Alternative Teaching Certification
Alternative teaching certification lets people who already hold a bachelor’s degree, but not an education degree, start teaching while completing licensure requirements. Candidates typically finish state-approved coursework, teach while completing any required supervision or mentoring, and pass the certification exams required of other teacher candidates in their state. The pathway exists in 48 states and the District of Columbia, though each state sets its own name and requirements for the route.
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Alternative teaching certification lets someone with a bachelor’s degree in almost any subject start teaching before finishing a traditional education degree. It exists because plenty of people don’t decide they want to teach until after college, or after a few years in another career, and a four-year detour back through an education program isn’t realistic for most of them.
Use the links below to jump to alternative certification requirements, high-demand subject areas, residency programs, and who this pathway tends to fit best.
- Requirements for alternative certification
- Shortage areas and high-demand subjects
- Teaching residency programs
- Who alternative certification fits
Alternative certification is available in 48 states and the District of Columbia. States call it different things depending on where you look. You might see it listed as an alternative license, a residency license, an intern certificate, or a shortage area permit, but the underlying idea is the same: teach and get certified at the same time, instead of certifying first.
The general path looks similar from state to state, even when the terminology doesn’t:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in any subject.
- Enroll in a state-approved alternative certification program, which can include online coursework, in-person classes, or intensive workshops.
- Teach while completing supervised clinical requirements or receiving mentoring, if required by your state’s program, often earning a salary as you complete coursework.
- Pass any certification exams required by your state, such as Praxis or a state-specific exam.
- Apply for the teaching license or certificate required by your state once all state requirements are met.
Alternative Teaching Certification Requirements by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Alternative routes to certification have existed since the mid-1980s, when a decline in education-degree enrollment left schools short on teachers. Since then, tens of thousands of people have earned certification this way, and alternative certification pathways have prepared hundreds of thousands of teachers, according to National Center for Education Information estimates. The pathway brought more men, more career changers, and more subject-matter experts into K-12 classrooms than the traditional pipeline alone was producing.
This nontraditional process places candidates in the classroom right away, working with students while they finish certification requirements on the side rather than beforehand.
Requirements for Alternative Certification
Every state runs its own alternative certification programs, but most share a common set of features:
- Targeting candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree, often in a field outside education.
- Screening that includes interviews and proof of subject-matter mastery, sometimes through a content test.
- Performance standards that apply throughout the program and at final certification.
- Field-based training, meaning candidates work directly with students from the start.
- A mentor relationship with an experienced teacher or instructional coach.
- Coursework or workshops in educational theory and practice, taken before and during teaching.
Depending on the state, this route also goes by emergency certification, temporary certification, or nontraditional certification. Most states have moved away from calling it “emergency,” since the need for these positions is ongoing rather than a short-term gap.
Shortage Areas and High-Demand Subjects
Alternative certification first took off as a response to teacher shortages in specific subjects, and that’s still true today. Math, science, and special education remain the subjects where states most often recruit through alternative routes, particularly in inner-city and rural districts. For a current, state-by-state look at the shortages driving this demand, see the Learning Policy Institute’s teacher shortage tracking.
Candidates aiming to teach math or science usually need to demonstrate content-area knowledge, sometimes through a subject test. Special education candidates often need coursework specific to working with students with disabilities.
In a true emergency staffing situation, a candidate may receive an emergency certificate or waiver that allows them to teach immediately, typically without on-site support. At the same time, they complete standard certification coursework on their own timeline. In less urgent but still high-demand situations, candidates more often work in cohorts with mentor support, with training built jointly by the state education department, universities, and the hiring district.
Teaching Residency Programs
Many states also offer a version of alternative certification built around teaching residencies, modeled on medical residency training. Residents learn alongside an experienced teacher, and many residency programs work toward a master’s degree in education as part of the certification process.
States and districts frequently partner with nonprofits and universities to run these programs. The Urban Teacher Residency United, launched in Chicago, Boston, and Denver in 2007, is one example: it recruits career changers, recent graduates, and community members to teach in high-poverty schools, with particular focus on math, science, special education, and increasing teacher diversity.
Residency programs often come with a commitment to stay in the same district for a set number of years after earning the degree and certification, so it’s worth checking that requirement before enrolling.
Who Alternative Certification Fits
Alternative certification isn’t only for shortage-subject teachers or high-need districts. It’s also a fit for people who decided, after college or after time in another career, that they want to teach. Common candidates include:
- Career changers who hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education.
- School staff, such as paraprofessionals or teacher’s aides, who want to move into a licensed teaching role.
- Subject-matter professionals interested in teaching math, science, or another content area at the K-12 level.
- Recent graduates who didn’t complete an education degree but want to start teaching without going back for a second bachelor’s.
Organizations like Teach for America and Troops to Teachers run their own alternative pathways alongside standard state programs, along with routes built for college faculty who want to move into K-12 classrooms. Each state decides independently which of these programs it recognizes.
If you’re ready to look at what your state specifically requires, find your state’s alternative certification requirements, or browse accredited teaching certification programs by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is alternative teaching certification?
Alternative teaching certification is a path to a teaching license for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree but haven’t completed a traditional education degree. Candidates teach in the classroom while finishing required coursework, mentoring, and certification exams.
How is alternative certification different from traditional certification?
Traditional certification requires a bachelor’s degree in education and student teaching completed before earning a license. Alternative certification reverses the order: candidates already hold a bachelor’s degree in any field and start teaching, often as the teacher of record, while completing coursework and exams.
Do I need a background in education to qualify for alternative certification?
No. Alternative certification programs are designed for people with a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than education. Some states do require a content test to confirm subject-matter knowledge, especially for math, science, and special education positions.
How long does alternative certification take?
Timelines vary by state and program, but most alternative routes take one to two years to complete, since candidates teach while finishing coursework at the same time rather than finishing a degree first.
Is alternative certification the same as emergency certification?
Not exactly. Emergency certification is typically issued for a true staffing emergency and may come with less mentor support. Many states have moved away from the “emergency” label for standard alternative certification, since the demand for these positions is ongoing rather than short-term.
- Alternative certification exists in 48 states and D.C. The exact name varies (alternative license, residency license, intern certificate, shortage area permit), but the structure is similar everywhere.
- Candidates teach before finishing certification, not after. Coursework, mentoring, and exams happen while candidates are typically already teaching, often as the teacher of record.
- Math, science, and special education see the most demand. These subjects and high-need districts are where alternative routes are most common.
- Requirements are state-specific. Check your state’s exact coursework, testing, and residency-commitment rules before enrolling in a program.
Find alternative teaching certification requirements, approved programs, and application steps for your state below.
