How Arizona's teacher certification system is changing

By Stacy Mantle
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Arizona continues to face significant teacher workforce challenges, and it’s changing how the state is looking to certify new educators.

For decades, becoming a teacher in Arizona generally meant completing a bachelor’s degree, finishing a state-approved educator preparation program, completing supervised student teaching, passing required assessments and obtaining a fingerprint clearance card before becoming the teacher of record.

That path still exists and remains the route taken by many educators who graduate from Arizona colleges and universities.

Supporters say the traditional model provides extensive preparation before teachers take responsibility for their own classrooms. Critics argue it can be expensive, time-consuming and difficult for working adults or career changers to complete.

It becomes even more challenging with the number of teachers leaving the profession and the thousands of vacancies currently in classrooms around the state.

“There is a crisis in Arizona, and we must take strong action,” Tom Horne said in a recent press release. “We are losing more teachers than are coming into the profession.”

The crisis at hand

According to the Arizona Department of Education’s first statewide teacher retention study, more than 8,600 educators — roughly 14% of the state’s teaching workforce — left the profession during the 2024-25 school year.

The department also reported more than 1,000 teachers either resigned or failed to report for work after the school year began. 

As of fall 2025, more than 4,000 teaching positions statewide were being covered by long-term substitutes or other temporary staffing methods, while nearly 1,400 positions remained completely unfilled. State officials say shortages are acute in rural communities, special education and other hard-to-fill subject areas.

Teacher shortages are driven by more than recruitment challenges. Many educators who leave the profession cite workloads, student behavior issues and a lack of administrative support as major factors in their decision.

Compensation remains a concern. While teacher salaries in Arizona have increased in recent years, many educators say pay has not kept pace with job demands. The shortage can create a cycle that strains schools, as teachers who remain are often asked to take on additional responsibilities. 

To help cover staffing gaps, nearly one-quarter of Arizona educators work under “sixth-fifth contracts,” teaching an extra class during time that would otherwise be used for lesson planning, grading and preparation.

As a result of these shortages, Arizona policymakers have increasingly turned to alternative certification pathways, apprenticeships and other workforce strategies to strengthen the state’s teacher pipeline.

What Arizona requires today

Despite some public perception, Arizona has not eliminated teacher certification requirements. Teachers must still undergo background checks and obtain a fingerprint clearance card. Most teaching positions also require candidates to hold or be working toward an Arizona teaching certificate.

“You shouldn’t have to go into debt to become a teacher,” said David Donaldson, founder of Grow your Own,  a nonprofit that provides technical assistance to states and school districts to establish teacher-apprenticeship programs. “Every child has not only the teacher they need, but deserve.”

What has changed is when some candidates are allowed to begin teaching. Arizona now allows qualified individuals to enter classrooms while completing certification requirements through alternative pathways.

Alternative teaching certificates allow individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree to begin teaching while completing educator preparation requirements. Candidates must be enrolled in an approved certification program and work toward meeting all requirements for standard certification.

Supporters say these pathways help schools fill vacancies quicker and create opportunities for career changers who want to enter education.

Critics argue that learning to teach while serving as the teacher of record can place additional pressure on both new educators and the schools supporting them.

Arizona also allows emergency certification when districts are unable to fill positions with fully certified teachers.

These certificates are intended to be temporary measures to help schools keep classrooms staffed while candidates work toward full certification.

Emergency credentials have become an important tool for districts facing shortages, particularly in special education and rural communities.

Online certification programs

The growth of online educator preparation programs has  expanded access to teaching careers.

Candidates can now complete much of their coursework remotely, making certification more accessible to working adults, paraprofessionals and rural community residents who may not live near a university campus.

Supporters say online programs remove geographic barriers and help diversify the educator workforce. Critics question whether virtual coursework can replace the hands-on experiences traditionally provided through in-person preparation programs.

Special education remains a certified profession

One area that has generated confusion is special education. It’s important to note Arizona has not eliminated certification requirements for special education teachers.

Special education teachers must still meet certification requirements, complete specialized coursework and satisfy state requirements related to serving students with disabilities. However, like general education teachers, some candidates may begin working through alternative or emergency pathways while completing those requirements.

Supporters argue these pathways help to address severe staffing shortages in special education classrooms.

Critics caution special education is among the most complex teaching areas and requires extensive training in instructional strategies, legal compliance, behavior supports and individualized education programs.

Arizona embraces apprenticeship programs

Arizona is increasingly turning to apprenticeship models as a way to balance faster entry into the profession with stronger preparation.

Horne announced this month the Arizona Department of Education would receive $300,000 over two years to expand its teacher apprenticeship and mentoring program. The funding was awarded through the National Center for Grow Your Own with support from the private nonprofit Ascendium Education Group.

“Recruiting, training and supporting teachers is vital, and the teacher shortage has reached catastrophic proportions,” Horne said.

According to the department, the grant will support about 100 teacher apprentices and mentor teachers statewide.

The apprenticeship model allows aspiring teachers to earn a salary while receiving classroom experience, mentoring and educator preparation training. State leaders hope the approach will help recruit new teachers while improving retention and reducing the financial burden of earning a teaching degree.

The grant’s goals include increasing the number of licensed teachers prepared through debt-free apprenticeship programs, building long-term support systems for educator preparation and improving teacher training quality through structured mentorship.

Looking ahead

Arizona’s approach to addressing teacher shortages continues to evolve. State leaders generally agree that more educators are needed, but differ on how best to achieve that goal. Horne has focused on expanding certification pathways and apprenticeship programs, while Gov. Katie Hobbs has emphasized increasing educator pay and improving retention through additional school funding.

Chris Kotterman of the Arizona School Boards Association argued recruitment efforts alone won’t solve the workforce problem, saying better pay and support systems remain the most effective way to attract and retain educators.

The state has moved beyond a single pathway into teaching and now offers multiple routes designed to attract a broader range of candidates. At the same time, policymakers and educators continue to debate how to balance access, preparation, teacher quality and retention.

The central question remains whether these expanded pathways can solve teacher shortages while ensuring every student has access to a well-prepared educator.

“You shouldn’t have to go into debt to become a teacher,” Donaldson said. “When you remove the financial barriers, it’s amazing how many people want to become a teacher.”

Have a story about education in Arizona? Contact smantle@iniusa.org.

Editor’s note:  A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.