Educator Effectiveness and Licensure

Teacher Licensure Plan (TLP)

Teacher Licensure Plan (TLP) 

In accordance with Act 304 of the 95thArkansas General Assembly, waivers of licensure for public school districts or charter schools will be replaced by Teacher Licensure Plans (TLP). The purpose of the TLP is to provide all new educators without licensure credentials with a structured path towards obtaining their teaching license, monitored by the school district. 

 

Each of the following individuals must participate in a TLP:  

  • Any individual teaching in a public or charter school who does not hold a current teaching license 

  • Any individual who is serving as a school counselor or library media specialist who does not hold a license 

  • Any licensed educator teaching outside of their licensed content area 

  • Any licensed educator serving as an administrator 

  • Any educator who is not eligible for a provisional license 

 

With exceptions for: 

  • Candidates serving as a teacher of record while completing a traditional internship through an approved Arkansas university, who may qualify for an Aspiring Teacher Permit (refer to Aspiring Teacher Permit page for more information) 

  • Individuals serving as Long-Term Substitutes (LTS) 

  • Individuals with an Effective Teacher Licensure (ETL) exception 

  • Charter schools with an active charter contract, only until the contract’s expiration 

  • Individuals with outstanding circumstances recognized by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) following consultation 

 

Overview: 

A Teacher Licensure Plan is: 

  • Approved annually by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Licensure Office 

  • Granted to both the individual seeking licensure and their respective school district 

  • Limited to a maximum of three (3) years 

  • Tracked by the school district, which is responsible for monitoring and supporting the individual’s progress toward licensure 

Licensure Plans to add areas: 

  • Additional Licensure Plans (ALP): For licensed individuals (standard or provisional) teaching outside of their licensed content area while completing additional program requirements 

  • Administrator Licensure Completion Plan (ALCP): For licensed individuals serving in administrative roles while completing administrator licensure requirements 

 

To be eligible for a TLP, individuals must:  

  • Pass all required Arkansas background checks within the last year 

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher 

  • Submit a completed Arkansas Qualified Teacher (AQT) form if teaching a core subject: Math, English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies 

  

 

More information on the Teacher Licensure Plan for 2025-2026 can be found in Commissioner's Memo LIC-25-011

For more information, please contact:

Annette Childs, Coordinator for Educator Licensure
Arkansas Department of Education
Four Capitol Mall, Room 106-2A
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-682-1032
Fax: 501-682-4898
Email: annette.childs@ade.arkansas.gov