NTL Home | Program Description | Entry Requirements | First Year | Second Year | Testing Information | General Information
When is the deadline to apply to the Non-Traditional Licensure Program (NTLP)?
All required documentation, submission of the online application, and payment of the program fee must be received on or before June 15 each year.
When should the online application and program fee be submitted?
Applicants should submit the online application with the program fee and mail all required admission documents to the NTLP offices the same day. Submission of the online application and fee payment without the submission of all required admission documents may cause an application to be delayed or denied.
What happens once I submit my online application and program fee?
The NTLP office receives the on-line application and the program fee. Completed applications are processed in the order in which they are received. Applicants accepted into the program receive a Letter of Acceptance announcing the date and time of the mandatory orientation meeting. Applicants must attend the orientation meeting to receive their NTLP site assignment (where they will attend all summer and monthly instructional modules).
What is an Employment Eligibility form and how does the applicant receive it?
The Employment Eligibility Form is issued as verification to a school district that the applicant will be licensed upon hire in a full-time teacher of record position. The form is mailed to the home address on the application along with the Letter of Acceptance.
Where are the regional NTLP Instructional Sites located?
NTLP sites are located across Arkansas, generally in the Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast and Central regions.
When and how are site assignments made?
- Site assignments will be made, as much as possible, to the site closest to the home address listed on the application.
- Participants receive their site assignment at the mandatory orientation meeting.
- Site facilitators will be available at that time to answer questions and distribute information.
What happens if I don’t receive a site assignment?
If, for some reason, a site assignment is not available at the orientation meeting, it is the candidate’s responsibility to make an appointment with a Program Advisor to review paperwork during the week following the orientation. If the paperwork is in order, the candidate will be given a site assignment at that time.
Where should I look for a teaching position?
NTLP teachers may be employed by any public school district, charter school or accredited private school provided the school can assign a Pathwise®-certified mentor.
The following assignments are not acceptable for NTLP teachers:
- A distance learning setting where the teacher is not actively engaged with students
- A position teaching via the Internet by computer (cyber-schools)
- A position in a Juvenile Detention facility or Department of Human Services (DHS) facility
- An ABC Early Childhood Program that is not associated with a school district or educational cooperative.
- An Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) unless the NTL teacher is teaching only in the licensure area and level indicated on the Employment Eligibility Form. For example, if the NTL teacher is hired in an ALE to teach English, grades 7-12 and is only teaching English for 5 hours a day to students who are in grades 7-12, the employment would be acceptable.
- Any position in or related to special education.
For any other circumstances, the NTL teacher must contact the NTL office and speak with a Program Advisor to verify that the employment situation offered is acceptable.
What is a “teacher of record” position?
A “teacher of record” is a full-time teaching position with a school district. The NTL program requires employment for a minimum of five (5) class periods per day (or the equivalent) in the appropriate licensure area (based on assessments passed).
What do I do if I received my degree out-of-country?
Out-of-country transcripts must be evaluated prior to application by an independent in-country evaluation agency. Academic credentials must be documented as being equal to a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S. college or university. Do not request evaluations to be mailed directly to the NTLP office. Have the documents mailed to your home address.
Does the NTL Program find jobs for candidates?
No, it is the participant’s responsibility to contact school districts and make application for teaching positions. An applicant may be asked for assurance that he/she will be licensed upon hire. Acceptance to the program with the accompanying Employment Eligibility letter will verify that the teacher will be eligible for licensing for the upcoming school year, pending completion of the summer instructional modules and clearing all required background checks.
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Are there any tests whose scores will substitute for any of the required assessments?
Applicants with a Master’s degree may substitute scores from certain graduate assessments for the Praxis I® Basic Skills exam.
May I send faxed or photocopies of required admission documents?
- Submit official transcripts from colleges/universities.
- Beginning September 1, 2008, if your Praxis® scores were reported electronically, you need to print a copy of the e-mailed score sheet to submit with other required documents.
- An original score report must be submitted to the NTLP office for ALL other Praxis® testing.
- Original score report(s) must be submitted for any substitute tests for Praxis®
- Original paper score reports must be sent to the NTLP office even if the applicant requested ETS to have the scores sent to the Arkansas Department of Education because those scores go to a different office.
- No photocopies or faxes will be accepted.
Which Praxis II® Content Knowledge exams should I take?
Praxis II® content exams are based upon college/university preparation in the particular subject area (i.e. math, sciences, and foreign languages). Test takers should have either completed a program of study or have extensive knowledge about the content area in which they are taking the exams. The appropriate assessments for each teaching area/level may be found at ETS.
May I take Praxis II® exams/be licensed in more than one subject area or level?
- At the secondary level in the areas of Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies, Drama/Speech or Foreign Language the candidate may be issued a license in two areas.
- Applicants may elect to take multiple exams.
- The candidate will be licensed ONLY in the subject/area for which they have passed the required exam(s) and accepted employment.
- The candidate must remain with the same level (early childhood, middle childhood or secondary) for the duration of the two year program.
What happens if the PLT or Pedagogy test is not passed?
- If the assessment is not passed and the Provisional license expires, remediation is available to help the participant with this assessment during the next year.
- The participant WILL NOT be eligible for a teaching license during the remediation year until the pedagogy assessment is passed and the official score report is on file with the NTLP office.
- If the assessment is not passed by the end of the remediation year, the participant will not have completed the program and may re-enroll in the program beginning with year one.
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How do I obtain the forms for my required Criminal Background Checks?
You may obtain forms directly from:
- Any school district administration office
- Calling the ADE, Office of Professional Licensure at 501-682-4342. .
How can I complete the application if I do not have access to a computer?
- All Arkansas Public Libraries have computers you can use
- If you are not able to access the on-line application, please call
501-682-5535 to request a paper application via mail.
What do I do if I am not able to pay by credit card or electronic check?
- A cashier’s check or money order for the full program fee must be sent with your application packet to the NTLP office.
Must I pay the program fee when I apply?
- Yes, the on-line application cannot be saved or submitted without payment of the program fee.
- Paper application: payment is required via cashier’s check or money order.
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The program fee, minus a non-refundable $50 processing fee will be refunded ONLY if:
- the NTLP office is notified in writing that the applicant is withdrawing from the program AND
- The applicant has NOT attended ANY summer Instructional Modules.
Refund correspondence must be postmarked no later than August 1 for a refund to be processed.
Additional coursework is required for candidates applying to the program to teach Early Childhood (P-4), Middle Childhood (4-8) or Secondary Social Studies (7-12).
Required coursework must be completed PRIOR to being admitted to the NTLP (no later than June 15).
- Three college credit hours of Arkansas history are required for Early Childhood, Middle Childhood and Secondary Social Studies.
- Six college credit hours of Methods of Teaching Reading are required for Early Childhood and Middle Childhood. Please check the approved course list prior to enrolling in class(es).
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In years when state funding is available, the Arkansas Department of Education awards grants to NTLP teachers who teach in designated critical shortage areas. Grant awards are prioritized by geographic location and subject area. Award amounts may vary from year to year, depending on the grant allocation and the number of eligible applicants.
The Arkansas Department of Education’s geographic and subject critical shortage areas will be posted on the Critical Shortage webpage.
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Who do I contact for further information?
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