To apply for licensure in the state of Arkansas candidates must complete an approved licensure program, appropriate state assessments and professional development, and a background check with child maltreatment registry checks. For more information about licensure in the state of Arkansas please see the Arkansas Department of Education website.
For a complete list of Praxis assessments required for licensure in Arkansas please see the Praxis/ETS website. For more information on the Pearson Foundations of Reading test please visit the Arkansas Foundations of Reading website.
Candidates enrolled in Elementary Education K-6 and Special Education K-12 programs must complete coursework and pass the Foundations of Reading test to be considered proficient in scientific reading instruction to obtain a license.
Candidates enrolled in all other licensure area programs must complete the coursework to be considered awareness level in scientific reading instruction to obtain a license.
In 2019, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education approved Harding University's pathways to meet this requirement. The pathways are aligned to the appropriate Foundations of Reading Competencies – Proficiency Level or Foundations of Reading Competencies – Awareness Level.
DESE – Approved Course/Modules lists approved courses/modules for all approved licensure programs in Arkansas.
Educator Licensing Disclosure Statement
Requirements for educator licensure vary by state and may involve more than successful degree completion. Graduates who apply for licensure may need to satisfy other requirements, such as completing an application, paying a fee, and passing a background check and associated state licensure exams. Completion of an education licensure program offered through an Arkansas institution will not in itself qualify a graduate to obtain a teaching license in any other state.
All of Harding’s teacher preparation programs are approved by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Students who successfully complete the programs and pass all associated state licensure exams and other requirements are eligible to be recommended for Arkansas Educator Licensure. The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) recommends completing licensure requirements and obtaining teaching credentials in the state in which you complete your program requirements.
Students interested in obtaining a teaching license in another state should check with the applicable licensing authority in that state to ensure that Harding’s program meets the state’s education requirements for eligibility for licensure. First, obtaining a license in Arkansas will increase the likelihood of meeting eligibility requirements in another state. Contact information for state departments of education can be found on the U.S. Department of Education website.
Please note, students enrolled in Harding’s educator preparation programs are only approved to participate in field experiences and/or student teaching within the state of Arkansas.
Questions about licensure and reciprocity may be directed to the Assistant to the Dean for Licensure by emailing education@harding.edu.
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