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- The new Early Childhood Education Teacher Certification and Endorsement is now available from the Teacher Certification Unit at the Arizona Department of Education.
- By July 1, 2009, the Early Childhood Education Teacher Certification or Endorsement will be required of all individuals teaching in public school early childhood programs serving children birth through kindergarten.
- The Early Childhood Education Teacher Certification and Endorsement is optional, but recommended for individuals teaching in public school grades 1 - 3.
- The Early Childhood portion of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA) required for Early Childhood Education Teacher Certification and Endorsement is now available.
| ADE Certification Information |
The Arizona Department of Education Teacher Certification Unit includes information about the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Teacher Certification and Endorsement on their website.
The Arizona Department of Education Teacher Certification Unit offers the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Teacher Certification and Endorsement. Development of the ECE Certification and Endorsement began in January 2001 when a statewide consortium representing child care and early education stakeholders proposed that an Early Childhood Certificate and an Early Childhood Endorsement be established for the following reasons:
- Early childhood is a field requiring specialized knowledge and training of teachers.
- The knowledge base of the early childhood field has expanded substantially in recent years.
- Changes have occurred in settings for early care and education and in early childhood demographics.
- State and national education reform, including provisions in the No Child Left Behind Act, is placing greater emphasis on the academic preparation of children and teachers.
| July 1, 2009 - Why Is This Date So Important? |
All teachers in public school early childhood programs serving children birth through kindergarten will be required to obtain either the Early Childhood Education Teacher Certification or Endorsement by July 1, 2009.
Kindergarten teachers with an Elementary Education or Special Education Teaching Certification must obtain the Early Childhood Education Endorsement (or Certification if desired) by July 1, 2009. The current K-8 Elementary Education Certification will no longer be valid for teaching in kindergarten classrooms as of July 1, 2009. (Refer to Grandfathering Certified Teachers for information on obtaining the Early Childhood Education Endorsement without additional coursework or practicum requirements.)
Teachers in public school early childhood education programs that serve children birth through kindergarten must have the Early Childhood Education Teacher Certificate or Endorsement beginning July 1, 2009.
Public school early childhood education programs are defined as education programs provided by local education agencies (LEA), including their sub-grantees and contracted providers, for children birth through age 8 for the purpose of providing academically and developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that are standards-based with defined curriculum and comprehensive in content to include all appropriate developmental and academic areas as defined by the Arizona Early Childhood Education Standards or the Arizona K-12 Academic Standards approved by the State Board of Education.
Teachers are required to obtain the Early Childhood Education Certification or Endorsement if teaching children birth through kindergarten in the following types of programs in public schools:
- Early Childhood Block Grant
- Family Literacy
- Title 1
- Community education programs
- Head Start only if the LEA is the Delegate Agency (has administrative and fiscal authority)
- Half-day or full-day kindergarten
Teachers are not required to obtain the Early Childhood Certification or Endorsement if teaching in the following types of programs in public schools:
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) Early Childhood Training Programs (using only CTE funds or parent-paid tuition to provide early childhood program)
- Head Start only if LEA is not the Delegate Agency and classroom space only is rented from LEA or provided in-kind
- Child care programs provided for LEA employees
- Before or after-school programs
Teachers in early childhood special education programs are not required to obtain the Early Childhood Education Certificate or Endorsement if they are teaching only children with special needs. Such teachers must obtain an Early Childhood Special Education Certificate for preschool (ages 3 - 5 years) or an Elementary Special Education Certificate (K - 8). An advisory committee is reviewing the requirements for Early Childhood Special Education Certificate and will make recommendations for revisions in the upcoming year. If the teachers are teaching in a classroom that also serves typically developing children along with children with an IEP, then those teachers would require the Early Childhood Education Certificate or Endorsement by July 1, 2009.
Teachers in private, federally-funded or other non-public school programs are not required to obtain an Early Childhood Education Teacher Certificate or Endorsement unless their program or classroom contracts to provide services for one of the public school programs listed above that require a teacher certified in Early Childhood Education.
Teachers in grades 1 - 3 in public schools are not required to obtain the Early Childhood Certification or Endorsement, although it is recommended. Such teachers must be certified, but may meet that requirement with an Early Childhood Education Certificate or Endorsement or an Elementary Education Certificate.
| Requirements for Early Childhood Education Teacher Certification and Endorsement |
All Arizona Teacher Certification requirements are found in the Education Section (Title 7) of the Arizona Administrative Code. The language explaining the requirements for the new Early Childhood Education Teacher Certification and Endorsement are found in R7-2-612(I) and 613(L).
Arizona Administrative Code
Early Childhood Teacher Certification Requirements - R7-2-612(I)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Completion of approved teacher preparation program in early childhood or 37 semester hours of coursework in early childhood content areas
- Practicum (student teaching) for minimum 8 semester hours (4 hours in birth - pre-K programs; 4 hours in K-3 programs)
- Passing score on early childhood professional knowledge and subject knowledge portions of Arizona Education Proficiency Assessment when available and approved by the State Board of Education (anticipated Fall 2006)
Early Childhood Education Teacher Endorsement - R7-2-613(L)
- Current Arizona certification in elementary education or special education
- 21 hours of coursework in content areas
- Practicum (student teaching) for minimum 8 semester hours (4 hours in birth - pre-K programs; 4 hours in K-3 programs)
- Passing score on early childhood subject knowledge portion of Arizona Education Proficiency Assessment when available and approved by the State Board of Education (anticipated Fall 2006)
- National Board Certified Teachers in Early Childhood automatically meet the requirements for the Endorsement
The state of Arizona requires that applicants for teaching certificates take tests of professional knowledge and subject knowledge. The purpose of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA ) is to identify candidates for certification who have demonstrated the level of professional knowledge and skills and academic knowledge judged to be important for Arizona educators. The tests are criterion referenced and objective based. A criterion-referenced test is designed to measure a candidate's knowledge in relation to an established standard of performance (criterion) rather than in relation to the performance of other candidates.
Early childhood educators from Arizona served as advisors in the development of the early childhood professional knowledge and subject knowledge portions of the AEPA. Both tests are now available and approved by the Arizona State Board of Education and are required of applicants for Early Childhood Education Teacher Certification or Endorsement.
General information about the AEPA is found at:
Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments
Click on “Test Objectives” and then “Early Childhood Education” for information on the Early Childhood portion of the AEPA.
| "Grandfathering" Certified Teachers |
Teachers currently certified or due to be certified by July 1, 2006 in Elementary Education or Special Education with at least three years early childhood classroom teaching experience in the 10 years prior to application may obtain an Early Childhood Endorsement without any additional coursework or practicum requirements. This special "grandfathering" exception is available through June 30, 2009.
All qualified applicants applying for "grandfathering" of the Early Childhood Education Endorsement will be required to pass the Early Childhood Subject AEPA in order to obtain the Endorsement.
To apply for the grandfathering clause, applicants need to send in the following:
- An Original Letter of verification from your district Superintendent, HR director or personnel director, or the highest ranking official in the school system indicating the grade levels and subjects taught by the applicant as well as the dates the grade levels were taught
- Completed "Application for Certificate" downloadable from the website: www.ade.az.gov/certification/downloads/Application.pdf
- Xeroxed copy of your plastic fingerprint clearance card
- $60.00 fee
You do not need to send or bring your certificate or transcripts.
Applicants must also pass the Early Childhood Subject AEPA.
Contact Information
Early Childhood Education
Arizona Department of Education
1535 W. Jefferson Street, Bin #15
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Tel: 602-364-1530
Fax: 602-542-2730
Amy Corriveau, Deputy Associate Superintendent
