Click Here for AELS Background Check Step-by-Step Instructions
An Arkansas Educator Licensing System (AELS) Background Check is required for all teachers and teaching Candidates.
For more information from the Arkansas Department of Education regarding background checks and the Child Maltreatment Registry go HERE.
First Choice - Students who qualify will be added to our First-Choice list. Each semester students who are in their Final Internship semester will be able to request to be added to our First-choice list. Anyone added to the list will consent to have their information released to public school administrators who contact our office looking for candidates to fill vacancies at schools. This also means you will get emails notifying you about openings at schools, possibly before they are posted elsewhere online. If you would like to be added to our First Choice list please email idavidson2@atu.edu and see if you qualify.
For assistance with jobs please contact Norman Career Services and register for CAREERlink. You can reach them at 479-968-0278 or career.services@atu.edu.
Another excellent source is Arkansas Education Jobs (sponsored by Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators). This website posts administrator jobs, teaching jobs and other school jobs in Arkansas. You may search the entire state or selected regions of the state. You can limit it to your teaching area. You can also search by district or employer.
Public School Administrators - Please contact Dr. David Bell at dbell@atu.edu or 479-964-0583 ext. 2350 for assistance with filling vacancies within your district. A number of our candidates have authorized our office to release their contact information to you.
Teaching Candidates - If you are an intern in a Teacher Education program and you wish to be added to our First-Choice candidates list, please email idavidson2@atu.edu to see if you qualify. Our First Choice candidates are licensure candidates that are completing their Internship II and would like to have their information given to school Administrators looking for teachers to fill vacancies.
To see the list of required Praxis exams, visit the site below and find your intended area of licensure. Test requirements can change frequently, so always refer to this site before registering for an exam. If you have questions about the Praxis exam requirements, contact the Office of Educator Licensure and Support Services at idavidson2@atu.edu or 479-964-0583 ext 2593.
You may access the Arkansas Public School Information Directory at the following link:
License renewal is the responsibility of the Arkansas Department of Education Office of Professional Licensure. For detailed instructions, go to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website here: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/educator-effectiveness/educator-licensure/renewing-a-license If you need additional help, please call 501-682-4342.
For full instructions on how to apply for Licensure Reciprocity in the state of Arkansas, please visit the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's website here: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/educator-effectiveness/educator-licensure/licensure-by-reciprocity If you have additional questions, please call 501-682-4342.
Although there are some exceptions, many areas and levels can be added to your license by completing the required Praxis II Content Exam(s). Generally speaking, you can add content areas within your licensure level (K-12, 7-12, 4-8, etc.) or within one level above or below your licensure level. See the chart below for some of the common options for adding areas or levels to your license.
|
If your initial license is … |
Then you can add … |
|
P-4 Early Childhood Education |
K-6 Elementary Education |
|
P-4 Early Childhood Education |
4-8 Middle Level Content Areas |
|
K-6 Elementary Education |
4-8 Middle Level Content Areas |
|
4-8 Middle Level |
K-6 Elementary Education |
|
4-8 Middle Level |
7-12 Secondary Content Areas |
|
7-12 Secondary Education |
4-8 Middle Level Content Areas |
|
7-12 Secondary Education |
Other 7-12 Secondary Content Areas |
|
K-12 Areas |
4-8 Middle Level Content Areas |
|
K-12 Areas |
7-12 Secondary Content Areas |
|
K-12 Areas |
Other K-12 Areas |
NOTE: Adding K-6 or any 4-8 areas also requires 6 credit hours of literacy pedagogy and the completion of a 45-hour professional development module on disciplinary literacy.
Ancillary and instructional support areas (such as media specialist, school counselor, and building administrator) require a graduate-level program of study and cannot be added by testing alone.
Note: The information above is not a complete list of options. For more information and for more options, visit the Arkansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website by clicking here: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/educator-effectiveness/educator-licensure/adding-to-a-license
Arkansas Department of Education - Contains a wealth of information related to public K-12 education. Also has undated licensure information.
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/
Online Licensure Application
Praxis testing information for Arkansas Tech University - Provides information for required Praxis testing in Arkansas.
Arkansas Praxis Test Requirements - Provides the required tests for all licensure areas.
http://www.ets.org/praxis/ar/requirements
Teaching Certification Degree.com - You can search by type and state.
http://www.teachercertificationdegrees.com/jobs/#s=1
Arkansas Education Jobs (sponsored by Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators) - This is a great source for administrator jobs, teaching jobs and other school jobs in Arkansas. You may search the entire state or selected regions of the state. You can limit it to your teaching area. You can also search by one district or employer.
https://arkansas.schoolspring.com/
Search engine for Preschool and Early Childhood Education teachers.
https://discoverearlychildhoodedu.org/resources/jobs/
Provisional Recommendation Form