through grade 3). In addition to the required professional experience, candidates in this pathway must complete a variety of courses in several topics, including classroom management, lesson planning, and ethical conduct (among others). Candidates with a valid Arizona or out-of-state teaching certification are eligible to complete a certification application with no additional education or examination requirements.
</p><h3 id="section---Step2CompleteTheProfessionalKnowledgeExaminationRequirement">Step 2: Complete the Professional Knowledge Examination Requirement</h3><p>Candidates in the first two pathways continue the certification process with two separate examination requirements. The first, known as the professional knowledge examination requirement, involves the completion of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) Professional Knowledge-Early Childhood exam. Registration, preparation, and examination date instructions are available on the Arizona Department of Education website. Those who have passed a similar out-of-state examination, have a valid early education (or similar) certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), or have at least three years of teaching experience with students in this age group are eligible to waive this requirement.
</p><h3 id="section---Step3CompleteTheSubjectKnowledgeExaminationRequirement">Step 3: Complete the Subject Knowledge Examination Requirement</h3><p>The subject knowledge requirement involves the completion of an additional AEPA examination, known as the Subject Knowledge: Early Childhood Education exam. This requirement can also be waived with the passing of a similar out-of state exam or early childhood education-related NBPTS certificate. Those with a bachelor's or advanced degree in early childhood education or five years of teaching experience with students in this age group can also waive this requirement.
</p><h3 id="section---Step4GetCertifiedAndMaintainValidityWithAdditionalRequiredTraining">Step 4: Get Certified and Maintain Validity with Additional Required Training</h3><p>Once you have completed all education and examination requirements, you must attend an approved vendor to complete fingerprint clearance with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS). The AZDPS will use your fingerprints to check state and national databases in order to ensure you have no criminal record or prior convictions. Once you receive a fingerprint clearance card, you may begin the application process by downloading an application from the Arizona Department of Education website. Once certification is granted, you will need to ensure that you complete the required post-certification education requirements before the third year of certification. These requirements include mandatory coursework in the US constitution, the Arizona constitution, phonics, dyslexia, and ethics.</p>