Alternative Routes to Licensure

If you hold a bachelor’s degree (non-education) and would like to transition into teaching, you must complete an alternative route program to obtain a teaching license.

Choosing a pathway to licensure can be daunting. To make the decision easier, ask yourself a few questions:

What do I want to teach (subject/grade level)?
In what part of the state am I willing to teach?
Do I want to go back to school for an educator’s license?
Do I have three years of work experience in my desired teaching field?

Similarly, here are a few criteria to consider when reviewing alternative routes:

Is my desired certification area offered in this program? Please click the link for the Alt Prep Routes Comparison.
What are admission requirements?
What kind of school can I work in while I complete my internship (private, charter, public)?
How much does it cost?

Arkansas currently has eight methods of obtaining certification through an alternative route. Click on the links below for more information.

APPEL	Arkansas Teacher Corps
Master of Arts in Teaching	Teach for America
ABCTE	eStem Residency Program
Provisional Professional Teaching License	Prism Teacher Institute

For more information, please contact:

Venus Torrence, Recruitment and Retention Program Advisor

Arkansas Department of Education

Division of Elementary and Secondary Education

Office of Educator Effectiveness

Four Capitol Mall, Box 5

Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

Phone: 501-682-3606

Fax: 501-682-5118

Email: venus.torrence@ade.arkansas.gov

Sharlee Crowson, Recruitment and Retention Program Advisor