First Time Applicants
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
Tracking Your Application Status and Current Credentials