Become a Teacher in Arkansas
ARKANSAS STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Four Capitol Mall
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 682-4475
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Steps to Becoming a Teacher in Arkansas
Important Note: Education licensure requirements, statistics and other information are subject to change. Teach.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. (Last update: 4/22/2020)
All states require that prospective teachers have at least a Bachelor’s degree and complete a state-approved teacher preparation program to receive certification. Some states also have specific course and credit-hour requirements.
Teacher education programs generally consist of two elements—curricula and fieldwork. Curricula generally include instruction on teaching fundamental skills, pedagogy (the science of teaching) and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. Fieldwork often includes field observations, internships, student teaching, or a combination of all three.
Check with your teacher preparation program or the Department of Education for more information about specific requirements. Arkansas does not list specific course or credit hour requirements, but every college or university teacher preparation program will have requirements of its own. Contact your teacher preparation program or the Department of Education for more information.
Teacher preparation typically requires the completion of an accredited teaching certification program. To earn your teaching credential you will have to complete the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program. More information on preparation for the Arkansas License and a list of accredited teacher preparation programs can be found at the Arkansas Department of Education Educator Preparation page.
Arkansas requires teachers to take examinations in order to earn licensure. You can learn about the required tests for your subject area on the Praxis website.
You can learn more about the Praxis exams by visiting Teach.coms' Guide to the Praxis Exams and read more about teacher certification tests on Teach.com.
Initial Teaching Certifications
Earning your Arkansas teaching credential will require completing the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as completing an accredited teacher’s certification program.
Arkansas has two main levels of licensure – Provisional, which allows qualified professionals to teach while completing required coursework, and Standard, for teachers who have fulfilled the standard requirements. Learn more about earning your Arkansas teaching credential at the Arkansas Department of Education Educator Licensure Unit page.
Learn more about getting your teaching credential on Teach.com.
Discover an 8-week Online Teaching Short Course from Harvard’s Bok Center
Higher Education Teaching Certificate
The Higher Education Teaching Certificate online short course aims to give you the opportunity to engage deeply with and reflect on your teaching practices, portfolio, and journey in the higher education (HE) field. Loosely based on the in-person seminar program currently offered by Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, and in association with HarvardX, this course gives you the opportunity to explore the focus areas of pedagogy, course and assessment design, professional communication, language and culture of the classroom, and reflections on teaching – entirely online, from anywhere in the world.
Alternative Certification in Arkansas
Arkansas has several alternatives for certification. Individuals with a Bachelor’s degree can become a Highly Qualified teacher through the Arkansas Professional Pathway to Educator Licensure (APPEL), allowing them to teach while completing the requirements for Standard License. Veterans may be able to earn their license through the Troops to Teachers Program. More non-traditional routes to licensure can be found on the Arkansas Department of Education Non-Traditional Routes to Licensure page.
Arkansas Teacher Certification Information & Links
Transferring Your Certification
Certification Reciprocity in Arkansas
Interstate reciprocity is a program that allows teachers certified in one state to teach in another.. For more specific questions about your situation, contact the Arkansas Department of Education.
To find out what other state teaching licenses can be used in Arkansas, check out our Teacher Certification Reciprocity page on Teach.com.
Career Advancement
Professional Development for Arkansas Teachers
In order to renew a Standard teaching license, teachers in Arkansas must complete 36 hours of development training each year. For more information about professional development for teachers and professional development providers in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Department of Education Professional Development page.
Benefits of a Master's Degree in Arkansas
It is no longer enough to just have years of experience for teaching. After No Child Left Behind and other academic quantification measures, the careers of teachers increasingly depend on their results in the classroom. A master's degree in the field of education will give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as more hands-on student teaching experience with a mentor.
A master's degree in the field of education can give teachers more field experience, as well as a greater knowledge of teaching theory. As the teacher’s job market is increasingly performance based, a Master’s can provide increased job security, as well as higher pay. According to the Arkansas Department of Education, a Master’s degree can result in a $4,000 increase in salary over a Bachelor’s degree.
Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.
Higher Education Teaching Certificate
The Higher Education Teaching Certificate online short course aims to give you the opportunity to engage deeply with and reflect on your teaching practices, portfolio, and journey in the higher education (HE) field. Loosely based on the in-person seminar program currently offered by Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, and in association with HarvardX, this course gives you the opportunity to explore the focus areas of pedagogy, course and assessment design, professional communication, language and culture of the classroom, and reflections on teaching – entirely online, from anywhere in the world.
Jobs, Benefits, and Opportunities for Teachers in Arkansas
Arkansas Teaching Jobs
The Arkansas Department of Education runs a teaching job site where public schools can post job vacancies. Also, Arkansas teaching jobs can also be applied for on the Teachers-Teachers.com website.
Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.
Arkansas Teacher Salary and Incentives
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics 2018 data, the average salary for a teacher in Arkansas is $49,000 to $52,000, depending on grade level.
Salary schedules are determined by school district, with salaries varying by experience level and location, according to the Arkansas Department of Education. Arkansas offers increased pay to teachers of high-need subjects or teachers willing to work in high-demand districts.
Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.
Arkansas Teacher Benefits and Retirement
Teachers in Arkansas receive healthcare, dental, and vision plans, with optional programs for life insurance and other types of support. The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System website has some helpful guides and multiple plans.
Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.
Arkansas Teacher Shortage Areas
The United States Department of Education defines a Teacher Shortage Area (TSA) as a subject matter or grade level within a state in which there is an inadequate supply of elementary or secondary teachers. The shortage may be caused by teaching positions that are unfilled or are filled by teachers who have temporary certification or teach in in academic subject other than their area of preparation. According to a report by the USDE Office of Postsecondary Education, Arkansas has the following
Shortage Areas:
- Art
- Business Technology Education
- Mathematics
- Science
- Special Education
- World Languages
Teacher Shortage information was provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Shortage Areas Nationwide Listings for 2020–2021, and was determined by examining the most recent data about unfilled teaching positions; positions filled by teachers certified by irregular, provisional, temporary, or emergency certification; and teachers teaching in subject areas other than their area of preparation.
Financial Aid in Arkansas
Learn more about how to finance your Master's degree on Teach.com.
Information last updated: May 2020