Alabama Teacher Certification
The Alabama State State Department of Education (SDE) is responsible for Alabama teacher certification. There are three levels of teaching certificate in Alabama:
- Class B Bachelor's Level. This certificate is valid for five years and is renewable.
- Class A Master's Level. This license is valid for five years and is renewable.
- Class AA Educational Specialist or doctoral degree. This license is valid for five years and is renewable.
The Process for Alabama Teacher Certification
The process to become licensed in Alabama is relatively straightforward. To obtain a license, an individual must:
- Satisfy the educational curriculum requirements of at least a bachelor's degree. This may be done in one of the following ways:
- Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program at an Alabama college or university.
- Completing a state-approved fifth-year teacher preparation program at an Alabama college or university.
- Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program at a regionally accredited, out-of-state, college or university accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) or in compliance with the NASDTEC Interstate Contract.
- Completing an approved alternative education program.
- Pass the Alabama Prospective Teaching Program (APTTP) tests.
- Pass a criminal background check performed by both the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) and the FBI.
Certification for Teachers Certified in Other States
An individual who holds a valid teaching certificate from another state may be eligible for Alabama certification. Any such individual who has received their education from a state-approved teacher preparation program from college or university in a state that is a party to the NASDTEC Interstate Contract may meet the Alabama curriculum requirements. Such individuals will still have to meet the Alabama testing requirement. If they were required to take a certification test of basic skills in reading, mathematics, and writing in another state, they may be to use that test to meet the Alabama testing requirement.
Alabama Professional Certificate Renewal
A Professional Certificate will continue, provided that the SDE Teacher Education and Certification Office receives verification of continuing education activities between January 1 and December 31 of the calendar year of its expiration. The requirements must be met by September 1 of that same year. Professional Certificates are renewed through continuation with the verification of one of the following:
- Three years of of educational experience and either five continuing education units (CEUs), which is the same as 50 clock hours of professional development, or three semester/four quarter hours of allowable credit.
- Five CEUs and three semester/four quarter hours of allowable credit.
- Six semester/Nine quarter hours of allowable credit.
