Become a Teacher in Arizona

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• Arizona Teacher Certification - Program Information
  
  
• Step-by-step instructions - Arizona Teacher Certification, Certification Renewal and much more

Arizona has more than just sunshine and amazing natural beauty. It's also home to 2,234 elementary and secondary schools and 54,696 teachers.⁽¹⁾ If you want to become a teacher in Arizona, you'll be serving a population of over a million students, 42 percent of whom are of Hispanic descent, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.⁽²⁾

The job forecast predicts sunny skies, too. The education sector in Arizona has been growing—private education added 2,400 jobs during the month of October 2010 alone. Though earnings vary depending on where you're employed, average Arizona teacher salaries in 2009-2010 were $46,952, a 1.3 percent increase over the previous year.⁽³⁾

Future Arizona Teachers
While the overall employment market is predicted to grow 5.5 percent over the 2008-2018 period, the numbers paint a much brighter picture for those teaching in Arizona: a 9.4 percent growth rate for primary, secondary and special education teachers, with 7,575 new job openings, according to the Arizona Workforce Informer.⁽⁴⁾

To become a teacher in Arizona, you'll need to apply for teacher certification. Generally, this requires you to complete a bachelor's degree, finish an approved teacher preparation program or equivalent education courses, and pass the appropriate portions of the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA).⁽⁵⁾

Current Arizona Teachers and School Administrators
Current teachers in Arizona need to complete professional development hours in order to renew their certifications. This can include conferences, internships, workshops, or additional teacher education courses. Some teachers even choose to pursue a higher academic degree such as a master's in education or administration.⁽⁶⁾ Regardless of the form the training takes, a teacher with more knowledge under her belt benefits not just the students but the entire school and society as a whole.

Arizona Teachers in Demand
With teacher shortages reported in a number of elementary, middle and secondary school subject areas, including ESL, special education, science and visual arts, many prospective educators may be eligible for federal loan cancellation or deferment programs just for teaching in Arizona's low-income or high-need areas.⁽⁶⁾

Of course, there are numerous incentives to become a teacher in Arizona besides salaries and loan deferments. Start researching this rewarding career at the accredited teacher training programs below!

Sources:
(1) National Center for Education Statistics
(2) Demographic Profile of Hispanics in Arizona, Pew Hispanic Center
(3) National Education Association
(4) Arizona Department of Commerce, Workforce Informer
(5) Arizona Department of Education (6) Arizona Department of Education