The process of becoming a certified teacher in Alabama is overseen by the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). This system ensures educators meet rigorous standards before they are credentialed to teach in the state’s public schools. Aspiring teachers must navigate specific educational, professional, and administrative requirements. The certification framework provides various routes to accommodate individuals at different stages of their career.
Foundational Requirements for Alabama Certification
All individuals seeking to teach in Alabama must meet core prerequisites. A fundamental requirement is holding at least a bachelor’s degree from a college or university that was regionally accredited at the time the degree was conferred.
Prospective educators must also fulfill mandatory character and background clearance requirements. This involves submitting fingerprints for a state-level check by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) and a federal-level check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The required background check must be successfully cleared before the ALSDE will process an application for certification.
The Traditional Approach: Earning a Professional Educator Certificate
The standard route for new teachers is the Class B Professional Educator Certificate, the initial certification level for those with a bachelor’s degree. This pathway requires completing a state-approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP) at an Alabama college or university. These programs integrate subject-matter expertise with professional teaching methodology.
A component of the traditional EPP is a supervised clinical practicum, commonly known as student teaching. This full-time, semester-long experience provides practical application of teaching strategies in a P-12 classroom setting. The placement must align with the specific grade level and subject area for which the candidate seeks certification.
Alternative Paths to Certification
Alabama offers several distinct alternative routes for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree but did not complete a traditional education major, such as career changers or professionals from other fields. These pathways recognize the value of subject-matter expertise and provide a method to transition into the classroom.
Provisional Certificate
The Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF) allows a candidate to teach full-time while simultaneously completing professional certification requirements. To qualify, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree, have an offer of employment from a school system, and be unconditionally admitted to an approved Alternative Class A program. This temporary certificate requires the teacher to meet all remaining requirements, including passing exams, to transition to a Professional Certificate.
Emergency Certificate
The Emergency Certificate is a temporary credential granted to school systems facing teacher shortages in specific subject areas or grade levels. It is issued only when a school cannot find a fully qualified educator to fill a vacant position. This certificate has a limited duration and scope, serving as a short-term measure to ensure classroom coverage.
Alternative Class A Certification
This pathway is designed for individuals with a non-education bachelor’s degree who wish to pursue a master’s-level certification. Programs like the Alabama Teacher Alternate Program (ATAP) allow candidates to earn a master’s degree while concurrently completing the necessary teacher preparation coursework. This route is an option for those with strong academic backgrounds seeking advanced credentials.
Required Examinations for Certification
All candidates must complete the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP) requirements. This program ensures educators possess fundamental academic skills and content-specific knowledge based on the subject area and grade level sought.
The testing process includes the Praxis Subject Assessments, which measure knowledge in the specific teaching field. Additionally, most candidates must pass a performance assessment. This assessment is either the edTPA (Educative Teacher Performance Assessment), which evaluates a portfolio created during student teaching, or the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam, which assesses general pedagogical knowledge.
The Application and Verification Process
Once all educational and testing requirements are fulfilled, the final step is submitting a formal application to the ALSDE Educator Certification Section. The application packet must include official academic transcripts and verification of passing scores for all required standardized exams.
The ALSDE requires payment of an application fee to process the request. A recommendation for certification must be submitted directly to the state by the certification officer at the university or program where the candidate completed their approved EPP. Applicants can use the ALSDE Educator Certification Online Portal to submit and monitor the status of their application.
Reciprocity for Out-of-State Educators
Teachers holding a valid professional certificate from another state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. Territory, or the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) may apply for an Alabama certificate through reciprocity. Alabama recognizes the out-of-state certificate if it is comparable to an Alabama certification in area, grade level, and degree level. The Certificate Reciprocity Application is the official form used for this process.
Applicants with two or more years of full-time professional educational work experience in a P-12 setting within the past ten years may be exempt from certain assessment requirements. The ALSDE may still require a review to ensure the candidate has met specific Alabama-mandated requirements, such as unique reading methodology coursework. Once approved, the educator is issued an Alabama Professional Educator Certificate.
Maintaining Your Alabama Teaching Certificate
The Professional Educator Certificate is valid for five years, and educators must maintain it to continue teaching in the state. The renewal process, known as continuation, must be initiated during the valid period of the current certificate. The application must be received by the ALSDE Educator Certification Section between January 1 and June 30 of the calendar year the certificate is set to expire.
To continue a certificate, the teacher must meet specific requirements demonstrating ongoing professional growth. Acceptable options include verifying three years of full-time professional educational work experience combined with 50 clock hours of professional development. Alternatively, a teacher can meet the requirement by completing six semester hours of acceptable credit during the certificate’s valid period.