Section R7-2-614. Other Teaching Certificates

A.      Except as noted, all certificates are subject to the general certi- fication provisions in R7-2-607.

B.       Substitute Certificate -- PreK-12

1.        The certificate is valid for six years and renewable by reapplication.

2.        The certificate entitles the holder to substitute in the tem- porary absence of a regular contract teacher. A person holding only a substitute certificate shall not be assigned a contract teaching position.

3.        An individual who holds a valid teaching or administrator certificate shall not be required to hold a substitute certif- icate to be employed as a substitute teacher.

4.        A person holding only a substitute certificate shall be lim- ited to teaching 120 days in the same school each school year.

5.        The requirement for issuance is a bachelor’s degree and a valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

6.        Substitute certificates previously issued as valid for life under this rule shall remain valid for life.

7.      A person holding only a substitute certificate may be exempt from the limit on teaching 120 days in the same school each school year if the school district superinten- dent has provided verification to the Department of Edu- cation that the position is continuously advertised on a statewide basis at a minimum of three sites with at least one being a higher education institution and that a highly qualified and employable candidate was not found. An exemption from teaching 120 days shall not be granted to the same individual more than three times.

C.      Emergency Substitute Certificate -- PreK-12

1.        The certificate is valid for one school year or part thereof. The expiration date shall be the following July 1.

2.        The certificate entitles the holder to substitute only in the district that verifies that an emergency employment situa- tion exists.

3.        The certificate entitles the holder to substitute in the tem- porary absence of a regular contract teacher. A person holding only an emergency substitute certificate shall not be assigned a contract teaching position.

4.        The holder of an emergency substitute certificate shall be limited to 120 days of substitute teaching per school year.

5.        The requirements for initial issuance are:

a.         High school diploma, General Education diploma, or associate’s degree;

b.        Verification from the school district superintendent that an emergency employment situation exists; and

c.         A valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Ari- zona Department of Public Safety.

6.        The requirements for each reissuance are:

a.         Two semester hours of academic courses completed since the last issuance of the Emergency Substitute Certificate. District in-service  programs  designed for professional development may substitute for aca- demic courses. Fifteen clock hours of in-service is equivalent to one semester hour. In-service hours shall be verified by the district superintendent or personnel director. Individuals who have earned 30 or more semester hours are exempt from this requirement,

b.        Verification from the school district superintendent that an emergency employment situation exists, and

c.         A valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Ari- zona Department of Public Safety.

D.      Emergency Teaching Certificate – birth through grade 12

1.        The emergency teaching certificate is valid one school year or part thereof. The expiration date shall be the fol- lowing July 1. An emergency teaching certificate shall not be issued more than three times to an individual. An individual that receives an intern certificate and does not complete the requirements for a provisional certificate shall not be eligible for an emergency certificate.

2.        The emergency teaching certificate entitles the holder to enter into a teaching contract.

3.        Emergency teaching certificates shall be issued for early childhood, elementary, secondary, and special education certificates required by A.R.S. § 15-502(B), and required endorsements.

4.        The emergency teaching certificate entitles the holder to teach only in the district or charter school that verifies that an emergency employment situation exists.

5.        The requirements for initial issuance are:

a.         A bachelor’s degree,

b.        Verification from the school district superintendent or charter school administrator that an emergency employment situation exists,

c.         A valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Ari- zona Department of Public Safety,

d.        Verification from the school district superintendent or charter school administrator that the following requirements have been met and that a highly quali- fied and employable candidate was not found:

i.         The position was advertised on a statewide basis and with at least three career placement offices of higher education institutions, and

ii.        The district or charter school is participating in any available Board approved alternative path to certification program(s). This requirement may be waived if a district superintendent or

charter school administrator provides evidence that an alternative path to certification program is either not available or not capable of alleviat- ing the emergency employment situation.

6.        In addition to the requirements listed in subsection (D)(5) the requirements for reissuance shall include six semester hours of education courses completed since the last issu- ance of the emergency teaching certificate.

E.       Teaching Intern Certificate -- PreK-12

1.        Except as noted, the teaching intern certificate is subject to the general certification provisions in R7-2-607.

2.        The certificate is valid for one year from the date of initial issuance and may be extended yearly for no more than two consecutive years at no cost to the applicant if the provisions in subsection (E)(6) are met.

3.        The teaching intern certificate entitles the holder to enter into a teaching contract while completing the require- ments for an Arizona provisional teaching certificate. During the valid period of the intern certificate the holder may teach in a Structured English Immersion classroom, or in any subject area in which the holder has passed the appropriate Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment. The candidate shall be enrolled in a Board authorized alternative path to certification program or a Board approved teacher preparation program.

4.        An individual is not eligible to hold the teaching intern certificate more than once in a five year period.

5.        The requirements for initial issuance of the teaching intern certificate are:

a.         A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution;

b.        A passing score on one or more subject knowledge portions of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assess- ment that corresponds to the applicant’s teaching assignment(s);

c.         Completion of the requirements for a Provisional Structured English Immersion endorsement, as pre- scribed in R7-2-613(J);

d.        Verification of enrollment in a Board approved alter- native path to certification program, or a Board approved teacher preparation program; and

e.         A valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Ari- zona Department of Public Safety.

6.        The requirements for the extension of the intern teaching certificate are:

a.         The teaching intern certificate outlined in subsection (E)(5),

b.        Official transcripts documenting the completion of required coursework, and

c.         A valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Ari- zona Department of Public Safety.

7.        The holder of the teaching intern certificate may apply for an Arizona Provisional Teaching Certificate upon com- pletion of the following:

a.         Successful completion of a Board authorized alter- native path to certification program or a Board approved teacher preparation program. This shall include satisfactory completion of a field experience or capstone experience of no less than one full aca- demic year. The field experience or capstone experi- ence shall include performance evaluations in a manner that is consistent with policies for the appli- cable alternative professional preparation program, as described pursuant to R7-2-604.04(B)(5),

b.        A passing score on the required professional knowl- edge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment;

c.         The submission of an application for the provisional teaching certificate to the Department, and

d.        A valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Ari- zona Department of Public Safety.

F.       Adult Education Certificates

1.        The adult education certificates are issued for individuals teaching in the areas of Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, English Language Acquisition for Adults, or Citizenship.

2.        Provisional Adult Education Certificate.

a.         The certificate is valid for three years and is not renewable.

b.        The requirement for issuance is a valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and a bachelor’s degree or three years of experience as a teacher, tutor, or aide in an adult education program or in grades K through 12. Up to two years of experience may be waived by postsec- ondary academic credit, with 30 semester hours equivalent to one year of experience.

3.        Standard Adult Education Certificate.

a.         The certificate is valid for six years.

b.        The requirements are:

i.         One year of part-time or full-time teaching experience under a provisional adult education certificate, verified by an adult education pro- gram administrator;

ii.        Completion of 10 clock hours in a professional development program described in R7-2- 619(B) since the issuance of the provisional adult education certificate; and

iii.      A valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

c.         The renewal requirements are completion of 60 clock hours in a professional development program, described in R7-2-619(B).

G.      Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Teaching Certificate – grades nine through 12

1.        The certificate is valid for six years and is renewable upon application.

2.        The certificate is valid at any local education agency which conducts an approved Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program of the Air Force, Army, Navy, or Marine Corps.

3.        The requirements are:

a.         Verification by the district of an approved Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program of instruc- tion in which the applicant will be teaching,

b.        Verification by the district that the applicant meets the work experience required by the respective mili- tary service, and

c.         A valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Ari- zona Department of Public Safety.

H.      Athletic coaching certificate – grades seven through 12

1.        The certificate is valid for six years.

2.        The certificate entitles the holder to perform coaching duties in interscholastic and extracurricular athletic activ- ities. It is not required for teachers who hold a valid ele- mentary, secondary or special education certificate.

3.        The requirements are:

a.         Valid certification in first aid and Coronary and Pul- monary Resuscitation (CPR);

b.        Completion of 15 semester hours of courses which shall include at least three semester hours in courses related to each of the following:

i.         Methods of coaching,

ii.        Anatomy and physiology,

iii.      Sports psychology,

iv.       Adolescent psychology, and

v.        The prevention and treatment of athletic inju- ries;

c.         Two hundred fifty hours of verified coaching experi- ence in the sport to be coached. Coaching experi- ence may include experience as a head coach or assistant coach in a school program or in an orga- nized athletic league; and

d.        A valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Ari- zona Department of Public Safety.

4.        Renewal requirements are:

a.         Completion of 60 clock hours in a professional development program described in R7-2-619(B),

b.        Valid certification in first aid and CPR.

I.        Provisional Foreign Teacher Teaching Certificate

1.        This certificate is required for a teacher or professor from any foreign country, state, territory or possession of the United States contracted through the foreign teacher exchange program as authorized by federal statutes enacted by the Congress of the United States or other for- eign teacher recruitment programs approved by the United States Department of State.

2.        This certificate is valid for one year and may be extended yearly for up to two additional years upon request by the contracting governing board. The contracting teacher shall submit a letter of intent to hire to the Arizona Department of Education on official letterhead signed by the Superintendent or Director of Human Resources.

3.        The requirements are:

a.         Verification that training and background comply with the comparable Arizona teaching certificate as provided in R7-2-608, R7-2-609(B)(2), R7-2- 610(B)(2), R7-2-611(C)(3), (E)(3), (G)(2), (I)(2), (K)(2), (M)(2), R7-2-612(D)(2), (F)(2), (H)(2), (J)(2), or (L)(2) and R7-2-613.

b.        Holds a valid fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

c.         Demonstrates fluency in English as verified by the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or other English proficiency tests approved by the Board.

d.        The passing score by the Test of English as a For- eign Language (TOEFL) or other English profi- ciency tests  approved by the Board shall be determined by the Board using the results of validity and reliability studies. The passing score for each assessment shall be reviewed by the Board at least every three years.

4.        A prospective teacher seeking to instruct in a language other than English may furnish a letter for submission to the Arizona Department of Education, on official letter- head, signed by the dean or designee of the home univer- sity to verify mastery of the purposed language of instruction. The Arizona Department of Education shall review and may approve submissions for the prospective teacher’s exemption to the American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages Exam.

J.        Native American Language Certificate

1.        The certificate is optional and issued to individuals to teach only a Native American language in grades preK- 12.

2.        The certificate is valid for six years.

3.        The requirements are:

a.         A valid IVP fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

b.        Language proficiency in a Native American Lan- guage. Proficiency shall be verified on official letter- head by a person, persons, or entity designated by the appropriate tribe.

4.        The certificate may be renewed upon completion of 60 clock hours of professional development, as prescribed in R7-2-619(B).

Historical Note

Adopted effective December 4, 1998 (Supp. 98-4).

Amended by final rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 1132, effective March 10, 2000 (Supp. 00-1). Section R7-2-614 amended by emergency rulemaking under A.R.S. § 41-1026 at 8

A.A.R. 3739, effective August 5, 2002 for a period of 180 days (Supp. 02-3). Emergency rulemaking renewed under

A.R.S. § 41-1026 at 9 A.A.R. 522, effective January 31, 2003 for a period of 180 days (Supp. 03-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 9 A.A.R. 1605, effective May 5, 2003

(Supp. 03-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 15

A.A.R. 1304, effective June 26, 2006 (Supp. 09-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 15 A.A.R. 1898,

effective April 28, 2008 (Supp. 09-2). Former R7-2-614 recodified to R7-2-615; new R7-2-614 recodified from R7-2-613 at 15 A.A.R. 2146, effective August 25, 2008 (Supp. 09-4). Former R7-2-614 recodified to R7-2-615; new R7-2-614 recodified from R7-2-613 at 16 A.A.R. 68, effective December 8, 2008 (Supp. 10-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 52, effective December 8, 2008 (Supp. 10-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at

16 A.A.R. 63, effective June 22, 2009 (Supp. 10-2).

Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 728, effec- tive March 22, 2010 (Supp. 10-3). Amended by exempt

rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 1249, effective May 24, 2010 (Supp. 10-4). R7-2-614(J) amended by final exempt rulemaking at 21 A.A.R. 2073, effective August 27, 2012; R7-2-614(I) amended by final exempt rulemaking at 21 A.A.R. 2073, effective June 24, 2013; R7-2- 614(B)(C)(E) amended by final exempt rulemaking at 21

A.A.R. 2073, effective January 26, 2015 (Supp. 15-3).