Arizona educator certification tests

The Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA) tests determine an individual’s competency for employment in the Arizona public school system. Candidates must receive passing score(s) on the National Evaluation Series (NES) tests to attain certifications or endorsements from the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). The ADE Educator Certification Department’s website has information about these exams as well as a link to the AEPA/NES test publisher site, which includes practice tests, videos, and study guides (see Educator Certification: Testing Information).

Each exam is 100% computer based. Most exams are multiple choice (anywhere from 100-150 questions). Some exams include multiple choice questions and a written response section.

• The Student Teacher Intern Certificate (STIC) is a student teaching placement in which you are hired as the teacher of record by a school/district. These placements have additional application requirements (for more information, see our Student teaching resources page<href=”https://legacy.nau.edu/pep/resources/”>. In terms of AEPA/NES exams, these placements require the following:
  • A passing score on the subject knowledge test(s) of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment that corresponds to the teaching certificate that the student teaching intern is pursuing;
  • A passing score on the professional knowledge test of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment that corresponds to the teaching certificate that the student teaching intern is pursuing.

• Undergraduate Elementary Education majors planning to student teach in a single-subject middle school classroom are REQUIRED to pass the appropriate middle grades licensure exam:
  • Middle Grades English Language Arts (NT201)
  • Middle Grades General Science (NT204)
  • Middle Grades Mathematics (NT203)
  • Middle Grades Social Science (NT202)

NAU requires a passing score on the appropriate Professional Knowledge exam to pursue a teacher preparation program through an alternative pathway. For more information regarding the degree programs that NAU offers through TIPP or an alternative pathway, see COE’s Teacher Intern Preparation Program<href=”https://legacy.nau.edu/coe/teacher-intern-preparation-program/”>.

The NES Professional Knowledge exams are required for Arizona teacher certification. Candidates are strongly encouraged to complete the Professional Knowledge exam(s) aligned with their intended certification prior to student teaching or during the student teaching semester.

Subject knowledge exams may be taken once all content knowledge coursework has been completed.

• Register online (Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments<href=”http://www.aepa.nesinc.com/”>)
• Locate a test center<href=”http://www.aepa.nesinc.com/PageView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/GENRB_TestDates.html”>
• REMINDER: When registering for the licensure exam(s), please select NAU to receive a copy of your licensure exam results. NAU ONLY uses these results for program evaluation and improvement. The reporting of your results to NAU does NOT impact your academic progression towards completing degree program requirements.

To learn more about passing scores, see Passing Requirements (nesinc.com)

• You can repeat the exam after 30 days. You will need to pay the exam fee the first two times you retake the exam. After you have taken the exam three times, your exam fee is waived for all additional retakes.
• You may take it an unlimited number of times.

• • Your final diagnostic score reports will be available through the online registration system.
  • You may also choose during registration to have your score report emailed to you.
  • Plan Ahead! It takes approximately 4 weeks to get Professional Knowledge exam results due to scoring handwritten scenario items.

• Preparation materials are available for all AEPA/NES exams through Pearson and include an interactive online study guide, full-length practice test, test framework, and testing tips, see: Preparation Materials<href=”http://www.nestest.com/PageView.aspx?f=GEN_PreparationMaterials.html”>.

Licensure exam costs vary and can range from $50 to $150. The cost for each exam is listed on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Exam web page.

Arizona Residents: Arizona residents can receive a one-time fee waiver for the Foundations of Reading (SA890) exam. You must have a valid Arizona mailing address (AZ P.O. Boxes are eligible) to qualify for the fee waiver. The waiver will be automatically applied toward your assessment fee during the online registration process.

ATA Participants ONLY: ATA covers the cost of required licensure exams for first-time test takers but will not cover retake costs. Watch your NAU email for notification on how to request vouchers to pay for the exams. Voucher request emails are sent quarterly (every three months) to current or former ATA participants, including recent graduates. ATA participants are assigned a personalized link to request the vouchers for tests they have been approved for. Do not share this link with others. To be eligible, you need to have been an ATA participant in Fall 2021 or later. Email PEPATA@nau.edu for more information. NOTE: Unfortunately, ATA cannot reimburse for licensure exams that have already been paid for.

BSED Elementary Education and MED Elementary Education with Certification:

• NES Professional Knowledge: Elementary (NT051) (REQUIRED)
• NES Foundations of Reading (SA890) (REQUIRED)
• NES Subject Knowledge: Elementary Sub-Test I (NT102) (OPTIONAL)
• NES Subject Knowledge: Elementary Sub-Test II (NT103) (OPTIONAL)
• One of the following NES Subject Knowledge exams is REQUIRED if seeking Middle Grades student teaching placement OR Middle Grades teaching position:
  • • Middle Grades English Language Arts (NT201)
    • Middle Grades General Science (NT204)
    • Middle Grades Mathematics (NT203)
    • Middle Grades Social Science (NT202)

BSED Elementary Education with Early Childhood Endorsement

• NES Professional Knowledge: Elementary (NT051) (REQUIRED)
• AEPA Subject Knowledge: Early Childhood Education (AZ036) (REQUIRED)
• NES Foundations of Reading (SA890) (REQUIRED)

BSED Early Childhood & Early Childhood Special Education

• AEPA Professional Knowledge: Early Childhood (AZ093) (REQUIRED)
• AEPA Professional Knowledge: Special Education Early Childhood (AZ083) (REQUIRED)
• NES Foundations of Reading (SA890) (REQUIRED)
• AEPA Subject Knowledge: Early Childhood Education (AZ036) (OPTIONAL)

BSED Special & Elementary Education

• NES Professional Knowledge: Elementary (NT051) (REQUIRED)
• NES Professional Knowledge: Special Education (NT601) (REQUIRED)
• NES Subject Knowledge: Elementary Sub-Test I (NT102) (OPTIONAL)
• NES Subject Knowledge: Elementary Sub-Test II (NT103) (OPTIONAL)
• NES Foundations of Reading (SA890) (REQUIRED)
• One of the following NES Subject Knowledge exams is REQUIRED if seeking Middle Grades student teaching placement OR Middle Grades teaching position:
  • • Middle Grades English Language Arts (NT201)
    • Middle Grades General Science (NT204)
    • Middle Grades Mathematics (NT203)
    • Middle Grades Social Science (NT202)

BSED Special & Elementary Education with Early Childhood Endorsement

• NES Professional Knowledge: Elementary (NT051) (REQUIRED)
• NES Professional Knowledge: Special Education (NT601) (REQUIRED)
• AEPA Subject Knowledge: Early Childhood (AZ036) (REQUIRED)
• NES Foundations of Reading (SA890) (REQUIRED)
• NES Subject Knowledge: Elementary Sub-Test I (NT102) (OPTIONAL)
• NES Subject Knowledge: Elementary Sub-Test II (NT103) (OPTIONAL)
• One of the following NES Subject Knowledge exams is REQUIRED if seeking Middle Grades student teaching placement OR Middle Grades teaching position:
  • • Middle Grades English Language Arts (NT201)
    • Middle Grades General Science (NT204)
    • Middle Grades Mathematics (NT203)
    • Middle Grades Social Science (NT202)

MED Special Education – Mild/Moderate Disabilities with Certification

• NES Professional Knowledge: Special Education (NT601) (REQUIRED)
• NES Foundations of Reading (SA890) (REQUIRED)

MED Special Education – Early Childhood with Certification

• AEPA Professional Knowledge: Special Education Early Childhood (AZ083) (REQUIRED)
• NES Foundations of Reading (SA890) (REQUIRED)
• AEPA Subject Knowledge: Early Childhood Education (AZ036) (OPTIONAL)

MAT Teaching Science with Certification

• NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
• One of the following Subject Knowledge exams: (REQUIRED by NAU to be taken and passed for student teaching clearance; OPTIONAL for licensure if applicant has a degree in one of the following content areas)
  • Biology (NT305)
  • Chemistry (NT306)
  • Earth Science (AZ045)
  • General Science (NT311)
  • Physics (NT308)

BSED Secondary Education, Sciences

• • NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
  • One of the following Subject Knowledge exams: (REQUIRED by NAU to be taken and passed for student teaching clearance; OPTIONAL for applying to ADE for teacher certification)
    • Biology (NT305)
    • Chemistry (NT306)
    • Earth Science (AZ045)
    • General Science (NT311)
    • Physics (NT308)

BSED Secondary Education, Mathematics

• • NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: Mathematics (NT304) (REQUIRED by NAU to be taken for student teaching clearance; OPTIONAL for applying to ADE for teacher certification)

BSED Art Education

• • NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: Art (NT503) (REQUIRED by NAU to be taken for student teaching clearance; OPTIONAL for applying to ADE for teacher certification)
  • NES Foundations of Reading (SA890) (OPTIONAL)

BMED Music Secondary Education

• • NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: Music (NT504) (OPTIONAL)
  • NES Foundations of Reading (SA890) (OPTIONAL)

BSED Secondary Education, English

• • NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: English Language Arts (NT301) (REQUIRED by NAU to be taken for student teaching clearance; OPTIONAL for applying to ADE for teacher certification)

BSED Secondary Education, History and Social Studies

• • • NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
    • OPTIONAL for applying to ADE for teacher certification
      • NES Subject Knowledge: History (NT302)
      • AEPA Subject Knowledge: Economics (AZ035)
      • AEPA Subject Knowledge: Geography (AZ004)
      • AEPA Subject Knowledge: Political Science/American Government (AZ006)
      • NES Subject Knowledge: Social Science (NT303)
      • NES Subject Knowledge: History (NT302)

**The coursework completed as part of the BSED Secondary Education, History and Social Studies program excuses teacher candidates from needing to take a content exam.

BSED Secondary Education, Spanish

• • NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: Spanish (NT401) (OPTIONAL)

BSED Health Sciences – Physical Education

• • NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: Physical Education (NT506) (OPTIONAL)
  • NES Foundations of Reading (SA890) (OPTIONAL)

Physical Education Path to Certification (Post-Bacc Certificate)

• • NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary NT052) (REQUIRED)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: Physical Education (NT506) (OPTIONAL)
  • NES Foundations of Reading (SA890) (OPTIONAL)

Post Bacc – Secondary Education (Yuma)

• • NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
  • One of the following AEPA/NES Subject Knowledge exams: (REQUIRED by NAU Yuma for program admission; OPTIONAL for licensure if applicant has a degree in one of the following content areas)
    • Middle Grades English Language Arts (NT201)
    • Middle Grades General Science (NT 204)
    • Middle Grades Mathematics (NT203)
    • Middle Grades Social Science (NT202)
    • Biology (NT305)
    • Chemistry (NT306)
    • Earth Science (AZ045)
    • General Science (NT311)
    • Physics (NT308)
    • NES Subject Knowledge: Mathematics (NT304)
    • NES Subject Knowledge: Art (NT503)
    • NES Subject Knowledge: Music (NT504)
    • NES Subject Knowledge: English Language Arts (NT301)
    • NES Subject Knowledge: History (NT302)
    • AEPA Subject Knowledge: Economics (AZ035)
    • AEPA Subject Knowledge: Geography (AZ004)
    • AEPA Subject Knowledge: Political Science/American Government (AZ006)
    • NES Subject Knowledge: Social Science (NT303)
    • NES Subject Knowledge: Spanish (NT401)
    • NES Subject Knowledge: Physical Education (NT506)