Teacher Certification (Graduate Certificate)
Arizona, Certification, License, Teacher, alternative, teaching
Prepare to obtain teacher certification in elementary, secondary education or special education in as few as three semesters.
The graduate certificate in teacher certification is a flexible certification program designed for students who want to obtain teaching licensure in a compressed time frame while working in a classroom or taking the traditional route for certification.
Through online courses, video-based teaching observations and supportive coaching, the certificate qualifies as a pathway to Arizona teacher certification in elementary education, secondary education or special education. Coursework may be completed over the span of three semesters, depending on the start date.
There are two pathways for this program:
The alternative pathway requires students to be employed as a full-time teacher of record aligned with their certification area (elementary, secondary or special education) before enrolling in the program.
The traditional pathway allows students to complete an internship and student teaching placement in their certification area (elementary, secondary or special education).
Students can choose to transfer credit hours to a Master of Education program in elementary education, an MEd program in secondary education, or an MEd program in special education within three years of starting the graduate certificate program.
Graduates earn an institutional recommendation for Elementary Education, K--8; Secondary Education, 6--12; or Special Education, K--12 Mild/Moderate Disabilities through the Arizona Department of Education.
To be eligible for an elementary, secondary or special education certification in Arizona, students must:
- pass the appropriate Arizona educator subject knowledge exam and the professional knowledge exam offered through the National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments
or - hold a conferred bachelor's or master's degree with the content area listed in the degree title and receive a passing score on the professional knowledge exam offered through the National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments
- College/school:
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
- Location: Online
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
25 credit hours - Secondary Education Track - Physical Education, Alternative Certification, or
25 credit hours - Secondary Education Track - Physical Education, Traditional Certification, or
25 credit hours - Secondary Education Track, Alternative Certification, or
25 credit hours - Secondary Education Track, Traditional Certification, or
28 credit hours - Elementary Education Track, Alternative Certification, or
28 credit hours - Elementary Education Track, Traditional Certification, or
29 credit hours - Special Education Mild/Moderate Track, Alternative Certification, or
29 credit hours - Special Education Mild/Moderate Track, Traditional Certification
Required Core (5 credit hours)
TEL 510 Instructional Design, Planning and Assessment (2)
TEL 517 Creating Equitable Learning Environment: Decision Making and Action (3)
Tracks (13, 16, or 17 credit hours depending on track to certification)
Elementary Education Track (16)
Secondary Education Track, Traditional or Alternative Certification (13)
Secondary Education Track - Physical Education Traditional or Alternative Certification (13)
Special Education Mild/Moderate Track, Traditional or Alternative Certification (17)
SEI Endorsement (3 credits)
ELL 515 Structured English Immersion (SEI) Methods (3)
Other Requirements (4 credit hours)
EED 557 Internship I (2)
EED 571 Apprentice Teaching I (2)
EED 574 Apprentice Teaching II (2)
EED 578 Residency/Student Teaching in Elementary Education (2)
SED 557 Internship I (2)
SED 571 Apprentice Teaching I (2)
SED 574 Apprentice Teaching II (2)
SED 578 Residency/Student Teaching in Secondary Education (2)
SPE 556 Internship I (2)
SPE 571 Apprentice Teaching I (2)
SPE 574 Apprentice Teaching II (2)
SPE 578 Residency/Student Teaching in Special Education (2)
Additional Curriculum Information
The courses for the track and other requirements depend on the student's track and route to certification (traditional or alternative).
If a student is on the alternative path for certification and moves over to a traditional path, they may be able to substitute student teaching for apprentice teaching with program approval.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- professional resume
- personal statement
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. The following are accepted to meet this requirement:
- TOEFL: Applicants must have a score of at least 90 on the internet based test (iBT, taken in a testing center), with scores of 22-30 on the speaking and written portions. ASU's institutional code is 4007. Only electronic copies of scores are accepted.
- IELTS: Applicants must have an overall band score of at least 6.5, and speaking and writing portions need to be at least 6.5 (6 = Competent User, 7 = Good User). No institutional code is needed.
The personal statement should describe the personal and professional goals that motivated applicant to apply to the graduate certificate, and explain what led them to this career path and how they will excel as an educator. The admission committee pays particular attention to the quality of writing and ideas expressed in the personal statement.
The professional resume should be one to two pages and include relevant personal, professional, educational and community activities.
The personal statement and professional resume should be prepared in an MS Word (.doc), Rich Text (.rtf), Portable Document Format (.pdf), or Text (.txt) file format.
Fingerprint clearance is required for enrollment in the first term of placement. A copy of the applicant's identify verified fingerprint clearance card (front and back), also known as an IVP card, should be included or a copy of the Arizona DPS fingerprint card application if the IVP card has not yet been acquired at the time of program application. Students should visit the DPS site for information on applying for and receiving an IVP fingerprint clearance card. For out-of-state students, confirmation of fingerprint clearance or a background check in the host state is equivalent to IVP fingerprint clearance.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
Graduates of Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College are highly sought-after teachers in public, charter and private education institutions. Students gain skills in teaching, using technology and collaborating in teams, all of which prepare them to succeed in a career educating learners in elementary education (grades K--8) or secondary education (grades 6--12).
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
Division of Teacher Preparation
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FAB S200
graduateeducation@asu.edu
480-965-5555
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
