Click here to go directly to ADE renewal forms. 

BALSZ SCHOOL DISTRICT PROCEDURES

for Certificate Renewal

• Teachers are responsible for all aspects of maintaining their teacher certification, including:

• Planning for continuing education to maintain certification and highly qualified status
• Maintaining a personal file of Clock Hour Certificates for training
• (IMPORTANT: The District does not track or file Clock Hour Certificates) 
• Maintaining Fingerprint Clearance Card
• Tracking expiration dates and deficiency deadlines with the Arizona Department of Education
• Delivering college transcripts to the Arizona Department of Education as needed
• Delivering a copy of renewed Certificates and Fingerprint Cards to the District as granted 

When you are ready to renew:

• Gather and total your clock hour certificates (be sure all are more recent than your last certificate renewal). 
• Review your certificate to be sure: 
  • A. You have cleared any deficiencies. 
  • B. You made arrangements to upgrade your Provisional SEI Endorsement to Full SEI Endorsement.
• Deliver the following to Human Resources at the district office via inter-office mail or hand delivery: 
  • A. Your completed renewal application. 
  • B. A simple cover-sheet with list of clock hours and totals. 
  • C. Clock hour certificates. 
• You will be contacted when your application has been evaluated and signed.  Signed forms will be sent to you by district mail or you may choose to pick them up at the district office. 
• Mail your application to the Arizona Department of Education or visit their office for same day renewal.

The Department of Education building is located at the corner of 15th Ave. and Jefferson in downtown Phoenix.

The phone number to reach an ADE certificate evaluator is: (602) 542-4367

Mailing Address:

Arizona Department of Education - Certification Unit

P.O. Box 6490
Phoenix, AZ 85005-6490

Walk-in, same day services include:

• Name Changes
• Duplicate Certificate
• Renewals
• Removal of Deficiencies
• Substitute Certificates
• Institutional Recommendations
• Extensions & Conversions of Provisional Certificates

Structured English Immersion (SEI) FAQs

Q1: Who is required to add the SEI endorsement?

All certified classroom teachers (Arts Education, Career and Technical, Early Childhood,

Elementary, Secondary, Special Education, Teaching Intern, or Foreign Teaching), and certified

administrators (Supervisor, Principal, Superintendent, or Interim Administrator) must hold a

valid SEI endorsement. However, teachers and administrators who hold a full ESL or full

Bilingual Endorsement are exempt from the SEI requirement.

Q2: How do I qualify for an SEI endorsement?

The Provisional SEI endorsement is valid for 3 years and may not be renewed or extended. You

must qualify for a full SEI within 3 years of adding the Provisional SEI to continue your Arizona

certificate. To qualify for the Provisional SEI endorsement:

• If you hold a valid classroom teaching or administrative certificate issued BEFORE August 31,

2006, 15 clock hours or 1 semester hour of approved Provisional SEI training is required.

• If you hold a valid classroom teaching or administrative certificate issued ON OR AFTER

August 31, 2006, 45 clock hours or 3 semester hours of approved Augmented Provisional

SEI training is required.

To qualify for the Full SEI Endorsement:

• If you hold a valid classroom teaching or administrative certificate issued BEFORE August 31,

2006, 15 clock hours or 1 semester hour of Provisional SEI training PLUS 45 clock hours or 3

semester hour Completion SEI training is required.

• If you hold a valid classroom teaching or administrative certificate issued ON OR AFTER

August 31, 2006, 45 clock hours or 3 semester hours of approved Augmented Provisional SEI

training PLUS 45 clock hours or 3 semester hours of SEI completion training is required.

Q3: How do I apply for a Provisional or full SEI endorsement?

Submit an application for certification endorsements, a copy of the SEI training certificate(s) or

an official transcript showing the SEI course(s), and $60 (check or money order only).

Q4: Which certificates are exempt from the SEI requirement?

Adult Education, Athletic Coaching, Guidance Counselor, JROTC, School Psychologist, Speech

Language Technician, Speech Language Pathologist, Substitute.

Q5: I have an ESL endorsement in another state. Am I still required to add the SEI endorsement?

If you hold a valid, full ESL endorsement or certificate in another state, you may apply to add a

full ESL endorsement to your Arizona certificate in order to meet the SEI requirement.

Q6: Where can I find an approved SEI class or training?

You can download a list of approved college and university courses and other training providers

at www.azed.gov/certification.

Printing Guidelines

Fingerprint techs should not return your prints to you.  Please give them the postage paid envelope provided to you by the District.  If you are a certified employee renewing your fingerpint clearance card you will need to have a cashier's check or money order for the $69 clearance card fee.  If you are a classified employee, the $24 fee for your fingerprint clearance check will be a two (2) part payroll deduction.  Please note that the above mentioned fees do not include the fee for taking the prints.  Fees vary by location and in most cases, must be cash.  Please visit location websites for requirements.

Locations

• Chandler Police Records
• Ford School
• Maricopa County Sheriff's Department
• Paradise Valley Police Department
• Phoenix Police Department
• Scottsdale Police Department
• Community Wellness & Safety of Arizona