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How to become a teacher in Alabama
Steps drawn from the state's data
- Earn a bachelor's degree. At least one initial credential requires one.
- Complete a teacher preparation program. Alabama has 25 Title II providers.
- Complete clinical experience such as student teaching.
- Pass the tests the state requires (Title II reports that tests are required, not which ones).
- Complete a background check or fingerprinting.
- Apply to Alabama State Department of Education for an initial credential, such as Class A Professional Educator (Alternative Approach); Class B Professional Educator Certificate; Junior Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC) Certificate; Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF).
- Career changers can use one of 5 alternative routes instead of a traditional program.
Teacher preparation providers in Alabama
| Provider | Program types | Enrollment | Completers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A & M University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 123 | 23 |
| Alabama State University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 90 | 17 |
| Athens State University | Traditional | 602 | 212 |
| Auburn University Auburn | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 856 | 233 |
| Auburn University Montgomery | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 219 | 60 |
| Faulkner University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 39 | 11 |
| Huntingdon College | Traditional | 55 | 21 |
| IteachALABAMA | Alternative, not IHE-based | 42 | 0 |
| Jacksonville State University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 742 | 258 |
| Miles College | Traditional | 19 | 2 |
| Oakwood College | Traditional | 21 | 7 |
| Samford University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 108 | 56 |
| Spring Hill College | Traditional | 24 | 9 |
| Stillman College | Traditional | 28 | 2 |
| Talladega College | Traditional | 5 | 1 |
| Troy State University Troy | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 352 | 157 |
| Tuskegee University | Traditional | 51 | 3 |
| University of Alabama Birmingham | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 333 | 124 |
| University of Alabama Huntsville | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 86 | 42 |
| University of Alabama Tuscaloosa | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 280 | 170 |
| University of Mobile | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 40 | 29 |
| University of Montevallo | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 141 | 72 |
| University of North Alabama | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 645 | 142 |
| University of South Alabama | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 606 | 122 |
| University of West Alabama | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 1,229 | 279 |
About teacher preparation in Alabama
Alabama issues Professional Educator Certificates (PECs) for educators at three levels: Class B (bachelor’s degree), Class A (master’s degree), and Class AA (education specialist degree). At the Class A level, Alabama offers Alternative A programs tailored for initial certification and traditional Class A programs intended for advanced certification in various teaching fields. Certificates for instructional support personnel, including library-media specialists, school counselors, and instructional leaders, are awarded at the Class A and AA levels. Subsequent sections of this report will not address instructional support programs.
Certification standards were initially established and adopted by the Alabama State Board of Education (ALSBE) during the 1977-1978 academic year. Each subsequent iteration of these standards has become progressively less prescriptive while simultaneously demanding higher levels of accountability from the institutions in Alabama that prepare teachers and educational support personnel. The current standards delineate the requisite knowledge and competencies that prospective teachers and instructional support staff must demonstrate before completing their programs. These standards are aligned with those of Specialized Professional Associations (SPAs) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), placing a significant emphasis on performance assessments and the evaluation of content knowledge before certification. Collectively, these standards underpin the development of preparation programs and the state approval process.
On January 27, 2010, after nearly a 30-year testing hiatus, Alabama was released from a federal court order pertaining to the testing of prospective teachers. Historically, the completion of basic skills and content knowledge assessments was mandated for certification. Evaluation Testing Services (ETS) was selected as the primary vendor to administer these assessments in the state.
Alabama deleted basic skills testing as a requirement for unconditional admission to an Alternative A program in 2019 and a Class B program in 2020. Additionally, Pearson was added as a test vendor for the edTPA pedagogical content performance-based assessments (2018) and the Foundations of Reading assessment (2022).
The Alabama State Board of Education (ALSBE) also adopted standards that allow superintendents to request alternative certificates to employ qualified applicants with subject matter expertise while they meet the requirements for a PEC. Alabama only allows three years of employment based on holding an alternative certificate. To obtain the PEC, these individuals must also meet coursework and testing requirements. These routes are not institution-based programs and will not be addressed in subsequent sections of this report.