Arkansas Department of Education Non-Traditional Licensure Program

General Information

The Arkansas Department of Education Non-Traditional Licensure Program (NTLP) prepares eligible college graduates to be teachers in Arkansas public schools.  NTLP teachers teach, with a provisional license,  in an Arkansas classroom while completing requirements to receive an Initial or Standard Arkansas teaching license.  Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

- have a Bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher

- pass specific required tests based on licensure area

- clear criminal background checks

Program Description

Candidates must complete two years of preparation in a three year period.  The two-year NTLP program includes:

• Instructional Modules:
• Fifteen days in summer, and monthly Saturdays, for two years
• Summer modules for fifteen days offered in late June for first year (freshmen) and July for second year (seniors) held Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• The first ten days of instruction are conducted at the site closest to the applicant’s address.
• The final five days (Freshmen only in 2010-2011) are held in Central Arkansas.  It is expected that participants stay overnight in the Central Arkansas area for these instructional dates.  Housing arrangements are to be made in advance and participants are responsible for the cost.
• Attendance at all modules is mandatory and takes precedence over school events
• Mentoring Support
• A Pathwise® certified mentor is assigned to the NTLP teacher (both years) to provide support towards the mastery of teaching skills.
• Assessments
• Pre and post tests for Instructional Modules
• Appropriate employment as a classroom teacher
• Teacher-of-record in an Arkansas public school classroom with full teacher salary and benefits
• Portfolio / Teacher Work Sample development
• This includes reflections on the practice of teaching

Program Fees

The NTLP program fee is $1200 per year (paid in May-June each year) which covers instruction, books and materials.

Application

Applications are accepted between February and June for Instructional Modules beginning in the summer.

Patti Froom - NTLP Lead Program Advisor   patti.froom@arkansas.gov

Ann DeLoney - NTLP Program Advisor    ann.deloney@arkansas.gov

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Before You Apply

Prior to application, candidates should review all requirements, make certain all requirements are met and ensure that all documentation is available.  When completed applicants are to:

• Apply to NTLP via online application at www.TeachArkansas.org.
• Mail all appropriate documentation (at one time) to the NTLP office

Entry Requirements

NTLP applicants must meet the following minimum criteria in advance of application for admission:

• Bachelor’s degree from a nationally or regionally accredited institution
• Documented cumulative undergraduate or graduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) OR a minimum GPA of 2.75 on the last 60 credit hours of coursework completed (see Transcripts and GPA below)
• Passing scores on specific required tests (based on license area sought)
• For the following license areas additional required coursework must be completed prior to program admission.
• Early Childhood
• Middle Childhood
• Secondary Social Studies
• Proof of initiating required criminal background checks

Transcripts and GPA

Official transcripts must be submitted with the application packet

• From each accredited (regional or national accreditation) institution of higher education documenting degree(s) awarded
• Official seal or stamp from registrar’s office must be present
• ALL transcripts showing ALL coursework are required
• All transcripts/evaluations must be mailed to the applicant’s home address and submitted to the NTLP office with admission documents

Do NOT have official transcripts/evaluations mailed directly to the NTLP office

Copies or faxed copies of documents will NOT be accepted

Out of Country Transcripts and Evaluations

• Must be evaluated by an ADE approved in-country evaluation agency
• Must be documented as being equal to a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S. college/university
• Must be course-by-course evaluation, prepared in English, with GPA reflected
• Do not request evaluations to be mailed directly to the NTLP office. Have the documents mailed to your home address.

GPA Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (or 2.75 in the last 60 hours of coursework, calculated beginning with the most recent coursework completed)

 GPA Waiver –  A waiver of the 2.5 GPA requirement may be requested by candidates who meet ALL of the following criteria:  

• At least fifteen (15) years experience in the field related to the teaching/licensure area (subject to review and approval)
• A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Letter of justification submitted to NTLP from applicant detailing the relevance of his or her credentials to teach the specified subject
• Two (2) professional letters of recommendation submitted to NTLP by professional references

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Additional Coursework

 Additional specific coursework is required for teaching licenses in the following areas:

• Early Childhood (Grades P-4)
  • Six credit-hours of ADE-approved Teaching Reading Courses at an accredited Arkansas college/ university
• Three credit-hours of Arkansas History at an accredited college/university
• Middle Childhood (Grades 4-8)
  • Six credit-hours of ADE-approved Teaching Reading Courses at an accredited Arkansas college/ university
• Three credit-hours of Arkansas History at an accredited college/university
• Secondary Social Studies (Grades 7-12)
  • Three credit-hours of Arkansas History at an accredited college/university

For ADE-approved Teaching Reading courses

• Six credit hours of ADE-approved Teaching Reading Courses must be taken at an accredited Arkansas college/university.
• Both courses must be completed with a final grade of “C” or higher.
• NOTE: These courses may not be delivered more than 50% on-line.   For questions about obtaining approval for courses not listed, please e-mail Patti Froom at patti.froom@arkansas.gov.
• Required coursework MUST be completed by the end of the Spring, 2010 semester.
• Official transcript showing both completed Teaching Reading courses with a final grade of “C” or higher must be on file with the NTLP office no later than May 31.
• Official proof of enrollment (if not yet complete) in the required courses is required.  The college/university must document:
• Course number(s) and title(s)
• Date course(s) will be completed
• Approximate date an official transcript will be available  

For Arkansas History

• Three credit-hours of Arkansas History must be taken at an accredited college/university.
• Official transcript showing completed Arkansas history course with a final grade of “C” or higher must be on file with the NTLP office no later than May 31 for admission to the program.
• NOTE:  This coursework may be taken on-line, via independent study, or in class. 

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State and Federal Background Checks and DHS Central Registry

Mandatory State and Federal Background Checks:

• The ASP-122 Form and FBI fingerprint card are available from:
• school districts
• the ADE Office of Professional Licensure (501-682-4342)
• the Arkansas State Police
• Instructions for submission are given on the back page of the ASP-122 form.  The State Police will report the results directly to the Arkansas Department of Education.
• Background checks must be done on specific forms for licensed (certified) positions.
• DO NOT complete the forms for classified or non-licensed district personnel.
• Background checks must be less than one year old when applying for a teaching license. 
• Previous background checks done for any position other than teacher of record, including for substitute teaching, will not be accepted.  New background checks are required.

For DHS Central Registry

Arkansas law requires that all teachers receiving an Arkansas teaching license for the first time must complete a background check through the Arkansas Department of Human Services Child Maltreatment Central Registry.

• For processing, return this required form, notarized to DHS with a check or money order for $10.00 made payable to the Department of Human Services.
  • No cash payments are accepted.
  • Allow 7-10 business days for processing.
  • Results are reported directly to the Arkansas Department of Education by DHS

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Required Testing 

Praxis I® Basic Skills Assessment (PPST) AND Praxis II® content specific license area exam(s)

Praxis I®

Candidates must pass the Praxis I® Basic Skills Assessment (Pre-Professional Skills Test or PPST) prior to application.  Candidates are strongly advised to take the computer version of the Praxis I®.  Computer-based testing (CBT) registration is made by appointment at over 300 Prometric test sites throughout the United States. 

To schedule an appointment:

• Call Prometric Candidate Services – M-F, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET at 1-800-853-6773 or 1-443-751-4859. For TTY, call 800-529-3590.
• Call the computer-based testing center directly.

Unofficial results of the Reading and Math scores are immediately available.  The Writing scores are available approximately 2-3 weeks later, when the official score report is mailed to the test taker.

Alternatives to Praxis I®

The following tests may be substituted for Praxis I® if all conditions listed are met.

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is acceptable in lieu of the Praxis I®  Basic Skills exam only if the candidate holds a Master’s Degree or higher and meets Arkansas Passing scores below.  Documentation must be available in the form of an official score report, an official college/university transcript, or an official letter from the college/university registrar verifying the scores.

If the GRE was taken after the year 2000 and all of the first three required scores were not met (all or nothing) the entire Praxis I® assessment must be taken and passed. 

The following exams are also acceptable in lieu of the Praxis I® Basic Skills assessment only if the candidate holds a Master’s degree or higher.  Documentation must be available in the form of an official score report, an official college/university transcript, or an official letter from the college/university registrar’s office verifying the score.

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Praxis II®: Content/License Area Assessments 

• Applicants must pass the Praxis II® content specific license area exam(s) for the particular grade level or subject area the candidate plans to teach prior to making application to the program. 

• Applicants must take the test on or before the April test date in order to receive scores in time for the June deadline.  Not all content area tests are offered on each testing date.  Testing dates and information may be found at www.ets.org/praxis.

There are several areas in which the ADE issues teaching licenses.  Check below to see which exams are required for each license area prior to application.

The appropriate test and required coursework must be successfully completed PRIOR TO being admitted to the NTLP. 

NTLP participants teaching in the following secondary content licensure areas may (if necessary) be issued a license in two (2) of these content areas:

• Mathematics
• English
• Life/Earth Science
• Physical/Earth Science
• Social Studies
• Drama
• Speech
• Foreign Languages (Spanish, French, German)

Participants may be licensed in both content areas if they have successfully completed all non-pedagogical Praxis® exams (see above) for both licensure areas and are assigned to teach both areas.

Endorsements - All appropriate tests must be successfully completed PRIOR TO being admitted to the NTLP.

Coaching Endorsement - may be added as the second area of licensure to any license area upon employment in a coaching position and submission of the following documentation:

• Official transcript showing completion of a college/university program of study in coaching
• Official score report showing a passing score on the require Praxis II® exam (test 091)
• Application for at teaching license, signed by the college/university Licensure Officer, verifying the Coaching program of study and recommending the endorsement be added to the license.

OR

A COACHING CERTIFICATION RECOGNIZED BY THE ARKANSAS ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION (AAA) MAY BE EARNED BY COMPLETING AAA COACHES EDUCATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.  This certification does NOT add a coaching endorsement to the teaching license but does allow a full time licensed teacher in a member school to serve as a paid coach in that district.  Candidates must successfully complete the following:

• Fundamentals of Coaching, First Aid for Coaches and a Sport-Specific course through the NFHS Coaches Education Program.  The courses are available online through www.nfhslearn.com.
• Current CPR and AED (defibrillator) certification
• Passing the AAA State Rules Exam.

 For more information on this option visit AAA at www.ahsaa.org/.

English as a Second Language (ESL) P-8 Endorsement - may be added as the second area of licensure to an Early Childhood (P-4) or Middle Childhood (4-8) license upon submitting proof of a teaching assignment in ESL P-4 or ESL 4-8 and submission of the following documentation:

• Official transcript showing completion of a college/university program of study in ESL or the ESL Academy for college credit
• Official score report showing a passing score on the required Praxis II® exam (test 521 for P-4; test 523 for 4-8)
• Application for a teaching license, signed by the college/university Licensure Officer, verifying the program of study and recommending the endorsement be added to the license

Journalism Endorsement (7-12) - may be added as the second area of licensure to a license in secondary Mathematics, Science, English, Social Studies, Drama/Speech, or Foreign Language upon proof of a teaching assignment in Journalism 7-12, and submission of the following documentation:

• Official transcript showing completion of a college/university program of study in journalism
• Official score report showing a passing score on the required Praxis II® (test 524)
• Application for a teaching license, signed by the college/university Licensure Officer, verifying the program of study and recommending the endorsement be added to the license

Mandarin Chinese Endorsement - may be added as the second area of licensure to a license in secondary Mathematics, Science, English, Social Studies, Drama/Speech or Foreign Language upon proof of a teaching assignment in Mandarin Chinese and submission of the proper documentation listed below:

• Official score report showing a passing score on the required ACTFL exams.

 A Mandarin Chinese permit (one year) may be earned if the following conditions are met:

• Achieve passing score on ACTFL test
• Clear background check
• Be hired to teach Mandarin Chinese

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