Renew an Arizona certificate with 15 clock hours of professional development for every year of the certificate term.
Arizona sets its renewal requirement per year of the certificate term rather than as a single lump. Educators must show 15 clock hours of professional development for each year of the term, and the hours may be accumulated in any increments across those years.
That makes the total depend on the certificate you hold. A 12-year certificate - the standard for certificates issued since August 2017 - needs 180 hours. Certificates issued in 2016 or 2017 with an 8-year term need 120.
Two rules decide whether your hours actually count. One semester hour of coursework from an accredited institution equals 15 clock hours. And professional conferences and workshops are capped at 30 clock hours per year, so an educator who relies on conference attendance alone cannot reach the requirement.
Courses related to education or a subject area taught in Arizona schools, from an accredited institution. Each semester hour equals 15 clock hours.
Professional activities related to the profession of teaching or the field of public education - capped at a maximum of 30 clock hours per year.
Training that state law explicitly permits, including suicide awareness and prevention; child abuse, human trafficking of children and sexual abuse of children, including warning signs; and screening, intervention, accommodation, technology and advocacy for students with reading impairments including dyslexia.
Professional development that applies toward attaining an additional Arizona certificate, endorsement or approved area.
Attendance at professional conferences and workshops earns a maximum of 30 clock hours per year. With 15 hours required per year, conferences can cover the requirement - but an educator banking a large block of conference hours in one year cannot carry the excess against the cap.
Professional development must relate to Arizona academic or professional educator standards, or apply toward attaining an additional Arizona certificate, endorsement or approved area.
The requirement is 15 clock hours per year of the term. A 12-year certificate needs 180 hours; an 8-year certificate needs 120.
Hours may be accumulated in various increments per year prior to renewal - they do not have to be even.
Conferences and workshops count toward a maximum of 30 clock hours per year.
Submit the renewal application and documentation through Arizona's educator certification system.
Fifteen clock hours of professional development for each year of the certificate term. The hours may be accumulated in various increments per year prior to renewal.
180 clock hours - 15 hours for each of the 12 years. Certificates issued in 2016 or 2017 with an 8-year term require 120 hours.
Each semester hour of courses is equivalent to 15 clock hours of professional development, for coursework related to education or a subject area taught in Arizona schools from an accredited institution.
Yes. A maximum of 30 clock hours per year may be earned by attendance at professional conferences and workshops.
Arizona academic or professional educator standards, or attainment of an additional Arizona certificate, endorsement or approved area. Certain trainings are explicitly permitted by state law, including suicide awareness and prevention and training on reading impairments including dyslexia.
Yes. Select Arizona and the system tracks 15 hours per year against your certificate term, converts coursework at 15 clock hours per semester hour, and flags when conference and workshop hours approach the 30-hour annual cap.
Not in Arizona? Find requirements for your state.
Evaluated in Arizona? See how Arizona teacher evaluation works, and how the evidence connects to the record you keep for renewal.
Part of EX in Education
Clock Hour tracking is one part of how districts support educators. In EX in Education, it connects to the bigger picture: walkthroughs, coaching, evaluations, goals, PD, recognition, surveys, and retention. Bring your own process, or start from a template, then run it across every school so every educator moves from hired to thriving.