⚠️ Important! Your Degree Does Not Guarantee Certification: Do you know your State's Certification Requirements? ⚠️

Important! Your Degree Does Not Guarantee Certification: Do you know your State's Certification Requirements? ⚠️

Hello Class,

Once you have earned your education degree from GCU, you will still need to obtain your certification from your state’s Department of Education to become a professional and certified educator. Thus, it is important that you become familiar with your state’s certification requirements and make sure you are monitoring those frequently.

For example, in Arizona, you will have to complete an application for certification, show a valid AZ DPS Fingerprint Clearance card, provide your official transcripts, and provide passing scores on the content and professional knowledge exams. Once you have your certificate, be sure to also check for any applicable deficiencies and work towards completing those additional requirements. A standard teaching certificate in AZ is valid for six years, so you must fulfill certain requirements to renew your certificate. These include professional development or semester hours of education courses. Learning never stops! 

Teacher candidates who reside in states other than Arizona or who plan to teach in a state other than Arizona should review the specific requirements for their respective state's Department of Education to determine the certification requirements of their state. Please make sure to work on meeting both, your program and your state's certification requirements. Please pay particular attention to the exam requirements in your state.

📌 Here is a link to the State Requirements document, which is also available on the SSC: 

https://aws-files.gcu.edu/ssc/COE/20230302_COE_State%20Requirements_Revised.pdf

😀💬 For participation credit, please click on the link above and tell us about the requirements you need to have when applying for your certification for the state you live in. Explain your certification path. What exams does your state require for certification? Are you applying for any endorsements? What are the expenses related to certification? 

If you have any questions, you can also request assistance from your field experience counselor (FEC).

✨ Guide to Program & Certification Requirements ✨

General CAT:

✨ Guide to Program & Certification Requirements ✨

Class,

The College of Education helps to prepare you for your future certification/licensure as an educator, but it is your responsibility as a student to be proactive in managing the requirements specific to your state. Please take a look at the Guide to Program and Certification Requirements | GCU and share what steps you have completed along with what is specifically needed from your state to obtain certification/licensure as an educator. Also, consider how your unique experiences and strengths align with the requirements outlined in the guide. How might you leverage these attributes to overcome any potential challenges on your path to certification/licensure? If you are not seeking licensure/certification, share a little bit about your end goals following this program and what steps you might need to get there.🎓