Elementary, Secondary, Special Education Cross-Categorical K-12 or Special Education Learning Disabilities K-12 Teacher - Post-Degree Certificate

Post Degree Teacher Certification
Program Steps

The following steps take you from pre-admission to the Teacher Certification Program to your application to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) for an Arizona teaching certificate. Refer to the Student Handbook for important details. Call 520.206.6566 or e-mail teachereducation@pima.edu with questions regarding these steps.   

Step 1 – Program Pre-Admission

• Submit or update (if previous attendance at Pima was over three years ago) an Application for Admission to Pima Community College.
• Take the Program-approved writing assessment (all students).
• Take the Program-approved math assessment (Elementary and Special Education students only).
• Complete the mandatory Post Degree Certification Program Orientation. Call 520.206.6566 or email teachereducation@pima.edu to register.
• Provide proof of a bachelor’s degree or higher to the Teacher Education Office at 401 N. Bonita Ave, Tucson, AZ 85709-5045 or by fax via 520-206-6309.
• Achieve the Program-required score on the TOEFL exam if you are a non-native English speaker and your degree was earned in a language other than English. Please contact the Teacher Education Office for more information and before proceeding with any pre-admission requirements.
• Apply for a fingerprint clearance card through the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
• Students outside the Tucson region should contact the Teacher Education Office for assistance in completing the pre-admission steps.

Note: A maximum of nine credit hours of approved education coursework may be transferred into the Program. Transferred coursework must have been completed within the past eight years.

 Step 2 – Foundation Coursework

• Complete the Foundation coursework.
• Begin to complete all requirements for Formal Admission to the Program as listed in Step 3 of the Student Handbook.
• Elementary and Secondary students: Take the appropriate Subject Knowledge Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA)  immediately.
• Practica are required for several Foundation courses as noted in the Student Handbook.
• A TaskStream electronic portfolio is a required component of all Program courses.

Step 3 – Formal Admission

Formal admission is required in order to register for Methods courses, Step 4.

• All requirements for Formal Admission noted in the appropriate Student Handbook must be completed.
• Secondary certification students must pass the appropriate Subject Knowledge AEPA prior to formal admission.
• Elementary certification students must pass the Elementary Education Subject Knowledge AEPA prior to formal admission.

Step 4 – Methods Coursework

• Complete all Methods courses and any remaining Foundation courses.
• All students: Pass the appropriate Professional Knowledge AEPA prior to entering the Student Internship.
• Special Education students must also pass the appropriate Subject Knowledge AEPA prior to entering the Student Internship.

Step 5 - Student Internship

• EDS 290 - Special Education Cross-Categorical and Learning Disabilities Student Internship - 8 credit hours, OR
• EDU 290 - Elementary and Secondary Student Internship - 8 credit hours

Internship Options: There are two options for completing the Student Internship requirement:

• Completion of EDS 290 or EDU 290 as a Traditional or a Combined Internship. *

      OR

• Waiver of EDS 290 or EDU 290 if two years of full-time teaching have been completed and verified through appropriate documentation. **

*Additional information regarding Internship options can be found in the Student Handbook and by contacting the Teacher Education Office at teacher education@pima.edu.

**Waiver note: The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) also requires documentation verifying two years of appropriate full-time teaching experience. This is a separate process. Please contact the ADE for complete waiver requirements.

Internship Requirements: In order to satisfy the Student Internship requirements, all students who will complete EDS 290 or EDU 290 must:

• Attend a mandatory file review with the Program Advisor to complete the Student Internship Application by the appropriate deadline:

• Complete all Program coursework in full with grades of C or higher and a Program GPA of 2.5 or higher.
• Pass the appropriate AEPAs.
• Attend a mandatory Student Internship Orientation.

Step 6 – Graduation

• Complete and submit a PCC Graduation Application with the Program Advisor's signature by the appropriate deadline.
• Note that completion of the Program will not be displayed on the Pima transcript unless a graduation application has been submitted.
• Deadlines are posted each semester in the Academic Calendar.

Step 7 – Certification

If a Student Internship has been completed:

• Obtain an Institutional Recommendation (IR) from the Teacher Education Office.
• Apply at the ADE for a teaching certificate with the appropriate documents and fees. *

OR

If a Student Internship has been waived:

• Obtain verification of two years of full-time teaching.
• Apply at the ADE for a teaching certificate with the appropriate documents and fees. *

Note: Applicants for certification should contact the ADE to confirm the application process including the required documents and fees.

Recommended for all teacher certification applicants:  Satisfy the Arizona Department of Education U.S. and AZ Constitution requirement for certification.  This can be done through coursework at Pima Community College or by passing the AEPA Constitution Exam.  

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