Arkansas Reciprocity at a Glance
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Reciprocity is the process of assisting teachers from other states or countries obtain an Arkansas teaching license. Arkansas recognizes the teaching license from all states for reciprocity.
Arkansas has reciprocity with the following countries, territories, etc.: Department of Defense Schools; District of Columbia; Guam; Ontario, Canada; British Columbia, Canada; Alberta, Canada.
Other countries that were previously on our approved list have withdrawn and no longer can be considered for reciprocity. Applicants from countries, territories, etc., other than those mentioned above, will have to contact the Non-Traditional Licensure Program for information on gaining teacher licensure in Arkansas.
The Office of Professional Licensure will process only those applications that are complete and have the required documentation for either a one-year provisional teaching license or a standard five-year teaching license. Applications that are incomplete or that have incomplete documentation will be returned.
A three (3) hour Arkansas History course will be required for Arkansas licensure when the licensure area is Early Childhood, Elementary, the integrated Middle School licensure areas and Secondary Social Studies.
Required Documentation
Documentation required for a one-year provisional teaching license:
- Completed application
- Official transcripts of all college coursework and degrees (Official transcripts will be accepted from the applicant.)
- Copy of current, out-of-state or out-of-country teaching license.
- Documentation (copies of the fingerprint card and application for the background check) that the required background checks have been started. A teaching license will not be issued until the applicant has cleared background checks conducted by the Arkansas State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
- All of out-of-country applicants must have their credentials (degree, license) evaluated by one of the private evaluation agencies located in the United States.
Documentation required for a five-year standard teaching license:
- Complete application
- Official transcripts of all college coursework and degrees (Official transcripts will be accepted from the applicant.)
- Copy of current, out-of-state or out-of-country teaching license
- Documentation (copies of the fingerprint card and application for the background check) that the required background checks have been started. A teaching license will not be issued until the applicant has cleared background checks conducted by the Arkansas State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
- Documentation that some standardized test was required for the issuance of the current out-of-state or out-of-country teaching license or copies of passing scores on the required Praxis exams for Arkansas licensure or documenting at least three years of teaching experience.
- Documentation that a three (3) hour Arkansas History course has been completed if the licensure area is Early Childhood, Elementary, the integrated Middle School teaching areas or Secondary Social Studies.
- All out-of-country applicants must have their credentials (degree, license) evaluated by one of the private evaluation agencies located in the United States.
Additional Information
- A one-year, non-renewable provisional teaching license will be available for applicants with a current out-of-state or out-of-country license, but who lack the required testing, the three hour Arkansas History course, or cannot document three years of teaching experience.
- Registration booklets for the Praxis series of exams may be secured on-line at www.ets.org/praxis/prxar.html.
- Application packets for Arkansas licensure through reciprocity may also be secured through the Office of Professional Licensure.
For more information, please contact:
Ron Tolson, Coordinator
Arkansas Department of Education
Office of Professional Licensure
Phone: 501-682-4342
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