Initial Certification

• In order to receive an ESL teaching endorsement in Arizona, prospective teachers must first gain a state certificate in elementary, secondary, special or career technical education or a supervisor, principal or superintendent certificate. Specific requirements for each certificate vary. In most cases, a minimum of a bachelor's degree in education is necessary for the certificates. Additionally, passing a written examination known as the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment is generally necessary.
  
  

Education

• Licensed teachers or administrators must meet additional educational requirements to qualify for the ESL certificate. One option is to complete an ESL education program from an accredited post-secondary institution. Options include post-graduate certificates, baccalaureate degrees or graduate-level programs, such as a master's. As an alternative to a full educational program, licensed educators can complete 18 credit hours of post-secondary coursework in ESL education foundations, teaching methods, writing and reading instruction, assessment, linguistics and cultural issues. Individuals who have an ESL certificate or license from another state do not need to complete additional education.
  
  

Foreign Language Experience

• Applicants for ESL teaching licensing must show proof of proficiency in a foreign language. Applicants can fulfill this requirements by taking six credit hours of foreign language in college or an intensive language course from the Peace Corps, Foreign Service Institute or the Defense Language Institute. Those who receive advanced placement by a post-secondary institution into the third-year of study in a foreign language, or who can pass either the Oral Proficiency Interview given by the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Language or the Arizona Classroom Spanish Proficiency Examination can also qualify for certification.
  
  

Other Requirements

• In addition to their education and state-issued credentials in teaching or administration, prospective ESL teachers in Arizona must meet certain experience requirements. All instructors must participate in a either a three-credit student-teaching experience arranged through a post-secondary school or have two years of full-time experience teaching ESL or bilingual students. Other requirements for ESL certification include the completion of an application, the payment of an application fee, and a having an official Arizona Identity Verified Prints card, which requires a criminal background check.