Application Process

Becoming an ITEP Teacher Candidate

Developing Academic Plan and Gathering Application Documents

Apply for our Fall 2025 cohort - ITEP application opens December 2,2024 through March 14, 2025. 

  1. Submit your unofficial transcripts to our academic advisor Alex Nichelson who will draft you an academic plan and email it to you with in 2-3 business days.
    • Your academic plan will inform us if additional prerequisite courses are needed or not, transferring to the UA, and will help to determine a start date to begin applying.
  2. Schedule with Alex to review your draft academic plan. ITEP Recruiter, IngriQue Salt, will also be present to answer any questions relation to our program.
  3. A signed copy of this academic plan will be required for ITEP application. Once signed,
  4. Begin applying to ITEP and the UA (transfer applications now open)
  5. Continue to maintain communication ITEP Recruiter, IngriQue Salt to share updates, progress, and questions.

ITEP applicants, you will need the following documents to verify their eligibility for our program including:

  • Arizona IVP Fingerprint card (or proof of submission)
  • Proof of Tribal Enrollment or Descendancy

Submitting ITEP Application

  • Access ITEP application
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • ITEP Essays
    • Essay Prompt #1:  Teaching and learning change lives in many ways. In the College of Education, teacher preparation programs focus on how education changes lives in socially just and equitable ways. In a 500-750 word essay, explain how education has impacted your life and/or community positively and negatively. Then, discuss how your educational experiences will help you to be a socially just teacher, particularly for indigenous children.
    • Essay Prompt #2:  Please select one question to answer in 300-500 words:
      • 1. What does it mean to be an ideal teacher of Native American students?
      • 2. How do the roles of teachers and education contribute to Native American community efforts (i.e. sovereignty)?
      • 3. What motivated you to become a teacher of Native American students?
    • Optional Essay: If your grade point average is below the required 2.50 (3.0 preferred; all GPAs considered) and/or you are missing any application requirements, please prepare an essay addressing the circumstances that have affected your GPA/ability to complete all application requirements by the deadline.

After Application Submission

Following application submission, the ITEP team will review your documents to determine moving onto an interview. Moving forward to an interview will allow time for us to get to know more about you! A decision is made and students are notified 2-4 days after. 

Important Note for Transfer Students

If you are not currently enrolled at UArizona, you must apply to the University of Arizona and be accepted prior to the start of the Fall 2025 semester. 

ITEP Letter of Recommendation Form

ITEP Applicants will be required to submit 2 Letters of Recommendation with their application. These should be completed by those who have observed you in a classroom setting and can attest to your potential and ability to become educators. Due to the ongoing pandemic, we understand students may not have opportunities to obtain classroom experience so we will be accepting recommendations from individuals who can attest to your overall academic and/or professional abilities.