{"id":1200,"date":"2024-06-11T14:02:37","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T14:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/licensure-and-certification\/alternative-routes-to-certification\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T18:09:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T18:09:33","slug":"alternative-routes-to-certification","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/home\/educators\/licensure-and-certification\/alternative-routes-to-certification\/","title":{"rendered":"Alternative Routes to Certification"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:104%;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-blend:overlay;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\">\n<h1 id=\"top\">Alternative Routes to Certification (ARTC)<\/h1>\n<div>\n<p>Prospective educators who did not complete a traditional educator preparation program with student teaching may be interested in one of Delaware\u2019s alternative licensure and certification options. For more information on the approved alternative licensure and certification options, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/03\/25-26_artc_flyer03.19.26.pdf\">Delaware&#8217;s Alternative Routes to Certification and Certificates of Eligibility<\/a>. Alternate Routes to Certification are also available to those seeking administrative certification, as outlined in <a href=\"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/02\/admin-artc-flyer-2024-2025.pdf\">Alternate Routes to Certification for Administrative Certificate Programs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This Alternative Routes to Certification page includes the following sections:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#artcopt\">Alternative Routes to Licensure and Certification Options<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#91dayopt\">91 Days in Lieu of Student Teaching Option<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#artcdoc\">ARTC Documentation Requirements<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ferenf\">Non-refundable Fee for First Delaware License<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 id=\"artcopt\">Alternative Routes to Licensure and Certification (ARTC) Options<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Alternative Routes to Certification (ARTC) Programs<\/strong> support prospective Delaware public and charter school educators to obtain initial licensure and certification in several content areas. Candidates must have a minimum of 24 credits in an area aligned to a PK-12 content area (or pass the Praxis II in the content area prior to teaching) and obtain a letter of eligibility from a state-approved alternative route to certification program. Educators hired as a &#8220;Teacher of Record&#8221; under ARTC have two years to complete the program requirements that may include seminars, coursework, content assessments, performance assessments, the first two years of school-based mentoring, and two DPAS-II summative evaluations. For more detailed information, refer to the <a title=\"Delaware ARTC Information Packet\" href=\"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/06\/artc_licensure_and_certification_information_2023.pdf\">ARTC Information Packet<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alternative Routes to Certification for Special Education Areas &#8211; Certificate of Eligibility (COE)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>ARTC COE Programs are designed to support three types of educators:<\/p>\n<ol style=\"list-style-type: lower-alpha\">\n<li><strong>Initial Licensure and Certification Programs<\/strong> support prospective Delaware public and charter school educators to obtain initial licensure and certification in special education and a content area. Candidates must have a minimum of 24 credits in an area aligned to a PK-12 content area (or pass the Praxis II for the content area prior to teaching) and obtain a letter of eligibility from a state-approved alternative route to certification program. Educators hired as a Teacher of Record under ARTC COE have three years to complete the program\u2019s requirements including seminars, coursework, content assessments, performance assessments, program and the first two years of CIP mentoring, and two cycles of DPAS-II summative evaluations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Paraprofessional to Teacher Programs<\/strong> support paraprofessionals in Delaware public and charter schools who wish to become certified special education teachers through a two-year Master\u2019s degree in Special Education.\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Y<\/strong><strong>ear 1<\/strong> &#8211; Employment as a paraprofessional in a Delaware public or charter school while enrolled in the Master\u2019s in Special Education program. Educators should plan to pass related content assessments and complete the majority of the coursework during this year.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Year 2<\/strong> &#8211; Employment as a teacher of record in a Delaware public or charter school while completing remaining coursework and the performance assessment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Optional Year 3<\/strong> &#8211; Educators hired as a Teacher of Record under ARTC COE have three years to complete the program\u2019s requirements including seminars, coursework, content assessments, performance assessments, program and the first three years of CIP mentoring, and two cycles of DPAS-II summative evaluations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Add-On Certificate Programs<\/strong> support educators who are currently licensed and certified in at least one content area to obtain certification in a special education area while serving as a teacher of record for students with disabilities.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Federal Regulations require that all ARTC COE programs must be complete within a three year time period. No Certificate of Eligibility extensions may be granted beyond three school years.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Top of Page<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 id=\"91dayopt\">91 Days in Lieu of Student Teaching Option<\/h2>\n<p>As an alternative to completing a traditional educator preparation program with student teaching, Delaware district\/charter schools and prospective educators may be interested in one of Delaware\u2019s alternative licensure and certification options known as 91 Days in Lieu of Student Teaching (91 Days).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><strong>NOTE: 91 Days in not a licensure option for individuals teaching Early Childhood, Elementary, Special Education. It also does not apply to Specialist or Administrator certification. \u00a0This option may not be used in lieu of internships or practica required by teacher, specialist licensure or certificate areas.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To qualify for an Initial License and be eligible for the 91 Days option, a Delaware district\/charter school agrees to provide mentoring and professional development to the prospective educator who:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Has a Bachelor&#8217;s degree (related to area of teaching) from a regionally accredited college\/university;<\/li>\n<li>Will pass the required Praxis II test in the relevant content area; and<\/li>\n<li>Is hired as a long-term substitute teacher for 91 days, in one assignment, and may not be employed as the teacher of record.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Upon being hired full-time as a teacher and being issued an Initial License and Emergency Certificate, the prospective educator must also:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Complete an additional 15 semester credit hours of coursework in the relevant content area (at least six of those credits must be in pedagogy).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Top of Page<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 id=\"artcdoc\">ARTC Documentation Requirements &#8211; Initial Applicant<\/h2>\n<p>The following items must be provided by the applicant:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Official Transcript(s).\n<ul>\n<li>Send official (unopened) transcripts for all degrees and coursework directly to your employing authority (LEA human resources office.)<\/li>\n<li>Only transcripts from regionally accredited colleges or universities as detailed in <a href=\"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/page\/3489\">Higher Education<\/a> are accepted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Test scores should be forwarded to<strong> the Delaware Department of Education <\/strong>and your ARTC program, if applicable, electronically upon your request.\n<ul>\n<li>For certificates requiring Praxis II, <a href=\"https:\/\/praxis.ets.org\/\">Educational Testing Service (ETS)<\/a> administers the Praxis tests. Please use Reporting Code R7065.<\/li>\n<li>For certificates requiring American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.languagetesting.com\/\">Language Testing International<\/a> administers the ACTFL tests.<\/li>\n<li>For submitting passing scores for the Performance Assessment, <a href=\"https:\/\/praxis.ets.org\/\">Educational Testing Service (ETS)<\/a> administers the PPAT; and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edtpa.com:443\/PageView.aspx?f=GEN_Delaware.html\">Pearson<\/a> administers the edTPA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Educator Acknowledgements are submitted during the online recommendation acceptance process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"artcdoc\">ARTC Documentation Requirements &#8211; Upon Program Completion<\/h2>\n<p>The following items must be provided by the educator:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Official Transcript(s).\n<ul>\n<li>Send official (unopened) transcripts for all degrees and coursework directly to your employing authority (LEA human resources office.)<\/li>\n<li>Only transcripts from regionally accredited colleges or universities as detailed in <a href=\"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/page\/3489\">Higher Education<\/a> are accepted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Test scores should be forwarded to<strong> the Delaware Department of Education <\/strong>and your ARTC program, if applicable, electronically upon your request.\n<ul>\n<li>For certificates requiring Praxis II, <a href=\"https:\/\/praxis.ets.org\/\">Educational Testing Service (ETS)<\/a> administers the Praxis tests. Please use Reporting Code R7065.<\/li>\n<li>For certificates requiring American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.languagetesting.com\/\">Language Testing International<\/a> administers the ACTFL tests.<\/li>\n<li>For submitting passing scores for the Performance Assessment, <a href=\"https:\/\/praxis.ets.org\/\">Educational Testing Service (ETS)<\/a> administers the PPAT; and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edtpa.com:443\/PageView.aspx?f=GEN_Delaware.html\">Pearson<\/a> administers the edTPA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Educator Acknowledgements are submitted during the online recommendation acceptance process.<\/li>\n<li>Letter of completion from the Delaware Alternate Routes Program is sent by the Program to and uploaded by your LEA during the recommendation to upgrade process.<\/li>\n<li>Confirmation of the completion of at least two satisfactory summative evaluations and recommendation for certification will be submitted by the LEA during the recommendation to upgrade process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All documents, with the exception of copies of out-of-state and national certificates (if applicable), must be official, meaning that they must be sent directly from the appropriate third party (e.g., the college or university, testing organization, former employer, independent credentialing agency) to the employing authority or the Department. Applicants submitting test scores should be sure to review the Educational Testing Service (ETS) page for Delaware adopted test-specific submission procedures.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Top of Page<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 id=\"ferenf\">Non-refundable Fee for First Delaware License<\/h2>\n<p>Beginning January 15, 2016, a one-time non-refundable fee of $100 will be charged to educators applying for their first license in Delaware (Initial, Continuing, or Advanced). The applicant must also meet certification requirements prior to a license being issued. The fee will be retained by the State of Delaware whether or not the transaction results in the issuance of a license and certificate. Refer to <a href=\"https:\/\/delcode.delaware.gov\/title14\/c001\/sc02\/index.html\">14 Del.C. \u00a7122 (27)<\/a> for details regarding the rules and regulations.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Top of Page<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Delaware Department of Education<br \/>\nLicensure and Certification<br \/>\nCollette Education Resource Center<br \/>\n35 Commerce Way, Suite 1<br \/>\nDover, DE 19904<\/p>\n<p><strong>Feel free to contact us:<\/strong><br \/>\nM-F 8:00 AM-4:30 PM<br \/>\n302-857-3388<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/educators\/child-care-licensing-and-careers\/educator-credentialing\/contact-us\/\">Contact Us &#8211; Delaware Department of Education<\/a><\/p>\n<a href='znvy61:qrrq5mq1rlxcdlqrl75?57owrp6=9ro5v6r%dbsrrqonpx'>Website Feedback<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"swlastmodifeddate\">Last Modified on February 10, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1092,"menu_order":19,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"protect_children":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1200","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"checksum":["54a819473c52bc670229c6d1d0d285d6857c8afa"],"sw_mod_date":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1200"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1200\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/education.delaware.gov\/legacy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}