How to Become a Teacher in Arizona: Tests, Fees and Routes

By the Transforming Education editorial team. Every fact on this page was checked against the source linked beside it on November 7, 2026.

Note: The Arizona Department of Education, Certification Unit website could not be reached from our network on November 7, 2026, so the routes, license, renewal and background-check details on this page come from Arizona's administrative rules, Ariz. Admin. Code R7-2-601 et seq. (Title 7, Ch. 2, Art. 6), Certification. Rules set the requirements but not always the current procedures or fees, so confirm both with the agency before you apply.

No degree yet: the traditional route

For high school students, college students and anyone without a bachelor's degree. You earn the degree and the teacher preparation in one program.

The Standard Professional Elementary Certificate (grades K-8) requires a bachelor's degree and completion of an elementary teacher preparation program from a Board-approved educator preparation program or an accredited institution offering substantially similar training. The program includes training in science of reading phonics and reading instruction and a 12-week capstone experience. Applicants must pass the professional knowledge and subject knowledge portions of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment, unless a waiver applies, and hold a valid fingerprint clearance card. The Standard Professional Secondary Certificate (grades 6-12) follows a similar pattern under R7-2-610.

1. Earn a bachelor's degree.
2. Complete a Board-approved educator preparation program in the certification area, including a 12-week capstone experience.
3. Pass the professional knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment.
4. Pass the subject knowledge portion of the assessment, unless a waiver applies.
5. Obtain a fingerprint clearance card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
6. Apply to the Arizona Department of Education with the institutional recommendation, official transcripts and fees.

Source: law.cornell.edu

Bachelor's in another field: the alternative route

For people who already hold a bachelor's degree in a subject other than education.

Alternative Teaching Certificate (PreK through 12)

The Alternative Teaching Certificate lets a person with a bachelor's degree enter into a teaching contract while enrolled in a Board-approved alternative path to certification program or educator preparation program. It is valid for two years and can be extended yearly for up to two more years at no cost if the program verifies adequate progress. Holders may teach subjects in which they have passed the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment, or in a Structured English Immersion classroom with the required endorsement. After completing the program and the required assessments, the holder can apply for a Standard teaching certificate.

1. Earn a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited institution.
2. Enroll in a Board-approved alternative path to certification program or educator preparation program.
3. Obtain a fingerprint clearance card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
4. Pass the subject knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment for each subject to be taught.
5. Apply for the Alternative Teaching Certificate and teach under contract while completing the program.
6. Complete the program, pass the required professional knowledge and subject knowledge assessments, and apply for a Standard teaching certificate.

Source: law.cornell.edu

Changing careers into teaching in Arizona

If you already have a bachelor's degree and some years in another job, start with the alternative route described above. It is built for people who did not study education.

For pay context, the median annual wage for high school teachers in Arizona was $58,360 in May 2025, according to the BLS OEWS state estimates. If your background matches a subject on the state's shortage list, that list is further down this page.

State-approved alternative certification programs

Not verified yet: the state's website could not be reached when we checked. Check with the agency.

Licensed in another state

For teachers who hold a license from another state and want to teach in Arizona.

Reciprocity

The Board issues a comparable standard Arizona certificate or endorsement to an applicant who holds a valid certificate or endorsement from another state and is in good standing with that state. These applicants are exempt from the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment. They need a valid fingerprint clearance card and must complete a class or exam on the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions; if this is still outstanding, the certificate is suspended after three years (one year for history, government, social studies, citizenship, law or civics teachers). Standard certificates issued this way are valid for 12 years and are renewable.

1. Hold a valid teaching certificate or endorsement from another state and be in good standing there.
2. Obtain a fingerprint clearance card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
3. Apply for the comparable standard Arizona certificate or endorsement.
4. Complete a class or exam on the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions within three years (one year for history, government, social studies, citizenship, law or civics teachers).

Source: law.cornell.edu

Required tests, codes and qualifying scores

Arizona uses AEPA and NES for teacher licensure. The table lists the core tests by license area, with the qualifying score and fee exactly as the source publishes them. Which tests you take depends on the license area you are seeking, so check the full list for your subject before you register.

Scores and fees change. Confirm both on the testing company's page before you register.

Fees, background check and license validity

Background check

Applicants for Arizona teaching certificates must hold a valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The requirement appears in the rules for the standard elementary and secondary certificates, the alternative teaching certificate and out-of-state reciprocity. The certification rules do not set the fingerprint card fee. Source

Your first license

License: Standard Professional Elementary Certificate (K-8) or Standard Professional Secondary Certificate (6-12). It is valid for 12 years. Unless a rule specifies otherwise, standard certificates are issued for 12 years and certificates issued for more than three years expire on the holder's birth date in the year of expiration. A standard certificate may be issued with deficiencies in research-based phonics, reading instruction including for students with dyslexia, professionalism and ethics, or the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions, which must be completed within three years. Source

Renewal

A certificate may be renewed within six months of its expiration date, or up to ten years after it expires, and renewed certificates are valid for 12 years. Renewal requires continuing education credit completed since the last issuance or renewal, related to Arizona academic or professional educator standards. A valid National Board certificate or certain professional licenses can be used instead of the hours. Holders employed by a school submit documentation to their district for verification; others submit it to a county school superintendent, a college of education dean or the Department. Requirement: 15 hours of continuing education credit for each year of the certificate term. Source

Teacher pay in Arizona

Elementary teachers in Arizona earned a median of $56,590 a year in May 2025, $7,380 below the national median of $63,970. Half of teachers in each occupation earn more than the median and half earn less. What you earn in a given district depends on its salary schedule, your experience and any graduate credits.

Annual wages, cross-industry estimates, from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 state tables, retrieved through the BLS Public Data API on November 7, 2026. Special education teachers are shown separately; our guide to the online master's in special education covers the add-on and initial-license options.

Teacher shortage areas, 2026-27

Arizona reported these subject areas to the US Department of Education as teacher shortage areas for the 2026-27 school year.

• English as a Second Language: Bilingual Education (statewide)
• Language Arts: English (statewide)
• Mathematics: Basic and Advanced Mathematics (statewide)
• Science: General Science (statewide)
• Special Education: Early Childhood, Moderate/Severe Disabilities (statewide)

Source: US Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas report, retrieved November 7, 2026.