Lesley Degree and Certificate Programs
ONLINE PROGRAMS
Bachelor Completion Programs
Business Management, B.S.
Psychology, B.A.
Lesley University has been granted initial certification for the above degree programs by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board certification does not constitute an endorsement of any institution, course or degree program. Such certification merely indicates that minimum standards have been met under the rules and regulations implementing institutional certification as defined in Arkansas Code §6-61-301. Transfer of Course/Degree Credit to Other Institutions: The student should be aware that these degree programs may not transfer. The transfer of course/degree credit is determined by the receiving institution.
The Arkansas Department of Education require institutions of higher education offering teacher preparation programs to be NCATE accredited for a program to assist in adding a field or level to an educator license. Lesley encourages you to seek an alternative program that would best meet your needs and satisfy requirements for your teaching license. For more information, visit the Arkansas Department of Education.
TEACHER CERTIFICATION FOR EDUCATORS in ARKANSAS
Are you a current educator in Arkansas and interested in learning more about the process to add a level or an additional field to your teaching license? If so, read more to help guide you through the process.
Visit http://arkansased.org for a complete listing of Arkansas endorsement areas
Educator Licensure - Adding an Area of Licensure to an Existing Arkansas License
Teachers and administrators may add additional areas of licensure by completing requirements as defined on the additional licensure plans.
Teachers and administrators may add an additional area of licensure to the three-year initial teaching license or the standard Arkansas teaching license. The Additional Licensure Plan will need to be filed with your school district and with the Office of Professional Licensure only if you are teaching out of area. If you are not teaching out of area, the ALP will be used only as a guide for how to add additional areas of licensure.
Individuals have three (3) years from the beginning of the out of area assignment to complete all coursework and assessment requirements for the new additional area/endorsement. There are two (2) ways to add additional areas of licensure/endorsements through the Additional Licensure Plan:
- Testing Out - If the additional area/endorsement is not one of the Exception Areas (Special Education, Added Endorsements, Educational Leadership & supervision, Non-Instructional Student Services and Professional and Technical) and is at the level of licensure currently held and has a subject specific assessment, the individual may add the additional area by successfully completing the required assessment. Professional Licensure will add the new area of licensure once it has received a completed application for teacher licensure form with a copy of the Praxis score report reflecting a passing score.
- Program of Study and Required Assessment - If the additional area of licensure/endorsement is an exception area or does not have a subject specific assessment or is not at the level of current licensure, the individual must complete a program of study as defined by an Arkansas college or university and the required Praxis assessment. Professional Licensure will add the new area of licensure/endorsement once it has received a completed application for teacher licensure form that has been signed by the Licensure Officer of an Arkansas college or university indicating completion of the program of study. A copy of the Praxis score report reflecting a passing score should also accompany the application and an official transcript.
Teachers and administrators interested in adding an additional area of licensure are encouraged to refer to the rules and regulations for adding additional areas of licensure as adopted by the State Board of Education. These may be found as attachments. The definition section of the rules and regulations for additional areas will be helpful. Pay particular attention to those additional areas of licensure defined as exception areas. These areas cannot be added by testing out. They can be added only by completing the program of study and the required Praxis assessment.
Individuals adding the new Elementary P-4, any middle school area or secondary social studies to their license must complete a three-hour course in Arkansas History. This course must be taken and passed prior to adding the additional area.
Individuals needing a program of study for adding an additional area of licensure/endorsement must now contact an Arkansas college or university to determine what the coursework will be for adding the area. The first point of contact should be the Licensure Officer with the Education Department of the college or university.
Individuals completing a program of study through an Arkansas college or university should always approve ahead of time, any coursework they may wish to take through another institution whether in state or out-of-state. Coursework or degrees completed out-of-state will have to be approved by an Arkansas college or university for use as part of an approved program of study for additional licensure areas/endorsements.
Faculty Spotlight
Lisa Fiore
Associate Professor, Dean of Faculty
Read Bio »