Arizona educator certification tests

The Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA) tests determine an individual’s competency for employment in the Arizona public school system. Candidates must receive passing score(s) on the National Evaluation Series (NES) tests to attain certifications or endorsements from the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). The ADE Educator Certification Department’s website has information about these exams as well as a link to the AEPA/NES test publisher site, which includes practice tests, videos, and study guides (see Educator Certification: Testing Information).

Each exam is 100% computer based. Most exams are multiple choice (anywhere from 100-150 questions). Some exams include multiple choice questions and a written response section.

• The Student Teacher Intern Certificate (STIC) is a student teaching placement in which you are hired as the teacher of record by a school/district. These placements have additional application requirements (for more information, see https://nau.edu/pep/resources/). In terms of AEPA/NES exams, these placements require the following:
  • A passing score on the subject knowledge test(s) that corresponds to the teaching certificate that the student teaching intern is pursuing;
  • A passing score on the professional knowledge test that corresponds to the teaching certificate that the student teaching intern is pursuing. 
• Undergraduate Elementary Education majors planning to student teach in a single-subject middle school classroom are REQUIRED to pass the appropriate middle grades licensure exam:
  • Middle Grades English Language Arts (NT201)
  • Middle Grades General Science (NT204)
  • Middle Grades Mathematics (NT203)
  • Middle Grades Social Science (NT202)

NAU requires a passing score on the appropriate Professional Knowledge exam to pursue a teacher preparation program through an alternative pathway. For more information regarding the degree programs that NAU offers through TIPP or an alternative pathway, see Teacher Intern Preparation Program | College of Education.

The NES Professional Knowledge exams are required for AZ teacher certification. We recommend completing the required Professional Knowledge exam(s) prior to student teaching or during the student teaching semester.

Subject knowledge can be taken once content knowledge coursework is completed.

• Register online (Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments)
• Locate a test center (Test Dates and Sites)
• REMINDER: When registering for the licensure exam(s), please select NAU so that your licensure exam results are included in our passing-rate statistics. NAU only uses these results for program evaluation and improvement. Reporting results has NO impact on your academic progress or degree program completion.

To learn more about passing scores, see Passing Requirements (nesinc.com)

• You can repeat the exam after 30 days. You will need to pay the exam fee the first two times you retake the exam. After you have taken the exam three times, your exam fee is waived for all additional retakes.
• You may take it an unlimited number of times.

• Your score reports are available through the online registration system. 
• You may also choose during registration to have your score report emailed to you.
• Plan Ahead! It takes approximately 4 weeks to get Professional Knowledge exam results.

• Preparation materials are available through Pearson and include an interactive online study guide, full-length practice test, test framework, and testing tips. See Preparation Materials.

• Licensure exam costs vary–a secondary education subject exam is typically $119 and the Foundations of Reading exam is $150. The cost for each licensure exam is listed on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Exam web page that provides a description of the exam (see Arizona Educator Exams).  Exam prices can change.
• Arizona Residents: Arizona residents in an educator preparation program are eligible for a one-time fee waiver for the Foundations of Reading  (NT890) exam. You must have a valid Arizona mailing address (P.O. Boxes are ok) to qualify for this state-funded assessment fee waiver. The waiver will automatically be applied during the online registration process.
• ATA Participants ONLY: ATA will only cover the cost of the first attempt at all required licensure exams. Watch your NAU email for notification on how to request vouchers to pay for the exams. Voucher request emails are sent quarterly (every three months) to current ATA participants, student teachers, and recent graduates. 

ATA participants are emailed a personalized link to request the vouchers for only the tests they have been approved for. Do not share this link with others. Instead, have them contact the PEP office. To be eligible, you need to have been an ATA at NAU participant in Fall 2021 or later. Mail PEPATA@nau.edu for more information. NOTE: Unfortunately, ATA is not able to reimburse for licensure exams that have already been paid for or taken.

BSED Secondary Education, all Science Areas

• NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
• STIC candidates: Subject Knowledge in one of the following prior to student teaching– Biology (NT305), Chemistry (NT306), Earth Science (AZ045), General Science (NT311), Physics (NT308)

BSED Mathematics–Secondary Education and Middle-Grades Education 

• NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
• STIC candidates: STIC Candidates: Passing Scores on Subject Knowledge exam prior to student teaching–NES Subject Knowledge Mathematics (NT304)

BSED Art Education

• NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
• STIC Candidates: Passing Scores on Subject Knowledge exam prior to student teaching–

NES Subject Knowledge: Art (NT503)

BMED Music Secondary Education

• NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
• STIC Candidates: Passing Scores on Subject Knowledge exam prior to student teaching–

NES Subject Knowledge: Music (NT504)

BSED Secondary Education, English

• NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
• STIC Candidates: Passing Scores on Subject Knowledge exam prior to student teaching–

English Language Arts (NT301)

BSED Secondary Education, History and Social Studies

• NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
• STIC Candidates: Passing Scores on Subject Knowledge exam prior to student teaching–
  • NES Subject Knowledge: History (NT302)
  • AEPA Subject Knowledge: Economics (AZ035)
  • AEPA Subject Knowledge: Geography (AZ004)
  • AEPA Subject Knowledge: Political Science/American Government (AZ006)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: Social Science (NT303)

BSED Secondary Education, Spanish

• NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
• STIC Candidates: Passing Scores on Subject Knowledge exam prior to student teaching–

Spanish (NT401)

BSED Health Sciences – Physical Education

• NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
• STIC Candidates: Passing Scores on Subject Knowledge exam prior to student teaching–

Physical Education (NT506)

Physical Education Path to Certification (Post-Bacc Certificate)

• NES Professional Knowledge:  Secondary NT052) (REQUIRED)

Post Bacc – Secondary Education (Yuma)

• NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary (NT052) (REQUIRED)
• One of the following AEPA/NES Subject Knowledge exams: (REQUIRED by NAU Yuma for program admission; OPTIONAL for licensure if applicant has a degree in one of the following content areas)
  • Middle Grades English Language Arts (NT201)
  • Middle Grades General Science (NT 204)
  • Middle Grades Mathematics (NT203)
  • Middle Grades Social Science (NT202)
  • Biology (NT305); Chemistry (NT306); Earth Science (AZ045); General Science (NT311); Physics (NT308)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: Mathematics (NT304)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: Art (NT503)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: Music (NT504)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: English Language Arts (NT301)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: History (NT302)
  • AEPA Subject Knowledge: Economics (AZ035)
  • AEPA Subject Knowledge: Geography (AZ004)
  • AEPA Subject Knowledge: Political Science/American Government (AZ006)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: Social Science (NT303)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: Spanish (NT401)
  • NES Subject Knowledge: Physical Education (NT506)