Are you ready to move Nevada Forward?
The UNLV College of Education is starting a secondary Accelerated Alternate Route to Licensure (A-ARL) program for CCSD paraprofessionals, school support professionals, and substitutes interested in becoming English/Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, or Physical Education (P.E.)/Health teachers .
This program is designed to recruit and retain a highly-prepared teacher workforce to work in urban schools. The program utilizes culturally sustaining pedagogies in a fast-track, high-quality pathway for those with a bachelors degree to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching and complete qualifications for teacher licensure in a single year.
Another benefit? Funding from CCSD will support 100% of the cost of completing the A-ARL Master of Arts in Teaching program. The College of Education is also building a network of support committed to your success.
Is UNLV’s Secondary AARL program right for you?
If you answer YES to ALL of these questions, this program may be a good fit.
*NOTE: Course sequencing is subject to change. These sequences are to be used as examples only.
Click the red button above to access a recording of an info session held on 10/19. If you have additional questions, send us a message using this form.
Don’t have a bachelor’s degree? No worries! Our bachelor’s degree program (PPP) may help you achieve your goals. Click here for more information.
The UNLV College of Education also offers an Alternate Route to Licensure (ARL) program that has a less-accelerated timeline. Note: Tuition/Fees for this program are not covered by NV-EPIC. Click here for more information.
What makes A-ARL different?
Cohort model
The program uses a cohort approach, which values relationship building and nurturing a community of learners. Why? Because the best way to move Nevada forward is to prepare diverse individuals with other diverse individuals who bring rich and unique experiences to the table. The goal is to develop a community of educators to serve our communities .
ACCELERATED CURRICULUM TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WORKING PROFESSIONALS
A-ARL moves fast! But the program provides a high-quality experience tailored to the needs of working professionals that doesn’t sacrifice quality, time with your families, or take you away from your other responsibilities. Program courses are offered in a variety of online and in-person formats tailored to meet student needs by program area.
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND WORK AT THE SAME TIME
Candidates who enroll in the A-ARL program are required to hold employment as school support professionals while completing program requirements. Completion of the Secondary A-ARL Pilot program will qualify candidates to become fully licensed teachers in Nevada.
Professional Development & Microcredentialing
Not everything will be learned in the classroom—UNLV’s or the school where you teach. The program offers world class professional development to give you new perspectives and ideas about how teachers move Nevada forward. NV-EPIC compliments A-ARL by offering free microcredential courses in partnership with the Clark County School District (CCSD) designed to provide you with the tools and resources you need to be effective in a constantly evolving educational landscape.
Continued Mentoring & Support
Developed in partnership between the Clark County Education Association (CCEA), the Public Education Foundation (PEF), CCSD, UNLV, and other partners, UNLV and NV-EPIC will support you with mentoring and induction for your first three years as a classroom teacher after the program ends. Why? Because your success as a teacher moves all Nevadans forward.
Funding Available
Costs never seem to stop rising. Gas prices, grocery prices, and even the price of your morning cup of coffee are skyrocketing. So, funding has been secured, at this point, to cover 100% of your tuition and fees for those who are both admitted to UNLV and accepted into the A-ARL program.
Apply for A-ARL Secondary Education Cohort 5
Prepare your documentation
Please ensure you have the following documentation/items ready to be uploaded with your application. Admission consideration may be delayed or denied without submitting these documents:
Transcripts may take several weeks to arrive and be processed. The good news? You only need to send in unofficial transcripts (that just means a PDF for most of you) to get the process started and apply. If admitted, you will need official transcripts on file.
Find more information about submitting transcripts and UNLV’s admission requirements on UNLV’s website.
If you are admitted to the program, you will need your immunization records. It’s never too early for you to start getting those together.
More information about required immunizations is available on UNLV’s website.
In your application to the UNLV Graduate College, you will be required to provide the names and contact information of two professional references. The professional references will be contacted to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf.
After submitting your application to the UNLV Graduate College, you will be emailed a Kira Talent Assessment which includes the following:
Short Essay Question 1 (1,500 character limit)
We want to get to know a little bit about you. Introduce yourself, what you do, and tell us something about you as a learner.
Short Essay Question 2 (3,000 character limit)
This program is about thinking “Nevada Forward”—we see the work teachers do with students as a primary way that we can all achieve great outcomes for Nevada. Help us understand how you plan to be “Nevada Forward” as a teacher. We are particularly interested in why you want to teach and some of your innovative thoughts about how you will make a difference in the lives of Nevadans as a teacher.
Single Select Question (choose one)
Do you currently work for a CCSD school?
Submitting Your Assessment
Once you begin your assessment on Kira Talent, you will have 10 minutes per question to formulate and submit your responses — we suggest pre-writing your responses so you can submit them directly into Kira without going over the 10 minute time limit.
Your answers to these questions will provide the NV-EPIC team with additional information about you that will help us determine if you are a good candidate for our program.
Candidates invited to the NV-EPIC A-ARL Bridge Program must successfully pass either the Praxis Core or CBEST and submit official scores to NV-EPIC by July 15, 2024 in order to gain full admission into A-ARL Cohort 5.
For more information on these exams, visit Praxis or CBEST.
Passing scores for the SAT (1100) or ACT (21) will waive Praxis Core/CBEST requirements.
NOTE: You will not submit your Praxis/CBEST scores for admission to the UNLV Graduate College. Test scores will be sent directly to the A-ARL program after you have been notified of your acceptance. However, candidates are welcome to take the test and keep scores on file to ensure they meet the results deadline.
Candidates invited to the NV-EPIC A-ARL Bridge Program must successfully pass either the Praxis II (content area for secondary) exam and submit official scores to NV-EPIC by July 15, 2024 3 in order to gain full admission into A-ARL Cohort 5 Secondary Program.
For more information on these exams, visit Praxis.
NOTE: You will not submit your Praxis II scores for admission to the UNLV Graduate College. Test scores will be sent directly to the NV-EPIC program after you have been notified of your acceptance. However, candidates are welcome to take the test and keep scores on file to ensure they meet the results deadline.
The Accelerated Alternate Route to Licensure (A-ARL) program is designed for students to complete coursework while working full-time as an educator in a Nevada school.
Candidates must then secure a position as a teacher of record for the 2024-25 Academic Year in a CCSD school during the Fall 2024 semester to complete program requirements.
The NV-EPIC program maintains relationships with Clark County School District and can assist students in finding open positions that fulfill A-ARL requirements.
Submit your application
Complete your application to the UNLV Graduate College (via Grad Rebel Gateway). In the Application Type section, make the following selections:
Level of Study: Masters
Program of Study: Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Academics
Term of Admission: Spring 2024
Applications close November 10, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
Looking for more information?
Have questions about the A-ARL program? Send us an email and we’ll get back to you in 48-72 hours.