Alabama Alternative Teacher Certification Process and Programs

If you are interested in Alabama teacher certification and you already have a bachelor’s degree in an area outside of teaching but have not completed an educator preparation program, the state offers alternative pathways that may be a good fit. Alternative teacher preparation programs, also known as non-traditional programs, are designed for those with a bachelor’s degree outside of education and typically lead to a certificate or master’s degree. If you don’t already have your bachelor’s degree, visit our guide to traditional certification in Alabama. If you do already have a bachelor’s degree, this page will help you find the right pathway to earn your teaching credential, which is required to teach in Alabama’s public and many private schools.

Table of Contents

• Alabama Alternative Certification Requirements
• Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses
• Testing Requirements
• Licenses From Another State
• Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs
• Best Alternative Certification Programs
• Fastest Alternative Certification Programs
• Additional Resources

Requirements for Alternative Certification

The minimum requirement for alternative teacher certification in Alabama is a bachelor’s degree. Candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education can typically earn certification by attending an educator preparation program or by completing a master’s degree in teaching or education. A master’s degree in a teachable subject that includes an approved certification program can also meet certification requirements.

Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses in Alabama

Alabama’s non-traditional certification paths provide flexible options based on candidates’ education and professional experience. The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) provides further detail on these options, which are outlined below.

Emergency Certificate

An Emergency Certificate may be requested by the employing school superintendent if there are no qualified teachers to fill a vacant position. The Emergency Certificate candidate must have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. An Emergency Certificate is valid for up to two years but does not lead to professional certification in Alabama.

Higher Education Transitional Certificate (HETC)

The Higher Education Transitional Certificate (HETC) can be requested by a superintendent wishing to employ a candidate with teaching experience at a regionally accredited college or university and a Letter of Eligibility. Applicants for the Letter of Eligibility must provide proof of at least 72 semester hours of teaching experience at an accredited college or university. The HETC is valid for up to three years.

The HETC leads to a Professional Educator Certificate and is available in certain K-12, 4-8, and 6-12 teaching fields. After passing the coursework requirements with a grade of “C” or above, accumulating a year of full-time classroom experience, and passing the appropriate exams, candidates will be eligible for professional educator certification.

Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF)

The Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF) pathway to licensure is available to candidates with a bachelor’s degree who have not completed professional educator preparation courses and have never held a teaching certificate. To qualify, candidates must be unconditionally admitted to an approved teacher preparation program, have a GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, and pass the required exams for endorsements sought. Those with higher GPAs or who have served in the US Armed Forces may have the testing requirements waived. Candidates must also undergo background clearance.

To qualify, applicants must secure an employment offer from an Alabama school district, which will apply for the PCTF on their behalf. Approved candidates must complete an educator preparation program and participate in a mentoring program while teaching full time. You can view approved programs through the ALSDE. The PCTF leads to a Professional Educator Certificate and candidates can earn up to three endorsement areas.

Testing Requirements for Alabama Alternative Certification

All candidates for Alabama teacher certification must fulfill the Alabama Educator Certification Testing Program (AECAP) requirements. These include passing the Praxis Subject Tests and the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) or the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam for endorsements like Gifted Education and Health Science. Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education candidates must also take the Pearson Foundations of Reading test. For details on the required exams, visit the Praxis website.

Transferring Teaching Licenses From Another State

Teachers certified in another state may be eligible for Alabama certification through reciprocity, pending an evaluation of their education and experience. For more information, review the ALSDE website. You can also find out more about transferring teacher certification to Alabama on our guide to reciprocity.

Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs in Alabama

To qualify for teacher certification, you must complete an approved teacher preparation program. Alternative route teacher licensing programs typically lead to a certificate or master’s degree. The not-for-profit, school-based alternative certification programs below have been approved by the ALSDE for the preparation of teachers.

• — indicates none or not applicable.
• N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
• *Schools with an asterisk offer programs that can include paid classroom placements, subject to qualifications and experience. Students may be responsible for securing their own placement. Contact programs for further information.

Best Alternative Teacher Certification Programs in Alabama

We used overall pass rates on the teacher licensing exams to identify the best alternative teacher certification programs in Alabama. The following schools all reported 100% pass rates for alternative and master’s program graduates.

• Auburn University (Alternative, Master’s)
• Jacksonville State University (Alternative, Master’s)
• Samford University (Alternative, Master’s)
• Troy University (Alternative, Master’s)
• University of Alabama-Birmingham (Alternative, Master’s)
• University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa (Alternative, Certificate, Master’s)
• University of Montevallo (Alternative, Certificate, Master’s)
• University of North Alabama (Alternative, Master’s)
• University of South Alabama (Alternative, Master’s)
• University of West Alabama (Certificate, Master’s)⁴

Fastest Alternative Certification Programs

The following schools have the fastest programs to qualify for teacher certification in Alabama based on the shortest possible time to completion. Shorter alternative certification programs are often more affordable since they require fewer credit hours. Check with programs to verify program costs and funding opportunities.

1. Samford University (12 months)
2. Stillman College (12 months)
3. University of Alabama-Birmingham (12 months)
4. University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa (12 months)
5. University of Montevallo (12 months)

Additional Resources

• Alabama Approved Educator Preparation Institutions: List of programs approved by the ALSDE for the preparation of teachers.
• Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) Educator Certification Unit: Oversees the licensure process for all K-12 public school teachers and administrative staff in Alabama.

Related Articles

• Alternative Teacher Certification Guide
• Alabama Traditional Teacher Certification Guide
• Teacher Certification Reciprocity Guide

References:
1. Alabama State Department of Education: https://www.alabamaachieves.org/
2. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
3. Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP): https://aaqep.org/accredited-programs
4. US Department of Education 2021 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
5. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/