Obtaining Certification as an ARC Graduate

Program Completion

The Alternate Route to Certification Program (ARC) recommends candidates for teacher certification once the following requirements are successfully met:

• Foundations and Methods assignments and requirements.
• Student Practicum and edTPA Assessment portfolio.
• Other requirements in accordance with ARC program policies and State of Connecticut certification regulations.

An official ED 125 Statement of Preparing Higher Education Institution, is completed for each ARC graduate. The ED 125 is an institutional recommendation that confirms program completion and qualification. 

• ARC graduates beginning May 2020 and thereafter, the ED 125 is issued directly to the CT State Department of Education by ARC for all program graduates. The CSDE retains the ED 125 on file for when the Application for a Temporary 90-day Certificate ED 172 is received by a school district to apply for the 90 Day Certification.
• ARC graduates prior to 2020 were issued the ED 125 upon Program completion.

If an ARC graduate needs an official ED 125 issued, a $10.00 fee will be charged for each ED 125 requested, payable by personal check or money order made out to "Treasurer - State of CT" and mailed to the ARC Office. Only requests by mail, with appropriate payment, graduate contact information and return address, will be honored.

Temporary 90-Day Certificate

To be eligible to apply for the Temporary 90-Day Certificate, the ARC graduate must be hired by a Connecticut public school, in the subject/grade level of ARC certification and in either a permanent teaching position (full or part-time) or long-term substitute teacher position. A long-term substitute teacher position must be at least 90-consecutive school days, in the same school and same classroom for the entire validity period of the Temporary 90-Day Certificate. ARC graduates working in part-time positions (.4 or less) must renew their Temporary 90-Day Certificate and serve another 90 days; all time will be prorated to meet the 90-day full-time teaching requirement.

A Temporary 90-Day Certificate can be issued only in the graduate’s ARC area of study.
Positions in nonpublic schools are not acceptable toward obtaining a Temporary 90-Day Certificate. 

Employing district in conjunction with the teacher candidate completes and submits the application for the Temporary 90-Day Certificate (ED 172) and other required documents prior to the first day of employment.

Successful Completion of the 90-Day Certificate

The holder of the Temporary 90-Day Certificate must be in the same position (same school/same classroom) for the entire validity period of the Temporary 90-Day Certificate. If a position is part-time (.4 or less), two consecutive 90-day certificates will need to be issued for the first year of teaching.

The candidate must be evaluated a minimum of two times during the period of the 90-day certificate.
If the candidate fails to successfully complete the 90-school days or is released from employment prior to the expiration date of the Temporary 90-Day Certificate, the time served will not count toward the issuance of the Initial Educator Certificate. The time served will not be banked or combined with other experiences/districts. The certificate is not transferable to any other school district. The candidate will need to serve 90-days under another Temporary 90-Day Certificate to become eligible for an Initial Educator Certificate.

Initial Educator Certificate

No more than two weeks prior to the expiration date of the Temporary 90-Day Certificate, in conjunction with the school district, the candidate will complete the application for an Initial Educator Certificate (ED 172A). The application:

• Must be submitted by the same district that requested the issued Temporary 90-Day Certificate.
• Provides verification and attestation from the district superintendent or designee.
• Must include the certification fee(s) as determined by CSDE, paid by the candidate.
• Cross endorsements may be requested at this time (or anytime thereafter). 

The Initial Educator Certificate is issued for 3 years. Teachers must successfully complete the TEAM Program prior to the expiration of their Initial Educator Certificate. Required by Section 10-145d-415(1) of the Connecticut Regulations. If a teacher does not successfully complete the TEAM program prior to the expiration of their Initial Educator Certificate, the teacher may not be eligible for a reissuance of the Initial Educator Certificate.

Cross Endorsements

A Cross Endorsement is an additional certificate that can be added to your license when you reach the level of Initial Educator Certification, and anytime thereafter.

There are specific course and assessment requirements for cross-endorsement eligibility that are regulated by the CT State Department of Education: CSDE Cross Endorsement Facts Sheet

K-12 Job Postings

 
Connecticut Education Association (CEA)
CT Reap
Job Fair Notifications
K12 Job Spot - Connecticut

More Information

 
Types of Certificates
Certification Fees
Certification Endorsement Codes
Individual and District Application forms
CT State Department of Education
CT Certification  teacher.cert@ct.gov (860) 713-6969