Living & Expenses 2011
Salary
Salary
$25,500–$38,000
$25,500–$38,000
Cost of Living
Housing Costs (single)
$600–$1,000
$600–$1,000
Housing Costs (shared)
$400–$600
$400–$600
Health Insurance
$40
$40
Utilities
$75
$75
Daycare
$770–$1,100
$770–$1,100
Monthly Transit Pass
$55
$55
Car Required
Yes
Yes
Car Insurance
$160
$160
Start-Up
Costs
Testing Costs
$210–$310
$210–$310
Up Front Certification Costs
How Do You Pay Start-Up Costs
Transitional grants and loans, out of pocket
Transitional grants and loans, out of pocket
Ongoing Costs Through the Two-Year Commitment
Ongoing Certification Costs
$3,500–$5,000 (additional higher cost for master’s program)
$3,500–$5,000 (additional higher cost for master’s program)
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
No
No
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
Two years - through university
Two years - through university
Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of the two years?
Yes
Yes
Is a master's degree required?
No
No
Partner Universities
Arizona State University, Rio Salado College.
Arizona State University, Rio Salado College.
Teacher Certification Information
In order to teach in Arizona, corps members must be able to obtain a valid Intern Certificate. To that end, corps members must:
- Pass a background check and obtain a fingerprint clearance card
- Take and pass the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) or an equivalent PRAXIS II subject knowledge exam
- Complete 45 training hours or three course credit hours of a Structured English Immersion program (SEI)
- Enroll in a teacher preparation program
Most corps members teach with the state’s Intern Certificate for two years and then, provided they have fulfilled all coursework and testing requirements, receive the state’s Provisional Certificate. Through our partnerships with Arizona State University and Rio Salado College, the majority of Phoenix corps members end their commitment as a fully certified Arizona teacher, with many completing their master’s degree in education.
Arizona does have reciprocity with many states for corps members who are already certified to teach in another state. If you already have a certificate, the Phoenix team will work with you through the reciprocity process.
Notes and Clarifications
- Beginning teacher salary: If you have a master's degree in education, are placed in a bilingual classroom, or in a math/science classroom you may receive additional compensation.
- Avg. health insurance: In some placement districts, health insurance premiums are pre-tax deductions.
- Total tax rate: Federal + state + city. Only applies to starting salaries.
- Up-front certification: Expenses that must be paid before your first day of teaching.
- Paying start-up costs: Can you pay for testing and up-front certification costs with transitional grants and loans or do you have to pay out-of-pocket?
- Ongoing certification: Total certification costs over two-year teaching commitment.
- AmeriCorps award for certification: Can you use your AmeriCorps award to pay testing/certification costs?
- Master's in two years: Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of two years?
- Master's required: Is the completion of a master's degree required as part of the two-year commitment?
- Extra master's degree costs: Additional total cost to obtain a master's degree (on top of ongoing certification costs); does not include AmeriCorps award.
- Partner university(ies): These universities partner with Teach For America for ongoing certification requirements, and in some cases, the fulfillment of a master's degree in education.
Teach For America was named one of Fortune magazine's top 100 employers to work for.
Teach For America was named one of America's top 100 Ideal Employers in Universum's 2011 American Student Survey.