Non-Traditional Licensure Program

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Testing Information

Praxis I® Basic Skills Assessment (PPST)

Candidates must pass the Praxis I® Basic Skills Assessment (Pre-Professional Skills Test or PPST) prior to making 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.

Once the test taker has completed the exam, the unofficial results of the Reading and Math scores are immediately available. The Writing scores will be available in approximately 2-3 weeks when the official score report will be mailed to the test taker.

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Alternatives to Praxis I®

The following examinations 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 cut scores. Documentation must be available in the form of an official score report, an official college/university transcript, or by submitting an official letter from the college/university registrar verifying the scores.

GRE scores must meet the following requirements:

If the applicant took the test after the year 2000 and does not meet all of the first three required scores (all or nothing), the entire Praxis I® assessment must be taken and passed.

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

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Praxis II®: Content/License Area Assessment

• 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 test on or before the April test date in order to receive scores in time for the June 15 deadline. Testing dates and information may be found at www.ets.org/praxis.
• Not all content area tests are offered on each testing date. See www.ets.org/praxis for specific test dates.
• We suggest that the Praxis II® Teacher Skills test be taken during the first semester of the second year.
  

There are several areas in which the ADE issues teaching licenses. Please check the area below to see which exams are required PRIOR TO making application to the NTLP.

Early Childhood Content Knowledge
Preschool through Grade 4

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

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Middle Childhood Content Knowledge
Grades 4-8 – Math, Science, English and Social Studies

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

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Secondary Subjects
Grades 7-12 – Math, English, Social Studies, Life/Earth Science, Physical/Earth Science

All appropriate test(s) and required coursework must be successfully completed PRIOR TO being admitted to the NTLP.

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Grades 4-12
(Family and Consumer Science, Agriculture, Industrial Technology, Business Education, Marketing Technology)

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

*As of 9/01/08, the Family and Consumer Science test requirement changed to Praxis II®, Family and Consumer Science Test 121. If the Praxis II® Test 120 was taken and passed (560 or higher) BEFORE 9/01/08, that test score would be acceptable to enter the NTL program for the 2009-10 school year.

** As of 09/01/08, the Marketing Technology test requirement changed to Praxis II®, Marketing Education Test 561. If the Praxis II® Test 560 was taken and passed (570 or higher) BEFORE 09/01/08, that test score would be acceptable to enter the NTL program for the 2009-10 school year.

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P-8, 7-12
Art, Drama/Speech, Foreign Languages [French, German, Spanish],
Music, Physical Education/Wellness/Leisure

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

Only NTLP participants teaching in the secondary content licensure areas of:

• Mathematics
  
• English
  
• Life/Earth Science
  
• Physical/Earth Science
  
• Social Studies
  
• Drama/Speech
  
• Foreign Languages (Spanish, French, German)
  may be issued a license in two (2) of these content areas.

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.

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Endorsements

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

Coaching Endorsement or Coaching Certification

Endorsement

• Official transcript showing completion of a college/university Coaching program of study
• Official score report showing a passing score on the required Praxis II test # 091
• Application for a teaching license, signed by the college/university Licensure Officer, verifying the Coaching program of study and recommending the endorsement be added

Certification

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.

English as a Second Language (ESL) P-8 Endorsement

An ESL P-8 endorsement may be added as the second area of licensure to an Early Childhood (P-4) or Middle Childhood (4-8) provisional 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

A Journalism 7-12 endorsement may be added as the second area of licensure to a provisional 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

A Mandarin Chinese endorsement may be added as the second area of licensure to a provisional 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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Praxis II®: Pedagogy Exam or Principles of Learning and Teaching

In addition to passing the Praxis II® Content Area exam(s), specific exams teaching skills tests are required for Initial Licensure in Arkansas. While some license areas require the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT), others require a content pedagogy test which is subject-specific and not interchangeable. All teachers are to take the SPECIFIC exam that is appropriate for the level and subject being taught. A table listing the appropriate License Specific PLT or Pedagogy Test for Arkansas Licensure shows the test to be taken for each area.

Take this test the first semester of the second year in the program.

License Specific PLT or Pedagogy Tests for Arkansas Licensure

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Praxis III®: Performance Based Assessment

Praxis III®

• is required to convert an Arkansas Initial Teaching License to a Standard Teaching License
  
• is designed to assess the skills of novice teachers in their own classroom settings

The Praxis III® assessment uses:

• Written descriptions of the class and subject matter
  
• Direct observation of the teacher’s classroom practices by a trained State Certified Assessor
  
• Interviews structured around the classroom observation.

Teachers in the Non-Traditional Licensure Program take Praxis III® during the second semester of the second year of teaching.

NOTE: Praxis II® PLT or Pedagogy MUST be passed and official score report submitted to the NTL office before taking Praxis III®.

Praxis III® Instructions, Application and Forms

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