Alternate Route to Certification

 

Frequently Asked Questions


ARC Program Catalog


Application Link for Current Applicants


Program Costs


Obtaining Certification Through ARC


Job Openings with ARC

 

 

 





 

Alternate Route to Teacher Certification

 

Welcome to the Alternate Route to Certification (ARC), a weekend program for highly-motivated adults who wish to enter the teaching profession. Created in 1986 by the Connecticut legislature, ARC is conducted by the Office of Higher Education and is approved by the Connecticut State Board of Education.

 

The ARC program offers subject-based methods classes and training in areas such as Common Core State Standards, classroom management, differentiated instruction, lesson and unit planning, assessment of student learning, special education and Section 504, English Language learners, and integrating technology in the classroom. ARC students observe classrooms and work with team-trained cooperating teachers and ARC evaluators during their student practicum experience.

 

For the 2020-21 academic year, ARC will run* the following cohorts:

• Secondary Business Education

• Secondary English

• Secondary Mathematics

• Secondary Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, General Science, and Physics)

• K-12 World Languages

• Pre-K-12 Family and Consumer Sciences

• Pre-K-12 Technology Education

 

ARC does not, however, provide certification training in elementary education, art, history/social studies, music or special education.

 

Applications for the 2020-21 program are available here and must be submitted by May 15, 2020.  The 2020-21 session will operate Saturdays from September 10, 2020 to May 20, 2021 in East Hartford.  When needed, make-up sessions will be held on Friday evenings.  Tuition and other costs average $6,000.

 

Admission Requirements

 

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution with a major in, or closely related to, the intended teaching field. Applicants with a bachelor's degree earned outside of the U.S. must have their credentials evaluated by agencies approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education.

• Specific course requirements for certification, depending upon intended teaching field, as established by ARC and the Connecticut State Department of Education.

• A minimum GPA of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) in either an undergraduate degree program or at least 24 semester hours of graduate study, or a waiver available as part of the ARC application. 

• Official scores on all sections of the Praxis Core Academic Skills Test (Core) in reading, writing and mathematics or evidence of obtaining minimum scores required for a waiver based on SAT, ACT, PAA or GRE scores.

• Passing scores on the Praxis II subject area exams or the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) exams for world language applicants.

• ETS is currently working on options for Praxis testing at home.  Please continue to monitor their website www.ets.org for updates.

 

*ARC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule training to a later program cycle in any subject area depending on hiring patterns, the number of qualified applicants, and availability of student teaching placements.  If a subject area cannot be offered, application fees will be refunded to applicants for that subject area. 

 

 

Contact ARC

ARC Office