Institutional Recommendation (IR)
IR and Certification Updated 8.1.22.mp4An Institutional Recommendation (IR) is a verification of your program completion at ASU.
Since your IR verifies that you completed an approved Arizona State Board of Education teacher or administrative preparation program at ASU, it can be used in place of sending official transcripts to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) which is also a money and time saver for our students.
Upon program completion, an IR is sent directly from the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College (MLFTC) to the Arizona Department of Education on your behalf.
It is possible for an IR to expire. Keep in mind that it is valid for up to 1 year. If your IR has expired, then you will be unable to get a new one. Instead you would send your official transcipts to the ADE for a transcript evaluation.
Institutional Recommendation (IR) Processing and the ADE
Your IR will be issued by the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College (MLFTC). The teacher’s college will begin issuing IRs 3-5 business days after your degree has been conferred by the ASU Graduation office (the degree conferral date for each semester is noted on the ASU Academic Calendar). You will be notifed via email when your IR has been sent.
The teacher’s college will send your IR to ADE on your behalf via a secure virtual process upon your graduation.The ADE will then need to verify your IR, and import it into their online portal system. The process for ADE to verify your IR takes a minimum of one week from the date your IR information has been sent to them. This is why it is important to wait to start the application to apply for the needed certification until after your IR has been linked to your Educator Portal.
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is requesting that all students eligible for an Institutional Recommendation (IR) wait until their IR is officially linked to their ADE account before they apply for Arizona teacher or principal certification. Do not apply (or start to apply) for your Arizona teacher or principal certification until ASU tells you that your IR has been linked to your ADE account.
Are you ready to apply for your Arizona teacher certification?
There are four things you need to apply:
Your institutional recommendation.
Passing scores on the AZ Educator Proficiency Assessment(s) and National Evaluation Series exam(s) that are applicable to your degree and certification area.
ASU is not able to provide your AEPA/NES scores. Typically, the Arizona Department of Education has your scores on file but make sure you have a copy of your passing score report just in case.
Are you unsure about which assessment(s) you need to pass? Visit AEPA Exam(s) for details, or contact advising at GradEdPrep@asu.edu.
A valid IVP fingerprint clearance card number. Only Arizona fingerprint cards are accepted for teacher certification in Arizona.
The application fee for your teaching certificate
Note: If you are an ATA recipient you are eligible for an application fee waiver
Appying for Graduation
You MUST apply to graduate from your program so that your degree or graduate certificate will be conferred by the graduation office at the end of the semester. Check My ASU > My Programs box > Graduation Tab for the deadline to apply to graduate. Your IR will not be issued until your degree or graduate certificate is officially conferred. If you have not applied to graduate, your degree/certificate will not be conferred so be sure to get this step completed by the deadline to ensure there are no delays in getting your IR.
Resource Pages
Arizona Department of Education Certification Page
ADE's page on certification and requirements
MLFTC page with info by program on which states the program meets licensure requirements for. Please contact MLFTCcompliance@asu.edu with any questions related to the professional licensure page.
MLFTC degree pages that show program information and contact information for advising.