Professional Licensure has been receiving inquiries from individuals currently licensed in Physical Education 7-12 or P-12 regarding the necessity of adding the Coaching Endorsement to the individuals' teaching license when employed as a coach or assistant coach. It is not necessary to add the Coaching Endorsement to a license in Physical Education 7-12 or P-12. Because the program requirements for Physical Education licensure traditionally include the courses required for the Coaching Endorsement, teachers with the Physical Education license are not cited by the ADE Standards Assurance Unit on the Annual Accreditation Report when employed as coaches or assistant coaches.
The Coaching Endorsement is also not required for accreditation when a teacher is employed as a coach or assistant coach in a sport other than football, basketball, or track.
Teachers licensed in areas other than Physical Education 7-12 or P-12 are required to add the Coaching Endorsement when employed as a coach or assistant coach in football, basketball or track.
Teachers interested in adding the Coaching Endorsement to the individual's current license must complete a program of study (coursework determined by the Licensure Officer at an Arkansas college or university) and the required Praxis II assessment. When completed, the individual must submit an application with the transcript and test score attached. The Coaching Endorsement cannot be added by “testing out.”
Please direct questions regarding this Director’s Memo to Ron Tolson, Coordinator of Professional Licensure, or Annette Barnes, Coordinator of Standards Assurance.