Apply to Teacher Education

Students who wish to obtain licensure in any teacher preparation program at the University of Arkansas must be admitted to their program and be cleared through the Razorback Educator Development Hub for field experiences by having approved background checks. Students interested in applying to a teacher preparation program should meet with their advisor to ensure all prerequisites are met. Upon admission to a teacher preparation program, students will be a assessed a program fee* each semester enrolled. 

Step 1: Apply to a Teacher Education Program

Each teacher preparation program will have different procedures and deadlines for being admitted candidates to their program. Through the application, teacher candidates will be asked to agree to the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators and acknowledge that they have read through the Candidate Support System policy.   

New combined Teacher Education Application and RED Hub Field Experiences Clearance Form! To simplify the process of applying to your program and gaining clearance for field experiences, we have combined the two forms into one. The common application for teacher education programs is open October 1, 2024.1  Submission deadlines for for individual programs will be listed below. All students entering a teacher education program will need to complete this application. 

1Some programs may have different timelines or  elect to have you complete additional information - you will be directed within the application if this is the case or see further details below. | ELEL and CHED should wait for further instructions on required background  checks, all other programs should complete background checks by Reading Day of the spring 2025 semester.

 

Undergraduate Programs

Please check with your advisor for application deadline. | Background checks and clearance email will be required prior to school placements.
Please check with your advisor for application deadline. | Background checks and clearance email will be required prior to school placements.
Application window October 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025.
(Undergraduate Secondary Math, Science and Computer Science licensure programs) 

Graduate Programs

Application window October 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025.
The SEED MAT program reviews admission applications on an ongoing basis, however a deadline of (TBD) by 11:59 CST is preferred for joining the 2024-25 cohort beginning May 30.  | Background checks and clearance email will be required by Reading Day of Spring 2025 semester.

Step 2: Background Checks 

After you complete the application for your program, you can initiate the Arkansas Department of Education background checks. Background checks are required for field experiences and residency. Keep in mind background checks cannot be over a year old at the time of  teacher licensure so you may end up completing two sets of background checks prior to becoming a licensed teacher. Schedule an appointment to have your fingerprints scanned and find out out more about background checks on our Background Checks pageAll instructions, required documents, and how to sign up for a fingerprinting appointment can be found on the scheduling site. 

 

FAQ's About Background Check Clearance

It is very possible that you could but please check with the Razorback Educator Development Hub so that we can verify that it has been approved through ADE.
These types of background checks are not for the Arkansas Department of Education - if you still think you may have completed an ADE background check - let us know and we can check the AELS database.
No need to worry! We will notarize your Child Maltreatment Form in the Razorback Educator Development Hub.
*Pending approval Fall 2023, students admitted to a teacher preparation program will be assessed a $40 program fee each semester enrolled. What does this fee cover? The fee covers maintenance and support for LiveScan fingerprinting equipment and software, administrative assistant salary, scheduling software for fingerprinting appointments, and 240 Tutoring Praxis Preparation Materials.