Academic
Catalog August 2007 - August 2008 Undergraduate
and Graduate
By July 1, 2009, early childhood certification (birth through age eight) will be required for individuals teaching in Arizona public school early childhood education programs with children from birth through kindergarten.
There are two ways to become eligible for certification to teach Pre-K through Grade 3 with the Arizona Department of Education. One way is to complete the B.S. Ed. in the Early Childhood degree program. The second way is to complete the Early Childhood Certificate program which leads to an Early Childhood Education Endorsement through the Arizona Department of Education. Provisional certification is valid for two years and is not renewable. Standard certification is valid for six years and is renewable after expiration.
1. Early Childhood Certification through B.S. Ed. Early Childhood – Arizona Dept. of Education Requirements:
complete 37 units of early childhood education coursework
must complete a split-placement supervised student-teaching experience in both birth through preschool and kindergarten through grade three settings have a valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety
have passing scores on both the early childhood professional knowledge and early childhood subject knowledge portions of the AEPA
2. Early Childhood Certification through Early Childhood Certificate program Arizona- Dept. of Education Requirements for an Early Childhood Education Endorsement:
A valid Arizona elementary teaching certificate
21 semester hours of prescribed early childhood education courses
Minimum 4 semester hours of student teaching in a birth-preK setting
Minimum 4 semester hours of student teaching in a kindergarten-grade 3 classroom
have a valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety
have passing scores on both the early childhood professional knowledge and early childhood subject knowledge portions of the AEPA
Click here for more information about our ECI undergraduate courses, graduate courses, and faculty.