Alabama Teaching Certification Requirements
Alabama teacher certification requires a bachelor’s degree from a state-approved educator preparation program, completion of the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program exams, a background check through the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and FBI, and a recommendation from your certification officer. The Alabama State Department of Education issues Class B, Class A, and Class AA certificates based on degree level.
Some new Alabama teachers begin teaching under a provisional certificate while completing the remaining certification requirements. Whether you’re headed down that route or the traditional one, Alabama certification comes down to the same core pieces: an approved degree program, passing scores on the required exams, and a clean background check reviewed by the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE).
Use the links below to jump to your certification path, exam and background check requirements, current salary data, and frequently asked questions.
- Choose your Alabama certification path.
- Complete the initial Alabama teacher certification
- See Alabama teacher salary data
- Read frequently asked questions
Choosing Your Alabama Certification Path
Not every certification-seeker is starting from the same place. Pick the situation below that matches yours to skip ahead to the requirements that apply to you:
- Initial Teaching Certification…
- I’m a teacher from another state…
- Teacher Certification Renewal…
- Admin./Principal Certification…
- Alternative Teaching Certification…
- Substitute Teaching Permit…
- None of the above is what I’m looking for…
How to Earn Initial Alabama Teacher Certification
The steps below cover the traditional route to a Professional Educator Certificate in Alabama. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education, the alternative certification path may get you into a classroom faster. If you’re unsure which applies to you, the Alabama Department of Education’s Teacher Education and Certification Office can point you to the right track at (334) 694-4557.
Certification Classes and Education Requirements
Alabama issues three classes of Professional Educator Certification: Class B, Class A, and Class AA. Each class ties to a different degree level, and your class determines where you land on a district’s pay scale (exact pay depends on the hiring school district and its salary schedule, so confirm figures directly with the district). Find schools offering teaching certification programs in Alabama for program-specific details.
| Certification Area | Class B | Class A | Class AA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Bachelor’s degree | Master’s degree | Sixth-year program |
| Secondary | Bachelor’s degree + subject focus | Master’s degree + subject focus | Sixth-year program + subject focus |
| Special Education | Bachelor’s degree + subject focus | Master’s degree + subject focus | Sixth-year program + subject focus |
Alabama’s educator preparation programs cover early childhood education, elementary education, and subject-specific tracks for middle-level, secondary, career and technical, P-12, and special education certification. Your program’s certification officer guides you through the application process and ultimately recommends you to ALSDE for certification, so that relationship matters more than any single form you’ll fill out.
Certification Exams
Before ALSDE issues a certificate, candidates complete the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program, which covers basic skills in mathematics, reading, and writing, as well as subject-area testing through the Praxis Subject Assessments. Depending on your certification area, you may also need a pedagogy assessment, such as edTPA, and the Foundations of Reading test if you’re pursuing early childhood or elementary certification. Every examining organization sends official scores directly to ALSDE. For registration details, contact ALSDE’s Educator Certification Section at [email protected] or (334) 694-4557, or explore subject-area testing through the Educational Testing Service website.
Field Experience Requirements
Traditional-route candidates complete a practicum built into their teacher education program, with the majority of field hours happening in P-12 classrooms and at least half in their intended teaching field. These placements exist, so you observe and assist a working classroom teacher before you’re the one running it. Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in Alabama to learn the specific field-experience structure for each program.
Criminal History Background Check
Every certification applicant completes a criminal history background check through the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) and the FBI. You’ll be fingerprinted, and your results will be submitted directly to ALSDE for review, with the fingerprinting fees included in the service. Fingerprinting locations are available through your local police department or through additional sites your program’s certification officer can point you to.
Application Deadlines
You have 60 calendar months from the completion of your teacher education program to submit your certification application. If ALSDE’s Office of Certification flags your application as incomplete, you get 12 calendar months from the date of that letter to submit the missing materials. Miss that window and you’ll need to reapply and repay the application fee, so treat that letter as a deadline, not a suggestion.
Most day-to-day certification questions get answered by your teacher education program’s certification officer. For anything beyond that, ALSDE’s Educator Certification Section can be reached by phone at (334) 694-4557 or through the Alabama Achieves website.
Alabama Teacher Salaries
Pay varies by certification class, subject area, and county, but state and national wage data give you a realistic baseline before you commit to a program. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here’s what Alabama teachers earned as of May 2025:
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $50,900 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,380 |
| Middle School Teachers | $61,770 |
| High School Teachers | $61,990 |
For context on Alabama teaching salaries and benefits, including how pay scales work by county and years of experience, see our full breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need to become a certified teacher in Alabama?
A bachelor’s degree earns you Class B certification, the entry-level credential for teachers in Alabama. A master’s degree moves you to Class A, and a sixth-year education specialist program qualifies you for Class AA, the state’s highest teaching certification level.
How long does it take to get certified to teach in Alabama?
Most traditional candidates complete the program in 4 to 5 years, covering a bachelor’s degree, an approved educator preparation program, and required field experience. Alternative-route candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field can often start teaching on a provisional certificate while completing coursework, shortening the timeline to the classroom.
What exams do I need to pass for Alabama teacher certification?
You’ll complete the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program, which includes basic skills testing and Praxis Subject Assessments for your certification area. Depending on your grade level and subject, you may also need a pedagogy assessment, such as edTPA or the Foundations of Reading test for early childhood or elementary certification.
Can I teach in Alabama if I’m certified in another state?
Yes, through Alabama’s teacher reciprocity agreements, which apply to educators certified in other states and some Canadian provinces. You may still need to meet additional Alabama-specific requirements depending on your original certification area.
What’s the difference between Class A and Class AA certification in Alabama?
Class A certification requires a master’s degree, while Class AA requires a sixth-year program or an education specialist degree beyond that. Both classes require the subject-focus coursework tied to your certification area if you’re teaching secondary or special education.
- Three certification classes — Alabama issues Class B (bachelor’s), Class A (master’s), and Class AA (sixth-year program) certificates, each tied to degree level and pay scale.
- Testing is non-negotiable — Candidates complete the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program, including Praxis Subject Assessments and, in many cases, edTPA or the Foundations of Reading test.
- Background checks run through two agencies — ABI and FBI, which both review your criminal history before ALSDE issues a certificate.
- The application clock starts at graduation — You have 60 months to apply, with a 12-month grace period if your application comes back incomplete.
- Median pay ranges from $50,900 to $61,990 — depending on grade level, according to May 2025 BLS data.
Select your state below to find accredited teacher certification programs, application requirements, and licensing details for your jurisdiction.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job growth figures for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed July 2026.
