Section R7-2-616. Administrative Certificates

A.      All certificates are subject to the general certification provi- sions in R7-2-607 and the renewal requirements in R7-2-619.

B.       Supervisor Certificate – grades PreK through 12

1.        Except for individuals who hold a valid Arizona principal or superintendent certificate, the supervisor certificate is required for all personnel whose primary responsibility is administering instructional programs, supervising certi- fied personnel, or similar administrative duties.

2.        The certificate is valid for six years.

3.        The requirements are:

a.         A valid Arizona early childhood, elementary, sec- ondary, special education, CTE certificate or other professional certificate issued by the Department;

b.        A master’s or more advanced degree;

c.         Three years of verified full-time teaching experience or related education services experience in a PreK through 12 setting;

d.        Completion of a program in educational administra- tion which shall consist of a minimum of 18 gradu- ate semester hours of educational administration courses which teach the knowledge and skills described in R7-2-603 to include three credit hours in school law and three credit hours in school finance;

e.         A practicum in educational administration or two years of verified educational administrative experi- ence in grades PreK through 12;

f.         A passing score on the Arizona Administrator Profi- ciency Assessment;

g.        An SEI endorsement or an ESL endorsement or a Bilingual Endorsement; and

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

C.      Principal Certificate – grades PreK through 12

1.        The principal certificate is required for all personnel who hold the title of principal, assistant principal, or perform the duties of principal or assistant principal as delineated in A.R.S. Title 15.

2.        The certificate is valid for six years.

3.        The requirements are:

a.         A master’s or more advanced degree,

b.        Three years of verified teaching experience in grades PreK through 12,

c.         Completion of a program in educational administra- tion for principals including at least 30 graduate semester hours of educational administration courses teaching the knowledge and skills described in R7-2-603 to include three credit hours in school law and three credit hours in school finance,

d.        A practicum as a principal or two years of verified experience as a principal or assistant principal under the supervision of a certified principal in grades PreK through 12,

e.         A passing score on either the Principal or Superin- tendent portion of the Arizona Administrator Profi- ciency Assessment,

f.         An SEI endorsement or an ESL endorsement or a Bilingual Endorsement, and

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

D.      Superintendent Certificate – grades PreK through 12

1.        Individuals who hold the title of superintendent, assistant superintendent or associate superintendent and who per- form duties directly relevant to curriculum, instruction, certified employee evaluations, and instructional supervi- sion may obtain a superintendent certificate.

2.        The certificate is valid for six years.

3.        The requirements are:

a.         A master’s or more advanced degree including at least 60 graduate semester hours;

b.        Completion of a program in educational administra- tion for superintendents, including at least 36 gradu- ate semester hours of educational administrative courses which teach the standards described in R7- 2-603 to include three credit hours in school law and three credit hours in school finance;

c.         Three years of verified full-time teaching experience or related education services experience in a PreK through 12 setting;

d.        A practicum as a superintendent or two years veri- fied experience as a superintendent, assistant super- intendent, or associate superintendent in grades PreK through 12;

e.         A passing score on the Superintendent portion of the Arizona Administrator Proficiency Assessment; and

f.         An SEI endorsement or an ESL endorsement or a Bilingual endorsement; and

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

E.       Reciprocity. The Board shall issue an Arizona reciprocal supervisor, principal or superintendent certificate to an appli- cant who holds a valid equivalent certificate from another state and meets the requirements as set forth in subsection (B)(3), (C)(3), or (D)(3).

1.        Certificates shall be valid for one year and are nonrenew- able.

2.        The applicant shall possess a valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

3.        The deficiencies allowed pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes in U.S./Arizona Constitutions, a passing score on all required portions of the Arizona Administrator Profi- ciency Assessment, fulfillment of Structured English Immersion (SEI) clock hours as required by Board rule shall be satisfied prior to the issuance of any other certifi- cate prescribed in this Chapter, except as noted below:

a.         The applicable Arizona Administrator Proficiency Assessment shall be waived for applicants with a

passing score on a comparable assessment from another state or three years of verified full time administrative experience.

b.        The three years of verified administrative experience shall have been during the last valid period of the certificate produced from the other state.

F.       Interim Supervisor Certificate – grades PreK through 12

1.        Except as noted, the administrative interim 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 (F)(6) are met.

3.        The administrative interim certificate entitles the holder to perform the duties described in subsection (B)(1). The candidate shall be enrolled in a Board approved alterna- tive path to certification program, or a Board authorized administrative preparation program.

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

5.        The requirements for initial issuance of the administrative interim certificate are:

a.         A valid Arizona early childhood, elementary, sec- ondary, special education, CTE certificate, PreK through 12 Arts, or other professional certificate issued by the Department;

b A bachelor’s degree or higher in education from an accredited institution;

c.         Three years of verified full-time teaching experience or related education services experience in a PreK through 12 setting;

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

e.         Verification the holder of the interim certificate shall be under the direct supervision of an Arizona certi- fied district administrator or the appropriate county school superintendent; and

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

6.        The requirements for the extension of the administrative interim certificate are:

a.         Qualification for the initial issuance of the adminis- trative interim certificate outlined in subsection (F)(5),

b.        Official transcripts documenting the completion of required coursework,

c.         Verification the holder of the interim certificate shall be under the direct supervision of an Arizona certi- fied district administrator, and

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

7.        The holder of the administrative interim certificate may apply for an Arizona Supervisor Certificate upon comple- tion of the following:

a.         Successful completion of a Board approved alterna- tive path to administrator certification program or a Board approved administrator preparation program. This shall include satisfactory completion of a field experience or capstone experience of no less than one full academic year. The field experience or cap- stone experience shall include performance evalua- tions in a manner that is consistent with policies for the applicable alternative professional preparation

program,       as     described        pursuant       to     R7-2- 604.04(B)(5);

b.        A passing score on the Arizona Administrator Profi- ciency Assessment;

c.         The submission of an application for the Supervisor certificate to the Department; and

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

G.      Interim Principal Certificate – grades PreK through 12

1.        Except as noted, the administrative interim 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 (G)(6) are met.

3.        The administrative interim certificate entitles the holder to perform the duties described in subsection (C)(1). The candidate shall be enrolled in a Board approved alterna- tive path to certification program, or a Board authorized administrative preparation program.

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

5.        The requirements for initial issuance of the administrative interim certificate are:

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

b.        Three years of verified full-time teaching experience in grades PreK through 12;

c.         Verification of enrollment in a Board approved alter- native path to administrator certification program, or a Board approved administrator preparation pro- gram;

d.        Verification the holder of the interim certificate shall be under the direct supervision of an Arizona certi- fied district principal or superintendent or the appro- priate county school superintendent; and

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

6.        The requirements for the extension of the administrative interim certificate are:

a.         Qualification for the initial issuance of the adminis- trative interim certificate outlined in subsection (G)(5),

b.        Official transcripts documenting the completion of required coursework,

c.         Verification the holder of the interim certificate shall be under the direct supervision of an Arizona certi- fied district principal or superintendent, and

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

7.        The holder of the administrative interim certificate may apply for an Arizona Principal Certificate upon comple- tion of the following:

a.         Successful completion of a Board approved alterna- tive path to administrator certification program or a Board approved administrator preparation program. This shall include satisfactory completion of a field experience or capstone experience of no less than one full academic year. The field experience or cap- stone experience shall include performance evalua- tions in a manner that is consistent with policies for the applicable alternative professional preparation program, as described pursuant to R7-2- 604.04(B)(5);

b.        A passing score on either the Principal or Superin- tendent portion of the Arizona Administrator Profi- ciency Assessment;

c.         The submission of an application for the Principal certificate to the Department; and

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

H.      Interim Superintendent Certificate – grades PreK through 12

1.        Except as noted, the administrative interim 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 (H)(6) are met.

3.        The administrative interim certificate entitles the holder to perform the duties described in subsection (D)(1). The candidate shall be enrolled in a Board approved alterna- tive path to certification program, or a Board authorized administrative preparation program.

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

5.        The requirements for initial issuance of the administrative interim certificate are:

a.         A master’s degree or higher from an accredited insti- tution;

b.        Three years of verified full-time teaching experience or related education services experience in a PreK through 12 setting;

c.         Verification of enrollment in a Board approved alter- native path to administrator certification program, or a Board approved administrator preparation pro- gram;

d.        Verification the holder of the interim certificate shall be under the direct supervision of an Arizona certi- fied district superintendent or the appropriate county school superintendent; and

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

6.        The requirements for the extension of the administrative interim certificate are:

a.         Qualification for the initial issuance of the adminis- trative interim certificate outlined in subsection (H)(5),

b.        Official transcripts documenting the completion of required coursework,

c.         Verification the holder of the interim certificate shall be under the direct supervision of an Arizona certi- fied district superintendent or the appropriate county school superintendent, and

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

7.        The holder of the administrative interim certificate may apply for  an Arizona Superintendent Certificate upon completion of the following:

a.         Successful completion of a Board approved alterna- tive path to administrator certification program or a Board approved administrator preparation program. This shall include satisfactory completion of a field experience or capstone experience of no less than one full academic year. The field experience or cap- stone experience shall include performance evalua- tions in a manner that is consistent with policies for the applicable alternative professional preparation program, as described pursuant to R7-2- 604.04(B)(5);

b.        A passing score on the Superintendent portion of the Arizona Administrator Proficiency Assessment;

c.         The submission of an application for the Superinten- dent certificate to the Department; and

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

Historical Note

Adopted effective December 4, 1998 (Supp. 98-4). For- mer R7-2-616 recodified to R7-2-617; new R7-2-616 recodified from R7-2-615 at 15 A.A.R. 2146, effective August 25, 2008 (Supp. 09-4). Former R7-2-616 recodi- fied to R7-2-617; new R7-2-616 recodified from R7-2- 615 at 16 A.A.R. 68, effective December 8, 2008 (Supp.

10-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 326,

effective January 25, 2010 (Supp. 10-1). Amended by

exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 1249, effective May 24,

2010 (Supp. 10-4). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16

A.A.R. 2034, effective October 1, 2010 (Supp. 11-1).