Catalina Foothills School District

ATTENTION: You will need an approved IVP fingerprint clearance card before you can submit your application with ADE

The following steps outlined below are designed to assist the applicant through the application process. By following these steps, you are helping to ensure that your application for certification is submitted correctly and processed in a timely manner. If the required documents are not submitted as outlined below, your application for certification may be delayed. As a reminder, per Board rule R7-2-618 (C): certification fees are non-refundable.

Step 1: Review Requirements

Before submitting an application, please review the requirement document for the certificate(s) and/or other services you are seeking to ensure you have met the requirements and have the required documentation. 

Requirements for Certification

Requirements to add an Endorsement

Requirements to add an Approved Area

Step 2: Apply for your IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card

All applicants must hold a valid Arizona Department of Public Safety Identity Verified Prints (IVP) fingerprint clearance card. To apply for the AZDPS IVP card follow these instructions.

Step 3: Request Official Transcripts

Official Transcripts:  Request that your university/college submit electronic official transcripts documenting a Bachelor’s or more advanced degree, directly to certification@azed.gov, or by mail to Arizona Department of Education – Certification Unit, P.O. Box 6490, Phoenix, AZ 85005.

We are unable to accept uploaded transcripts or transcripts sent via email from the applicant as official. 

Foreign Transcripts: Request a course-by-course evaluation to be completed by an approved Foreign Credential Evaluation Agency to identify the equivalent degree in the United States. Request the Agency submit the evaluation directly to certification@azed.gov. 

ADE is unable to accept uploaded transcripts or transcripts sent via email from the applicant as official.

Step 4: Exams and Additional Documents as Needed

Some documents may be accepted by the applicant, however, there are some documents that must be submitted from the verifying authority. If the documents are not submitted as required, the processing of your application may be delayed. 

Documents that may be uploaded or submitted with the application

The following documents below may be uploaded with the online application or submitted with the paper application.  Please prepare a photocopy or scan and save the document as a PDF, GIF, or PNG for submission when applying online.

Name Change: If your transcripts or other documents are under a former name, submit a copy of legal documentation of your name change.

Out-of-State Educator Certificate: A copy of your valid, comparable out-of-state educator certificate or license.

Arizona Educator Exams (AEPA/NES): A copy of the official passing score report for required AEPA/NES exams.  Please visit www.aepa.nesinc.com for further information on exams.    

Verification of Professional Development: Certificates of training or verification of clock hours of professional development

Documents that must be submitted by the verifying authority 

The documents listed below must be submitted directly by the verifying authority to Certification@azed.gov. The ADE Certification Unit will not accept these documents if they are submitted by the applicant.

Teaching Experience: If you are submitting teaching experience, forward the Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience form to your school's human resources office for completion and submission to certification@azed.gov. 

We are unable to accept verification of teaching experience from the applicant. 

Out-of-state Exams.  If you are using a substantially similar out-of-state exam(s), forward the Verification of Out-of-State Exams form to the state licensure office that accepted the exams. 

If you are using a Praxis exam, you must have your scores reported by ETS to the Arizona Department of Education and include a copy of the score report with your application.

The above list does not include all documents that may be needed to qualify for a certification service.  Please see the Certificates & Requirements page for additional information and additional documents that may be required.

Step 5: Applying for Certification

APPLY ONLINE

Tracking Your Application Status and Current Credentials

Removing Deficiencies 

Allowable deficiencies must be corrected by the due date identified on your certificate(s). If the deficiency is not corrected by the due date, your Arizona Educator Certificate will be placed on a non-disciplinary suspension until the deficiency has been corrected.

Once you have met the requirement for your specific deficiency you will need to apply to remove the deficiency. You now may apply online at AzEDCert Portal, or by completing the  Application to Remove a Deficiency and mail it to the address on the form along with a $20 (check or money order).

If the requirements have been met, an updated certificate will be mailed to you. If additional information is needed you will be notified by mail.

AZ/US Constitution

Certificate holders have 2 options to correct the AZ/U.S. Constitution deficiency. 

 1.     Pass the exam: "Constitutions of the United States and Arizona" (AZ033) and request that the results be submitted to the Arizona Department of Education. Please visit the Testing Information page for additional information. 

2.     Take the appropriate course(s) through an accredited institution. Upon completion of the course, request that your university/college submit official transcripts to the Certification email inbox at certification@azed.gov

SEI endorsement 

According to the CFSD governing board policy, SEI endorsement is required within a year of being hired as a teacher.

This Structured English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement authorizes the holder to teach one or more English language learners in the area they are appropriately certified. You may find information on approved SEI college courses and trainings on the Arizona Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition Services website at https://www.azed.gov/oelas/sei-endorsement . Click the “For Educators of Els” tab for SEI course providers.

ADE Approved providers for SEI endorsement SEI Endorsement.

Professional Knowledge Exam 

Those holding a Subject Matter Expert OR a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Certificate and need to correct the Professional Knowledge Exam - Secondary Education deficiency may meet this requirement with one of the options below. 

Select Option A, B, C, or D:

Option A: Take and pass the NES or AEPA Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Secondary exam. Please visit Testing Information for additional information. 

Option B: Submit an official score report documenting that you passed a substantially similar Professional Knowledge Secondary examination from another state or agency. Please visit Testing Information for a list of out-of-state equivalent exams. 

Option C: Hold a valid, comparable certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Submit a photocopy of the certificate.

Option D: Three years of full-time teaching experience in any state, including Arizona, in grades 6-12. Submit a Verification of Teaching Experience form signed and completed by the District Superintendent or Personnel/HR Director to verify teaching experience. Teaching experience in a foreign school or substitute teaching does not meet this requirement. Have the HR Department submit the form to certification@azed.gov.

Keep in mind it takes generally 2 weeks from your certificate to be processed and issued. However, during busy months it can take up to 30 days.

The time frame for renewals is 6 months from your certificate’s expiration date AND up to one year after it expires.

Requirements:
Valid IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card: submit a copy of your valid IVP fingerprint clearance card with your application. 

Renewable certificates may be renewed with proof of 15 clock hours of professional development activities for each year of the certificate term. *One semester hour of college coursework is equivalent to 15 clock hours of professional development activities. The clock hours or semester hours may be completed in various increments per year. 

Accepted documentation that you meet the requirements for renewal:
LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY (LEA) VERIFICATION OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
In-service training hours may be verified by a superintendent or personnel director on this application.

COLLEGE COURSEWORK OR OTHER DOCUMENTATION
Submit official transcripts if you are using college coursework toward renewal. Please see the Professional Development Information on the next page for details on other documentation that may be used to verify professional development hours.

EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS OPTION
If your certificate has expired for at least two years, but not more than ten years, and you are in good standing, submit verification from a superintendent or personnel director that you have ten years of experience in Arizona and in the same area that you are seeking renewed certification. A Verification of PreK-12 Teaching Experience form, completed and signed by a superintendent or personnel director, may be used if you are seeking to renew a teaching certificate.

APPROVED LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE OPTION
Applicants may meet requirements for renewal with proof of one of the following:

1. A valid professional license as a counselor, social worker, psychologist, or speech pathologist issued by the appropriate state agency in this state or in another state; or
2. A valid National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certificate; or
3. A valid Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. A valid CCC-SLP from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 
4. A Nationally Certified School Psychologist credential issued by the National Association of School Psychologists.

Keep in mind it takes generally 2 weeks from your certificate to be processed and issued. However, during busy months it can take up to 30 days.

FIRST TIME APPLICANTS: Please go to Arizona Department of Public Safety website.
 
Apply online by submitting an application for an Level One IVP fingerprint clearance card.  You will need to pay the associated fee by credit or debit card.
The preferred method of having your fingerprints rolled for CFSD is DIGITAL. This is the most efficient and fastest method of processing. 
 
Once your application is submitted you will be provided a REFERENCE NUMBER to use when getting fingerprinted.
 
At this point you will need to check your DPS account ‘message center’ for additional instructions which include where to go to have your fingerprints physically rolled. 
 
Digital Rolling of Fingerprints: 
Fingerprints should be rolled digitally at one of the locations provided directly from 
AZ DPS.  This information can be found in your DPS account message center.
Digitally rolled fingerprints are transmitted directly to AZ DPS. Processing time is approximate 5-10 business days.
 
Check the status of your fingerprints:   
Please go to: https://psp.azdps.gov/services/cardStatusRequest and type in your application number (IVP) in the bottom field.
 
Once your fingerprints have been processed and cleared by DPS you will be mailed a physical wallet sized clearance card which includes your Card Number & your IVPP Number which are valid for 6 years. 
 
RENEWALS:  
Please request to renew your IVP card at least 45 days prior to its expiration date.  Renewals need to be requested directly through AZ DPS website.