College of Education and Health Professions

Program of Study
Adult Education-Post Secondary

University of Arkansas

All UA course requirements are subject to change.
Applicants must meet current requirements at time of application

At the University of Arkansas, the Program of Study for Adult Education resides with the Department of Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders (RHRC), Program of Workforce Development Education (WDED). Applicants for Licensure in Adult Education must meet current state requirements at the time of the application.

Licensing consists of, 1) successful completion of the appropriate program of study (outlined below), which must be completed before application for licensure is made, and 2) the successful completion of a state mandated assessment (described below).

Requirements

An individual seeking Adult Education licensure falls into one of three plans:

• Plan A: 12 credit hours. Applicants who hold a current Arkansas teaching license in a standard area (Grades P-4, 4-8 or 7-12) and have been employed for at least one year in a state approved adult education program (Additional Licensure Plan-ALP)

  Must complete Requirement 1: Required hours + 6 hours of approved electives=12 credit hours

• Plan B: 15 credit hours. Applicants who hold a current Arkansas teaching license in a standard area (Grades P-4, 4-8 or 7-12) but are not employed in a state approved adult education program, or who are employed in an approved program but have been for less than one year  (Additional Licensure Plan-ALP)

  Must complete Requirements 1 & 2: Same as Plan A + 3 hours internship=15 credit hours

• Plan C: 21 credit hours. Applicants who do not hold a teaching license in a standard area (Grades P-4, 4-8 or 7-12) and are not employed in a state approved adult education program, or who are employed in an approved program but have been for less than one year (Initial Licensure Plan)

  Must complete Requirements 1, 2, & 3: Same as Plan B + 6 additional credit hours=21 credit hours

Programs of Study for the Three Plans*

* Course requirements are subject to change.
** For students following Plan C, these courses (Teaching Disadvantaged Adults and Instructional Design Theories & Models) will count only for Requirement 3, and will not satisfy the requirements under Requirement 1. Two different courses must be taken for the 6 elective hours under Requirement 1.

Click here for detailed information about the WDED 5583 Adult Education Licensure Internship.

Conditions:

• No grade below a B will be accepted for courses taken for licensure.
• A student may transfer in no more than 6 credit hours to be counted toward licensure. Program faculty approval is required for each course. No grade below a B will be accepted for these courses.

Procedures for Applying for Licensure

The procedures for applying for licensure are similar for all three plans, with the exception of the state mandated assessment.

A person applying for Additional Licensure (For those following Plans 1 & 2), must take the Praxis II, while a person applying for Initial Licensure must take Praxis I and Praxis II.

After the appropriate coursework has been completed, pick up a complete application packet from Kathy Malstrom, Coordinator of Teacher Education, in Room 117, Peabody Hall. You may also request that the application packet be mailed to you.

The packet will include: 1) the application for a teaching license, and 2) Teacher Criminal Background Check forms.

• Teacher Criminal Background Check forms must be completed and returned to the Arkansas State Police. It normally takes several weeks for the checks to be processed and sent to the Professional Licensure office in Little Rock. Follow the directions on the back of the form titled "Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau Individual Record Check Form". These background checks are only valid one year from when the ADE receives them. The University Police will accommodate your requests for being fingerprinted during limited hours, so call them first to get the schedule that they will be following. Persons not in the NW Arkansas area should check with their local police stations about fingerprinting.

  Of note: Your signature must be notarized on one of the forms. Your criminal background check must be posted as "approved" for both the state and FBI background check for your application to be acted upon.

  The Arkansas State Police will send the background check to the Professional Licensure office in Little Rock.

The items that must be returned to Kathy Malstrom include:

• A completed application for a teaching license in Arkansas that includes your signature.
• An official transcript from all institutions where you received a degree(s) or took courses. Please note: The transcript(s) must be "official". A copy of a transcript or one that you have opened cannot be used.
• Scores from the state mandated assessments.

If you are seeking additional licensure you must completed Praxis II (PLT-Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12).

If you are seeking initial licensure you must complete the Praxis I (PPST-Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) as well as the Praxis II, Principles of Teaching and Learning: Grades 7-12.

For information about the assessment(s) go to:

http://www.ets.org/

• Under 'Tests' click on Praxis
• Under 'State Testing Requirements' select 'Arkansas' in the drop-down menu
• Scroll down to "Who Must Take the Praxis Series Tests" and review the information there. The Praxis I is listed as a requirement for those who do not hold a current Arkansas teaching license.
• Scroll down further to Tests Required for Entry into Teacher Education Programs in Arkansas and you will find "Entry Into All Teacher Education Programs" and the three components of the Praxis I (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics).
• Scroll further down to Test Requirements for Initial Licensure and look for "Adult Education". There you will find information regarding Praxis II, Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12.

To locate the testing center nearest you, go to:

http://etsis4.ets.org/tcenter/cbt_dm.cfm

or call 1-800-853-6773 or 1-443-751-4859 for Praxis registration.

Send the completed packet to:

Kathy Malstrom, Coordinator of Teacher Education
Room #117 Peabody Hall
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-6740
kkmalst@uark.edu

The teacher-licensing packet will only be forwarded to the Arkansas Department of Education in Little Rock for recommendation of a license when all requirements have been met and verified by the coordinator of teacher education. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Upon receipt of the recommended licensing packet, the Arkansas Department of Education will then issue an initial license to you. It will be sent to the address appearing on the application form. This normally takes 4-6 weeks after the application is received at the ADE.

For more information about additional licensure, please go to the Arkansas Department of Education's Web site at:

http://www.arkansased.org/teachers/adding_licensure.html

To check the status of your background check and license, go to:

http://www.aregs.state.ar.us/

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Page last updated: 11/25/2008 14:56