Arizona teacher licensure exams
Information and preparation resources
This page offers information and resources on preparing for your teacher licensure exams both in and outside of Arizona.
When should you take the licensure exam(s)?
Professional Knowledge and Foundations of Reading:
- It’s recommended that students take Professional Knowledge licensure exam(s) right before their student teaching semester or during student teaching.
Subject Knowledge:
- Subject knowledge can be taken once content knowledge coursework is completed.
Plan Ahead:
- It takes approximately four weeks to get Professional Knowledge exam results due to scoring handwritten scenario items.
Free COE test preparation resources
- NAU is now offering a webinar each semester titled Arizona Teacher Licensure Exams: Information and Preparation Resources:
- NAU also offers self-paced web courses to assist students, alumni, and the community with preparing for the following AEPA/NES licensure exams:
- NES Professional Knowledge: Elementary
- NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary
- NES Elementary Subject Knowledge Tests I and II
- NES Special Education: Mild/Moderate Subject Knowledge Test
Subject Knowledge Exam
The Subject Knowledge Exam items are directly connected to discipline standards.
Student teaching
Student Teaching Intern Certificate (STIC)
Licensure exam requirements include a passing score on the required Arizona Professional Knowledge and the subject knowledge exam(s) that correspond to the teaching certificate the applicant is pursuing.
Out of state
Planning to teach out-of-state after graduation?
Resources
- NASDTEC interstate agreements: information for out-of-state applicants
- NAU’s professional licensure by state
Please note that AEPA tests were specifically developed for Arizona and may or may not be accepted by other states. Check out-of-state licensure exam rules in advance.
Which states accept the NES test for certification?
Not all states accept NES certification. Additionally, each state that does accept NES has varying standards for certification. It is important to check the specific state’s NES testing requirements, including what role and conditions require the certification. The following states currently accept NES test scores for certification: Arizona, California, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Planning on teaching in a state that requires Praxis instead of NES? Check out the varying state requirements.