• Alternative Routes to Certification (ARTC)

  • Alternative Routes to Licensure & Certification (ARTC) Options

    Alternative Routes to Certification (ARTC) Programs 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 "Teacher of Record" 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.

    Alternative Routes to Certification for Special Education Areas - Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

    ARTC COE Programs are designed to support three types of educators:

    1. Initial Licensure & Certification Programs 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’s 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.

    2. Paraprofessional to Teacher Programs support paraprofessionals in Delaware public and charter schools who wish to become certified special education teachers through a two-year Master’s degree in Special Education.
       
      1. Year 1 - Employment as a paraprofessional in a Delaware public or charter school while enrolled in the Master’s in Special Education program.  Educators should plan to pass related content assessments and complete the majority of the coursework during this year.
      2. Year 2 – Employment as a teacher of record in a Delaware public or charter school while completing remaining coursework and the performance assessment.  
      3. Optional Year 3 - Educators hired as a Teacher of Record under ARTC COE have three years to complete the program’s 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.

    3. Add-On Certificate Programs 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. 


    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.

    Ninety-one Days in Lieu of Student Teaching

    91 Days is an option for a Delaware district or charter school to sponsor a prospective educator by submitting ninety-one days of district or charter school-evaluated substitute teaching experience, in one assignment, as an alternative to completing a formal student teaching program.  Prior approval by the human resources office and the Department of Education is required.

    Effective July 1, 2014, this is not a licensure option for individuals teaching elementary, English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, or special education.  This option may not be used in lieu of internships or practica required by teacher or specialist licensure or certificate areas.

    To qualify for an initial license, the substitute teaching experience must be verified by the requesting human resources office and the educator must pass the relevant Praxis II in the content area requested.  Upon issuance of an Initial License and Emergency Certificate, the educator must complete an additional 15 semester credit hours of coursework in the content area (at least six of those credits must be in pedagogy) as determined by the LEA/Department agreement.  All required coursework must be completed within one year of the issue date of the License and certificates.

    Districts or charter schools interested in sponsoring a candidate for 91 Days should contact the Licensure and Certification office by email (deeds@doe.k12.de.us) to begin the process. 

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  • ARTC Documentation Requirements

    The following items must be sent:

    • Official Transcript(s).
      • Send official (unopened) transcripts for all degrees and coursework directly to Delaware Department of Education.
      • DOE can only accept transcripts from regionally accredited colleges or universities as detailed in Higher Education.
    • Test scores should be forwarded to the Delaware Department of Education electronically upon your request.
    • Educator Acknowledgement (for Certificate of Eligibility program participants only.)
    • Letter of completion from the Delaware Alternate Routes Program.
    • Official transcript verifying successful completion of all Delaware Alternative Routes course requirements.
    • An original letter from the educator's district or charter school attesting to satisfactory teaching performance and recommendation for certification, and signed by the Personnel Director and Superintendent of your district or charter school.

    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 Department, or forwarded unopened to the Department by the candidate.  Applicants submitting test scores should be sure to review the Educational Testing Service (ETS) page for Delaware adopted test-specific submission procedures.


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  • Non-refundable Fee for First Delaware License

    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 14 Del.C. §122 (27) for details regarding the rules and regulations.

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  • ARTC Application Process Steps

    1. Create an account in DEEDS via the DEEDS registration page.
    2. Apply for the appropriate License and Certificate(s) for the content area you are eligible to teach.
    3. Request to send all official documentation:
      • All official transcripts.
      • Test Scores, if applicable.
      • Scores on Performance Assessments (ETS, Pearson, ACTFL), if completed.
        • If you are applying with credentials from out of state or out of country, there may be additional requirements.
        • To ensure speedy processing, please ensure that you follow the documentation guidelines for submission.
    4. Notify your human resources office when you have submitted the application in DEEDS.
    5. Licensure and Certification office staff will review application and documentation.
    6. Licensure and Certification office staff update your application status in DEEDS.  You will receive a notification email with instructions and requirements.


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  • Delaware Department of Education
    Licensure & Certification
    Collette Education Resource Center
    35 Commerce Way, Suite 1
    Dover, DE 19904

    Feel free to contact us:
    M-F 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
    302-857-3388
    deeds@doe.k12.de.us

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Last Modified on March 12, 2020