Certification after ARC

Teacher high-fiving student

Learn about the process

Are you excited to get your ARC certification? We’ll take you to the next steps so you can walk into Connecticut classrooms that need quality teachers like you. ARC recommends you for certification once you successfully fulfill the following requirements:

  • Foundations and Methods coursework, including microteach and teacher candidate evaluations
  • Student practicum
  • edTPA Assessment
  • Any other ARC Program and State certification requirements, including completion of a 3.00 credit course in U.S. History requirement

ARC officially confirms your program completion with an official ED 125 Statement of Preparing Higher Education Institution. Upon getting hired by a Connecticut public school, you can apply for your 90-Day Certificate.


What happens after you get hired

Teacher in front of classroom

Next steps

We’ll show you how to do the following:

  • Become eligible and apply for the 90-Day Certificate
  • Find certification application timelines, requirements, and support
  • Moving from the 90-Day to the Initial Educator Certificate
  • Adding cross endorsements and the TEAM Program

Get certified: from 90-Day to Initial Educator

Happy woman in graduation attire

Get ED 125 certification recommendation

The ED 125 confirms program completion and qualification for certification. ARC provides the official ED 125 directly to CSDE upon program graduation. The ED 125 remains on file with CSDE.
Get ED 125 copies  
Person handing a woman a sealed envelope

Learn about eligibility

To be eligible to apply, a CT public school or Approved Private Special Education Program (APSEP) must hire you in your ARC certification subject/grade level in a full or part-time position.
Become eligible for the 90-Day Certificate (DOCX)  
Woman typing at computer

Apply for 90-Day Certificate

Learn about the ED 172 application. Find out what materials you should submit along with your application. Learn about the process and how long it takes to receive your 90-Day Certificate.
Apply for 90-Day Certificate (DOCX)  
Woman working at a desk filled with paperwork

Apply for the Initial Educator Certificate

Two weeks before completing your 90-Day Certificate, apply for the Initial Educator Certificate and cross endorsements. This certificate is valid for 10 years and requires completing the TEAM Program. Check the application process and fees.
Get Initial Educator Certificate (DOCX)  

Application timeline, information, and help

Find application timeline 

Learn more about certification application processing times and where to submit transcripts.

Access CECS 

Check your certification application status. View Connecticut certificates. Request duplicate copies.

Get application support 

Get in touch with CSDE for questions you have about Connecticut certification requirements.

Find requirements (DOCX) 

Find out who determines Connecticut’s certification requirements and what to do if you move.

Cross endorsements, TEAM, and teacher certification levels

Learn the next steps after your Initial Educator Certificate, including how to apply for more certification tiers.


A cross endorsement is an additional certificate that can be added to your license when you reach the level of Initial Educator Certification, and anytime thereafter. There are specific course and assessment requirements for cross endorsement eligibility that are regulated by the CT State Department of Education. Get a thorough list of endorsement codes. Learn how to add a cross endorsement.

What are cross endorsements

The Teacher Education and Mentoring (TEAM) Program pairs every new classroom teacher with a trained mentor who supports the beginning teacher through the first years in the classroom. The TEAM Program is a process of continuous professional growth designed around five professional growth modules aligned to the Common Core of Teaching (CCT). All beginning teachers must successfully complete the TEAM program under their Initial Educator Certificate.

Learn about TEAM

To apply for the Provisional Certificate, the teacher must have successfully served under the Initial Educator Certificate for a minimum of 10 school months in a Connecticut public or approved nonpublic school and successfully completed the TEAM Program. Once those requirements have been met and before the expiration date of the Initial Educator Certificate, the teacher will submit the required application documents for the Provisional Educator Certificate to the CSDE. All beginning teachers must successfully complete the TEAM Program under their Initial Educator Certificate.

Provisional Educator Certificate (DOCX)


To qualify for the Professional Educator Certificate, the teacher must have successfully served under the Provisional Educator Certificate for at least 30 school months in a Connecticut public or approved nonpublic school. The teacher must also hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, including at least 15 graduate credits in content or content pedagogy. CSDE Masters Degree Requirement. The Professional Educator Certificate is the third-level certificate of Connecticut’s three-tier continuum.

Professional Educator Certificate (DOCX)

ARC has partnerships with several state universities. ARC graduates are eligible to receive the indicated credits towards the universities’ listed master’s program.

Find a list of universities, master’s degree programs, credits, and course credits awarded:

Learn about Masters programs (DOCX)

Get a job and find more certification resources

Certification resources