Ariz. Admin. Code § 7-2-619

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section R7-2-619 - Renewal Requirements

A. A certificate may be renewed within six months of its expiration date except that an individual holding multiple valid certificates may renew all certificates at one time in order to align the expiration dates of each certificate. Certificates being aligned shall be renewed at the same time as the certificate that will expire first. Individuals seeking to align certificates shall meet the renewal requirements for each certificate being aligned. Certificates that are renewed or aligned pursuant to this Section shall be valid for 12 years.

B. A certificate may be renewed within ten years after it expires. Individuals whose certificates have been expired for more than ten years shall reapply for certification under the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication. Nothing in this Section shall imply that an individual may be employed in a position that requires certification after the expiration of the relevant certificate.

C. Renewal of certificates requires the completion of continuing education credits after the most recent issuance or renewal of the certificate, except that continuing education credits completed during the valid term of the certificate that expires first meets the requirement of certificates being aligned. Fifteen hours of continuing education credits are required each year of the certificate term to renew a certificate, which may be accumulated in various increments per year prior to renewal. One hour of continuing education credit shall be equivalent to one clock hour of a professional development activity. Continuing education credits must relate to Arizona academic or professional educator standards or apply toward the attainment of an additional Arizona certificate, endorsement, or approved area, and may include training regarding suicide awareness and prevention; child abuse, human trafficking of children and the sexual abuse of children, including warning signs that a child may be a victim of child abuse, human trafficking, or sexual abuses; screening, intervention, accommodation, use of technology and advocacy for students with reading impairments, including dyslexia; or other training programs explicitly permitted or required by state law. Professional development that may be counted toward the required hours of continuing education credit shall consist of any of the following activities:

1. Courses related to education or a subject area taught in Arizona schools, taken from an accredited institution. Each semester hour of courses shall be equivalent to 15 clock hours of professional development. The required documentation shall be an official transcript.

2. Professional activities such as conferences and workshops related to the profession of teaching or the field of public education. A maximum of 30 clock hours per year may be earned by attendance at professional conferences and workshops. The required documentation shall be a conference agenda and a statement or certificate from the sponsoring organization noting the clock hours earned.

3. District-sponsored or school-sponsored in-services or activities which are specifically designed for professional development. The required documentation shall be writ- ten verification from the sponsoring district or school stating the dates of participation and the number of clock hours earned.

4. Internships in business settings. The internship shall be based on an agreement between a business and a district or school with the stated objective of aligning teaching curriculum with workplace skills. A maximum of 80 clock hours may be earned through business internships. The required documentation shall be written verification by the sponsoring business and district or school stating the dates of participation and number of clock hours earned.

5. Educational research. The research shall be sponsored by a research facility or an accredited institution or funded by a grant. The required documentation shall be the published report of the research or verification by the sponsoring agency; and a statement of the dates of participation and the number of clock hours earned.

6. Serving in a leadership role of a professional organization that provides training, activities, or projects related to the profession of teaching or the field of public education. A maximum of 30 clock hours per year may be earned by serving in a leadership role of a professional organization. The required documentation shall be written verification by the governing body of the professional organization of the dates of service and clock hours earned.

7. Serving on a visitation team for a school accreditation agency. A maximum of 60 clock hours per year may be earned by serving on a visitation team. The required documentation shall be written verification from the accreditation agency of the dates of service and clock hours earned.

D. An individual holding a Standard teaching certificate, a standard administrative certificate, or other professional certificate may renew the certificate for 12 years upon completion of 15 hours of continuing education credits each year of the certificate term which may be accumulated in various increments per year prior to renewal or with 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;

2. A valid certificate issued by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards;

3. A valid Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology issued by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association; or

4. A Nationally Certified School Psychologist credential issued by the National Association of School Psychologists.

E. An individual who is employed by a school or school district at the time of renewal shall submit the required documentation of professional development to the district superintendent, director of personnel, or other designated administrator for verification. A certified individual who is not employed by a school or school district at the time of renewal shall submit the required documentation of professional development to a county school superintendent, the dean of a college of education, or the Department for verification. The school or district official, county school superintendent, or the dean of a college of education shall verify on forms provided by the Department the number of hours of professional development completed by the individual during the valid period of the certificate being renewed.

F. The Department shall issue a Standard teaching certificate of the same type.

G. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Section, an individual with a valid fingerprint clearance card who has had a certificate or certificates expire for at least two years but not more than 10 years may renew the expired certificate or certificates and any endorsements or approved areas if the individual is in good standing. Individuals who apply for renewal under this provision are exempt from the continuing education requirements described in subsections (C) and (D). Standard certificates issued to that individual pursuant to this subsection shall be identical to the expired certificate or certificates.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-619

New Section made by exempt rulemaking at 8 A.A.R. 2396, effective May 10, 2002 (Supp. 02-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 15 A.A.R. 1225, effective December 5, 2006 (Supp. 09-1). Former R7-2-619 recodified to R7-2-620; new R7-2-619 recodified from R7-2-618 at 15 A.A.R. 2146, effective August 25, 2008 (Supp. 09-4). Former R7-2-619 recodified to R7-2-620; new R7-2-619 recodified from R7-2-618at 16 A.A.R. 68, effective December 8, 2008 (Supp. 10-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 242, effective December 7, 2009 (Supp. 10-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 1249, effective May 24, 2010 (Supp. 10-4). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 22 A.A.R. 648, effective 1/25/2016. Amended by exempt rulemaking at 22 A.A.R. 2246, effective 8/6/2016. Amended by exempt rulemaking at 24 A.A.R. 195, effective 8/9/2017. Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 26 A.A.R. 314, effective 1/27/2020. Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 27 A.A.R. 2694, effective 10/25/2021. Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 29 A.A.R. 183, effective 12/9/2022.