Educator Preparation Certification Requirements
Rio Salado College is an Arizona state-approved Educator Preparation Program which leads to initial licensure. All current information regarding certification requirements in Arizona can be located at the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) website: https://www.azed.gov/educator-certification/testing-information
Rio Salado College does not provide study materials or coursework which is specifically aligned to the content of the Subject Knowledge Exams. Candidates can locate study materials at the website listed above.
Big Table
Subject Knowledge Exam
ADE will accept comparable teaching experience, degrees, certificates and out of state exams in lieu of taking a Subject Knowledge exam. It is the responsibility of the student to check with ADE prior to admittance into Rio Salado College’s Educator Preparation Program if they will accept comparable teaching experience, degree, certificates or an out of state exam. If the Arizona Department of Education approves a waiver then the candidate must provide the results to Rio Salado College to waive the Subject Knowledge requirement.
Candidates that do not meet the requirements listed above, must pass the Subject Knowledge exam in their designated certificate area. The timeline for submission and confirmation of passing the exam scores varies depending on your approved program:
- Teacher In Residence candidates must pass the exam prior to being formally admitted.
- Traditional Post Baccalaureate and Undergraduate candidates must submit scores prior to student teaching.
Registration and study guide materials: www.aepa.nesinc.com
Professional Knowledge Exam
ADE will accept comparable teaching experience, certificates and out of state exams in lieu of taking a Professional Knowledge exam. It is the responsibility of the candidate to check with ADE prior to admittance into Rio Salado College’s Educator Preparation Program if they will accept comparable teaching experience, certificate, or an out of state exam. The student must provide the results to Rio Salado College to waive any program requirement.
If you do not meet the requirements listed above, you must pass the Professional Knowledge exam in your certificate area prior to applying for a teaching certificate.
Registration and study guides: www.aepa.nesinc.com
| Certificate | Subject Knowledge Exam | Professional Knowledge Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary K–8th | Elementary Subtest I and II (exam #NT102 and NT103) | Elementary (exam #NT051) |
| Secondary 6th–12th (Content Specific) | Subject Knowledge Exam in Certificate Content A middle grade subject knowledge exam does not meet the subject knowledge exam requirement for a secondary certificate. |
Secondary (exam #NT052) |
| Special Education – Mild to Moderate 6–12th | NOT REQUIRED | Special Education – Mild to Moderate (exam #NT601) |
Note: Rio Salado College serves as a proctoring site for the NES/AEPA exam. Questions regarding score reporting can be directed to AEPA/NES Administrators at (800) 239-8105.
Rio Salado College Online Course Offerings in Secondary Content Areas
Below is a listing of courses offered at Rio Salado College in the major secondary content areas commonly taught in middle/high schools. These courses may help students either prepare for the AEPA/NES exams; candidates are strongly encouraged to view the aepa.nesinc.com website to examine test competency and objectives. These courses are not a part of the Educator Preparation Post Baccalaureate requirements and should only be taken should a candidate desire to expand their knowledge in a content area.
Life Science
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO100 | Biology Concepts | 4 |
| BIO105 | Environmental Biology | 4 |
| BIO145 | Marine Biology | 4 |
| BIO156 | Intro Biology for Allied Health | 4 |
| BIO160 | Intro to Human Anatomy & Physiology | 4 |
| BIO201 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO205 | Microbiology | 4 |
Physical Science
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AST101/102 | Survey of Astronomy | 4 |
| CHM107/107LL | Chemistry & Society & Lab | 4 |
| CHM130/130LL | Fundamental Chemistry & Lab | 4 |
| CHM138/138LL | Chemistry for Allied Health & Lab | 4 |
| CHM151/151LL | General Chemistry I & Lab | 4 |
| CHM152/152LL | General Chemistry II & Lab | 4 |
| GLG101/103 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| GLG110/111 | Geological Disasters & the Environment | 4 |
| PHY111 | General Physics | 4 |
General Science certification requires 12 credits of Life Science and 12 credits of Physical Science
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POS110 | American National Government OR | 3 |
| POS221 | Arizona Constitution AND | 1 |
| POS222 | U.S. Constitution | 2 |
| HIS103 | United States History to 1870 | 3 |
| HIS104 | United States History 1870 to Present | 3 |
| HIS105 | History of Arizona | 3 |
| HIS145 | History of Mexico | 3 |
| HIS277 | The Modern Middle East | 3 |
| GCU121 | World Geography I: Eastern Hemisphere | 3 |
| ECN211 | Macroeconomic Principles | 3 |
| ECN212 | Microeconomic Principles | 3 |
| SOC101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOC157 | Sociology of Marriage & Family | 3 |
| SOC212 | Gender & Society | 3 |
| ASB102 | Introduction to Cultural & Societal Anthropology | 3 |
| ASB202 | Ethnic Relations in the United States | 3 |
| ASB245 | Indians of the Southwest | 3 |
Middle Grade and Secondary Social Studies include a variety of social sciences. One may also receive secondary certification specifically in Economics, Geography, History, or Political Science/American Government.
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG101 | First-Year Composition | 3 |
| ENG102 | First-Year Composition | 3 |
| ENG213 | Introduction to the Study of Language | 3 |
| ENG235 | Magazine Article Writing | 3 |
| ENH222 | Survey of English Literature After 1800 | 3 |
| ENH230 | Introduction to Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENH241 | American Literature Before 1860 | 3 |
| ENH251 | Mythology | 3 |
| ENH291 | Children’s Literature | 3 |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MAT142 | College Mathematics | 3 |
| MAT151 | College Algebra/Functions | 4 |
| MAT172 | Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| MAT187 | Precalculus | 5 |
| MAT206 | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| MAT212 | Brief Calculus | 3 |
| MAT221 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | 4 |
| MAT231 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MAT241 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry III | 4 |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDU204 | Fine Arts in Educational Settings | 3 |
| MHL140 | Survey of Music History | 3 |
| MHL143 | Music in World Cultures | 3 |
| MHL145 | American Jazz & Popular Music | 3 |
| MHL153 | Rock & Music Culture | 3 |
| ARH100 | Introduction to Art | 3 |
| ARH101 | Prehistoric Through Gothic Art | 3 |
| ARH102 | Renaissance Through Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ART112 | Two-Dimensional Design | 3 |
Fine Arts is not a certification area. You must choose a specific fine arts subject (e.g., art, music, drama, dance) and either pass AEPA or complete 24 credits for certification.
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIS105 | Survey of Computer Information Systems | 3 |
| ECN211 | Macroeconomic Principles | 3 |
| ECN212 | Microeconomic Principles | 3 |
| GBS205 | Legal, Ethical & Regulatory Issues | 3 |
| GBS220 | Quantitative Methods in Business | 3 |
| GBS221 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| ACC230 | Uses of Accounting Information I | 3 |
| ACC240 | Uses of Accounting Information II | 3 |
| ACC250 | Introductory Accounting Lab | 1 |