Admissions
ITEP is currently recruiting future Indigenous teacher candidates to begin Fall 2025 in-person and for the first cohort of our Elementary distant program.
How to Apply?
If you are from a tribal community and are hoping to become a certified Elementary or Early Childhood Education professional, please contact Alex Nichelson at with a copy of your unofficial transcript.
For further information, please contact ITEP.
Next cohort begins: August 21, 2025 (Deadline: March 14, 2025)
Currently recruiting for FALL 2025 UArizona transfer application now open. Aim to submit your transfer application by May 1, 2025
Requirements:
- Must be an enrolled member of a Tribal community.
- Must have AGEC-A or equivalent and prerequisites met and transferred to the UA by August 21, 2025
- Must apply and be admitted to both the ITEP program and the UA by posted deadlines
- ITEP application will open in December 2, 2024! (see below for Required Documents to prepare for fall enrollment) - ITEP Application deadline March 14, 2025
- Recommendation Form <-- click link to email link to your recommender to submit a form.
- UA transfer student application and deadlines UA application deadline, May 1, 2025 (February 1, 2025 recommended)
- UA readmit application and deadlines if you previously attended the UA
- ITEP application will open in December 2, 2024! (see below for Required Documents to prepare for fall enrollment) - ITEP Application deadline March 14, 2025
Why ITEP?
ITEP is dedicated to developing critical/justice-oriented, and culturally sustaining educators who promote strength and well-being within Indigenous communities. ITEP teacher candidates will examine their own cultural identities in relation to the making of an Indigenous teacher.
- Arizona Teacher Academy (ATA): Receive loan-for-service aid to cover tuition and Mandatory Fees
- Arizona Nation Scholars (ANS) grant: Full tuition and mandatory fees coverage provided for all students enrolled in an Arizona tribe pursuing their 1st Bachelors degree
- Work in schools serving a high proportion of Indigenous students
Future Deadlines
- FAFSA opens: December 1, 2024
- Apply for IVP fingerprint card and ask for recommendation forms: October 2024 – March 2025
- ITEP, Elementary program & College of Education Admission (one app): March 14, 2025
- FAFSA priority deadline: March 1, 2025
- Final FAFSA deadline: June 30, 2025
- UA transfer admission application closes: May 1, 2025*
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Looking to start ITEP's distant learning? Stay your home communities while completing ITEP. Those admitted for the Elementary program in-person are able to complete their student teaching in a community closer to home. In which, they will work with our field placement team to secure a site.
Courses and field experience will vary among the 4 semesters; however, general information is provided below:
- Courses will be held at a local Elementary School in Tucson (Monday-Thursday)
- A unique, 2-hour reflective seminar session held 3x per semester, entitled “Indigenous Pedagogies Speaker Series” is required.
- Field Experience will be at a partner school (e.g., Tohono O’odham schools, Tucson Unified School District, Baboquivari Unified School District, Gila River Indian Community Schools, Sacaton Public Schools). Hours vary each semester.
- Student Teaching will be either at a partner school or any school that serves a high population of Native students.
Please refer to our funding page.
All tuition (unless funded by ANS or outside funding sources) and mandatory expenses accrued during your time in ITEP will be tracked and logged within your own account during the two years of the training program. After completing the program, participants “payback” the loan through service in schools/programs serving Indigenous students. The service payback requirement is based on the length of time you received funding. This means that if you received two years of funding through ITEP, you will be expected to provide service at a school/program serving Indigenous students for two years. During the service payback, you do not have to pay back any actual money. This means that the salary you earn at your job will not be affected.
