Alternative Assessment Plan (AAP) Provisional License

To be eligible for the Alternative Assessment Plan (AAP) provisional license, applicants must meet all licensing requirements except for the minimum test score(s).  These requirements include:

1. Earned at least a bachelor’s degree
2. Completed an educator preparation program or be currently enrolled in a program such as the UCA MAT program.

Those who have not earned the required Praxis score(s) but have scored within a range established by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) can be employed for three (3) years with the AAP provisional license.

Should you consider the AAP Provisional?

This alternative pathway to a standard teaching license should not be viewed as the “easy way.”  Understand the limitations and challenges of this option before you pursue it.

• Your employment will be permitted under a provisional license; however, the provisional license may limit your employability. Some districts do not hire provisionally licensed applicants.
• This option will require additional observations, mentoring, and oversight by your building administration.
• The alternative assessments are more expensive than the cost of most of the Praxis subject assessments.
• This option requires at least three years of experience before you will earn your standard license.

If you feel that you could pass your Praxis subject assessment(s) with additional preparation, you are encouraged to seek licensing through the traditional route.  Only when you feel that you have exhausted all efforts to pass your Praxis subject assessment(s) should you consider this option. 

To convert the AAP provisional to a standard license

To convert the AAP provisional license to a standard license, you must complete:

1. At least three (3) years of relevant teaching experience in the content area as demonstrated through successful TESS evaluations, meeting the definition of effective teacher found under licensure rule 1-2.31.
2. One (1) of the DESE approved performance based content assessments or micro-credential(s) from the list below.

• Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT) — https://www.ets.org/ppat/test-takers/about.html
• edTPA — www.edtpa.com/PageView.aspx?f=GEN_Arkansas.html 
• Bloomboard Micro-credential Pathway — bloomboard.com/program/arkansas-aap/

NOTE:  You do NOT need to take the Praxis subject assessment again. Completing one of the three options above is the alternative assessment that will replace the Praxis subject assessment requirement.

To Apply for the AAP Provisional

STEP 1 — Verify that you meet the minimum score(s) requirement

The table below lists the scores for the most common Praxis exams. For other Praxis exams, contact garyb@uca.edu.

• For elementary educators, all four (4) subtest scores must be at or above the minimum AAP score.
• There is no AAP score for the Foundations of Reading test.  Elementary and Special Educators cannot receive a standard license without the required score on the F.O.R. test.

STEP 2 — Receive an employment offer by an Arkansas public or charter school.

• Once you have the job offer, have your district complete the employment verification form linked here and HAVE THEM RETURN THIS FORM TO YOU.
  Note: You will send this completed form to UCA as instructed in Step 5 below.
• Complete this form in consultation with your district administrator(s).
  • Educator preparation program enrolled or completed — Enter “University of Central Arkansas.”
  • Additional support — Describe the actions or resources that will be used to assist you to be successful.
  • Performance assessment to complete — Select one (1) of the three choices:
    • Bloomboard Micro-credential
    • EdTPA
    • Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT)
  • Sign the form, not type your name.

STEP 3 — Verify that you have an approved background check.

• For the status of your background check, follow these instructions.
• Both fingerprinting and child maltreatment check must be less than one year old.
• If you need to repeat either part of the background check process, follow the instructions here.

STEP 4 — Currently enrolled MAT candidates only — Complete professional development and ethics training

Applicants who are currently enrolled in the MAT program must complete professional development and ethics training requirements. Graduates of UCA teacher education programs (undergraduate and MAT) will have completed these requirements during their program of study.

• Complete the professional development requirements detailed here.
• Complete the educator ethics training detailed here.

STEP 5 — Complete the application process.

• Email the employment verification form from Step 2 to the appropriate person.
  • Currently enrolled MAT students, send form to MAT@uca.edu.
  • All others, send form to garyb@uca.edu.
• Complete the license application following the directions linked here.
  Note:  You will follow the same application process as the standard license; however, your standard license will not be issued until you complete the requirements of the AAP provisional.

For more information

dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/educator-effectiveness/educator-licensure/alternate-assessment-plan-aap