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First-Time Arkansas Teaching Licensure Application Process

Before you begin this process, please make sure you have completed all other requirements and have graduated.

There is a $75 fee for obtaining a standard license in Arkansas.

Before beginning this application, you must be prepared to pay the $75.00 license fee. You will not be able to submit your license application without entering payment information. Have your credit/debit card ready.

Application Process

  1. Log in to the AELS website.
  2. Select Apply for a Standard License (Even if you are applying for a Provisional License)
    Select First-time Licensure (recent graduate from an Arkansas institution)
    Select Arkansas State University

Complete the information requested on the pages that follow.

Part 1 – Background Check Information

The system may skip this section if your background checks are up to date and approved.

  • If the system does not indicate that your background checks are completed, mark Yes for each one.
  • Tick the box to indicate that you acknowledge that all coursework must be documented by providing original college transcripts.
    • All official A-State transcripts must be requested and sent electronically from the Registrar’s Office to the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (ADESE), NOT the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. Please be sure there are no holds on your account so you can request a transcript. You can enter the email address for the Arkansas Department of Education, ade.educatorlicensure@ade.arkansas.gov, to send it from A-State to ADESE. You must send official transcripts from any institution you have graduated from.
  • After this section is complete, click Continue.
Part 2 – Profile Information
  • Review your profile information. Use the Update button if you need to make any changes. Be sure to click Save if you make changes.
  • In the Contact section, you must have a current mailing address and at least one primary email and one primary phone number. Please do not provide an email address you check often; do not use your A-State email account.
  • Update your employment information if necessary.
  • Tick the box to indicate all information is correct.
  • After this section is complete, click Continue.
Part 3 - Application Information
  • Complete the application information by accurately responding to the questions.
  • Type your first and last name to serve as your electronic signature.
  • After this section is complete, click Submit.
Part 4 - Fee Payment

If your fee has already been paid, the system will indicate that no fee is required.

  • If prompted, click Make Payment and enter your payment information.
  • Click Confirm, review your information, and click SUBMIT.
  • Print receipt.
  • Click Continue License Application.

Your license application has been submitted when you see the message “Your license application has been successfully submitted.”

Once your application has been submitted, Mrs. Sara Woolard, Educator Licensure Specialist at Arkansas State University, will review for confirmation of recommendation from Dr. Mary Elizabeth Spence, the Professional Licensure Officer. This review process could take from 1 to 14 days, depending on the licensure workload. You will receive an email from Mrs. Woolard if anything is missing to approve your recommendation.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the process above, the following items are required to apply for a standard teaching license:

Praxis Score Report

Be sure to have scores submitted for all Praxis exams to Arkansas State University (Code 6011) and to the Arkansas Department of Education (Code 7031). You won't need to submit a paper copy of your score report unless you requested it.

If you are unsure what Praxis exams are required for your licensure area, please visit the Arkansas Department of Education website.

*In accordance with Act 416 of 2017, a candidate for Elementary Education (K-6) or Special Education (K-12) licensure must pass a stand-alone assessment of the essential components of beginning reading instruction based on the science of reading. Candidates leading to all other initial licensure areas meet the Science of Reading Prescribed Pathway for Awareness requirement to receive a standard license.

Professional Development

Course Name Hours Course ID
Child Maltreatment Training 2 hours

ERB25003
Mental Health Awareness 2 hours

TLC22002
Family and Community Engagement 2 hours PIB22001
Teen Suicide Awareness and Prevention 2 hours HWB23001
Bullying Prevention 2 hours ERC20073
Dyslexia 1 hour HWG14003
Human Trafficking Awareness 1 hour ERB18062
Arkansas History* 2 hours AHB25002
Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB) – Arkansas Code of Ethics Training Video 1 hour ERC19048
Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB) - Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators: Ethical Scenarios in Education (2020) 1 hour ERC20059
Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB) - Social Media Guidelines 3 hours TCC14435

*All Elementary Education (K-6), Middle School Social Studies (4-8), and Social Studies (7-12) applicants must have a 3-hour Arkansas History college course or complete the 45-hour ArkansasIDEAS program of study.

Include a copy of the Record of Learning from ArkansasIDEAS as documentation of completion of the professional development required for initial licensure. 

You will be able to submit this to the PEP Office via Canvas or by email request from Mrs. Woolard.

Registration Process for ArkansasIDEAS
  1. Visit the ArkansasIDEAS website.
  2. To register, click "Create New Account." You will be taken to the registration form. You must have started a background check on the Arkansas Educator Licensure System (AELS) to make an account.
  3. Follow the quick start instructions from there, and you should be able to register and take courses.
  4. After you complete your registration, it will take about 15 minutes for the system to process your information and create your course list. You may need to log out after registration and then log back in 15 minutes later to see the course listings.

For more information regarding creating an account or registering, see the LMS User Guide. Feel free to call the ArkansasIDEAS Help Desk at 1-800-488-6689 or email ideas@aetn.org if you have any questions, concerns, or need more information on receiving professional development.

Central Registry And Criminal Background Check

A central registry and criminal background check must be completed. Dates must not be older than one year at the time of licensing. If you have questions about background checks, contact Clara Toney at the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) at clara.toney@arkansas.gov or 501-682-4342.

Check the clearance of the central registry and criminal background checks >>

You can log in to your AELS account to view your background. Click "view current license information" and look under Non-Criminal Background Information (NCBC). You should have 3 approvals: FBI, ASP, and Central Registry. All 3 need to be within 1 year. FBI and State are fingerprints, Central Registry is the Child Maltreatment check.

AELS Licensure Information

To check the status of your license, go to the Arkansas Department of Education's Licensure website. If your licensure status has not changed from pending to approved after 4 weeks, please reach out to Mrs. Sara Woolard at swoolard@astate.edu.

When this process is complete, you will be able to print your license from your Arkansas Department of Education AELS account and begin your career as a teacher.

At A-State, your graduation checklist identifies the areas in which you are qualified to seek licensure. Please reach out to your advisor, department chair, or the licensure specialist if you have questions. Areas for licensure can be added later, but it requires completing another online application, etc. Please apply for and secure your license as soon as possible because licensure requirements change from time to time, and if you wait, you may be required to complete additional work.

Out-of-State Licensure

To verify that an applicant can be recommended for licensure in another state, he/she must be eligible for professional licensure in the state of Arkansas. It is in your best interest to get licensed in the state of Arkansas before you seek licensure out of state.

Arkansas State University provides state-by-state educational determinations on the State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.

Questions Regarding Licensure

A downloadable and printable version of these instructions is available: Arkansas Initial Licensure Checklist

Reach out to the Office of Professional Education for any questions regarding licensure!

Address:
Office of Professional Education
PO Box 720
State University, AR 72467

Sara Woolard
Educator Licensure Specialist
swoolard@AState.edu
870-972-2099

Dr. Mary Elizabeth Spence
Professional Licensure Officer
mspence@AState.edu
870-972-2099

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