# Master of Arts in Teaching and Pre-K Academy Provisional License Process

<p class="callout success">Students enrolled in the **Master of Arts in Teaching** program and the **Pre-K Academy Certificate** program may qualify for a provisional license, provided that certain requirements are met.</p>

<p class="callout warning">Before you can initiate the process for a Provisional License, you must have a job offer in the state of Arkansas. Do **NOT** begin this process until you have met all the requirements listed below.</p>

##### **To remain eligible for a provisional license, you must:**

- Be continually enrolled and in good standing in the program
- Maintain employment at the school for which the provisional license was issued
- Meet the requirements established by the Arkansas Department of Education

### 1) Program Requirements

<p class="callout danger">All majors must be currently enrolled in a course or enrolled in a future course. Enrollment checks are completed every semester.</p>

#### For **Special Education** MAT candidates only

Complete six (6) credit hours — ELSE 5003 SPED Academy 101 and an approved 3-credit-hour special education course.

### 2) Praxis Exams

If you are unsure which Praxis exam is required for your licensure area, please visit the <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">[Arkansas Department of Education](https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/educator-effectiveness/licensure/licensure-assessments)</span> website. You can find the exam(s) you need to take by the area you are getting licensed in.

<p class="callout warning">The Foundations of Reading exam for Elementary and Special Education is not required for a **provisional** license. It is required to get a standard license after completion of the MAT program.</p>

### 3) Offer of Employment

Ask the superintendent or designee to complete the**<span style="color: #0000ff;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Provisional License Recommendation</span></span>** form that states your employment as teacher of record, in the area(s) in which you are getting your license. **You will submit this to the PEP Office email to Mrs. Woolard at <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);"><swoolard@astate.edu></span>.**

- <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">**[Provisional License Recommendation form for Master of Arts in Teaching Program](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/1885)**</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">**[Provisional License Recommendation form for Pre-K Academy Certificate Program](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2491)**</span>

### 4) 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.

<p class="callout info">Instructions for **[Background Checks](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/1908)** are available. Please read the instructions carefully to ensure backgrounds are processed quickly and efficiently.</p>

<span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">[Check the clearance of the central registry and criminal background checks &gt;&gt;](https://aels.ade.arkansas.gov/AELS/Account/TeacherLogin.aspx)</span>

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.

### 5) Completion of ArkansasIDEAS Professional Development

##### Registration Process for ArkansasIDEAS

1. Go to <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">[http://ideaslms.aetn.org/login/index.php](http://ideaslms.aetn.org/login/index.php) </span>
2. To register, click, "***Create New Account*.**" You will be taken to the registration form.
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.

<p class="callout info">For more information regarding creating an account or registering, see the [LMS User Guide](https://ideaslms.aetn.org/course/view.php?name=HelpPage). 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.</p>

All of the following courses on ArkansasIDEAS must be completed:

<table border="1" id="bkmrk-course-topic-hours-c" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 362px;"><tbody><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="width: 79.8765%; height: 29px;">***Course Topic***</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 8.88888%; height: 29px;">***Hours***</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 11.2345%; height: 29px;">***Course ID***</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="width: 79.8765%; height: 29px;">Child Maltreatment Training</td><td style="width: 8.88888%; height: 29px;">2 hours</td><td style="width: 11.2345%; height: 29px;">ERB25003</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="width: 79.8765%; height: 29px;">Mental Health Awareness</td><td style="width: 8.88888%; height: 29px;">2 hours</td><td style="width: 11.2345%; height: 29px;">TLC22002</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="width: 79.8765%; height: 29px;">Family and Community Engagement</td><td style="width: 8.88888%; height: 29px;">2 hours</td><td style="width: 11.2345%; height: 29px;">PIB22001</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="width: 79.8765%; height: 29px;">Teen Suicide Awareness and Prevention</td><td style="width: 8.88888%; height: 29px;">2 hours</td><td style="width: 11.2345%; height: 29px;">HWB23001</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="width: 79.8765%; height: 29px;">Bullying Prevention</td><td style="width: 8.88888%; height: 29px;">2 hours</td><td style="width: 11.2345%; height: 29px;">ERC20073</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="width: 79.8765%; height: 29px;">Dyslexia</td><td style="width: 8.88888%; height: 29px;">1 hour</td><td style="width: 11.2345%; height: 29px;">HWG14003</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="width: 79.8765%; height: 29px;">Human Trafficking Awareness</td><td style="width: 8.88888%; height: 29px;">1 hour</td><td style="width: 11.2345%; height: 29px;">ERB18062</td></tr><tr style="height: 43px;"><td style="width: 79.8765%; height: 43px;">Arkansas History

 \*Not required if an Arkansas History course is part of your coursework

</td><td style="width: 8.88888%; height: 43px;">2 hours</td><td style="width: 11.2345%; height: 43px;">AHB25002</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="width: 79.8765%; height: 29px;">Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB) – Arkansas Code of Ethics Training Video</td><td style="width: 8.88888%; height: 29px;">1 hour</td><td style="width: 11.2345%; height: 29px;">ERC19048</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="width: 79.8765%; height: 29px;">Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB) - Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators: Ethical Scenarios in Education (2020)</td><td style="width: 8.88888%; height: 29px;">1 hour</td><td style="width: 11.2345%; height: 29px;">ERC20059</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="width: 79.8765%; height: 29px;">Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB) - Social Media Guidelines</td><td style="width: 8.88888%; height: 29px;">3 hours</td><td style="width: 11.2345%; height: 29px;">TCC14435</td></tr></tbody></table>

After completion, you will send your entire Record of Learning as a PDF to the licensure specialist with the**<span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);"> </span><span style="color: #0000ff;"><span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">[Ethics Training Verification Form](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/1909)</span>.</span>**

Instructions: Log in to <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">[ArkansasIDEAS](https://ideaslms.aetn.org/)</span> and click **Record of Learning** at the top of the page. Scroll to the bottom of the page and change the dropdown option to **PDF Landscape**. You will then click **Export**, and a list of all your completed courses will be downloaded.

<p class="callout warning">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](https://ideaslms.aetn.org/) program of study. This is **NOT** required for a provisional license, but it is required for a standard license.</p>

### 6) Apply Online and Send all Required Documents to the Licensure Specialist

- Log-on at <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">[**https://aels.ade.arkansas.gov/AELS/Account/TeacherLogin.aspx**](https://aels.ade.arkansas.gov/AELS/Account/TeacherLogin.aspx)</span>
    - Select **Apply for a Provisional License**
    - Select **Provisional Non-Traditional MAT**
    - Select **Arkansas State University**

**All documents listed above must be emailed to Mrs. Woolard in order to proceed**

- <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">**Provisional License Recommendation**</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">**Ethics Training Verification Form**</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">**Record of Learning from ArkansasIDEAS**</span>

### 7) Send Official Transcripts to the Arkansas Department of Education

<p class="callout info">The Department of Education will require your official bachelor's degree transcript, as well as your official transcript from A-State showing that you are enrolled.</p>

Transcripts can be requested through the National Student Clearinghouse via Banner9 Self-Service or <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">[A-State's website](https://www.astate.edu/academics/classes-and-registration/transcripts.html).</span>

<p class="callout danger">**It is the student's responsibility to request official transcripts.**</p>

## **Process**

<p class="callout warning">All listed documents must be included in one email and sent to Mrs. Woolard. Incomplete information will delay licensure or potentially not get processed at all. </p>

<p class="callout info">Once your application has been submitted, Mrs. Woolard 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.</p>

### **AELS Licensure Information**

To check the status of your license, go to the<span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">[ Arkansas Department of Education's Licensure website](https://aels.ade.arkansas.gov/AELS/Account/TeacherLogin.aspx)</span>. If your licensure status has not changed from pending to approved after 4 weeks, please reach out to Mrs. Woolard at <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">[swoolard@astate.edu.](mailto:swoolard@astate.edu)</span>

<p class="callout success">When this process is complete, you will be able to print your license from your Arkansas Department of Education AELS account with your new licensure area added on.</p>

### **Questions Regarding Licensure**

**A downloadable and printable version of these instructions is available:**

- <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">**[MAT Provisional Licensure Checklist](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/1963)**</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">**[Pre-K Provisional Licensure Checklist](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2492)**</span>

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  
<span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);"><swoolard@AState.edu></span>  
<span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">[870-972-2099](tel:870-972-2099)</span>

Dr. Mary Elizabeth Spence  
Professional Licensure Officer  
<span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">[mspence@AState.edu](mailto:abowser@AState.edu)</span>  
<span style="color: rgb(53, 152, 219);">[870-972-2099](tel:870-972-2099)</span>